Administrator Spotlight: Daniel Matishek
Assistant Director of Housing and Residential Life
Tell us the story of how you came to work at NYU Law. Were you always in your current position?
I started my journey in residential life as an undergraduate student and have stayed with it ever since. Living on campus and connecting with fellow students gave me a deep appreciation for the power of residential life and its ability to support student success. My first professional role was as a residence hall director at Adelphi University on Long Island. After a few years, I grew more interested in the technical side of a housing program and honed my skills in that area. I saw a posting for NYU Law that was focused on housing operations and logistics, and was excited to apply. I joined the Office of Residential Life in 2021 as an analyst, and have since transitioned to my current position as assistant director for the office.
What’s a typical day for you like?
Housing is a 24/7 operation, so my day usually begins with a review of any emails, questions, or reports from the night before. Depending on the time of year, I might be overseeing a room selection process for new students, assisting Community Advisors with event planning in the residence halls, or coordinating with our facilities team to ensure our apartments are ready to welcome new students. In addition to our anticipated operational tasks, you never know what someone will say when they walk into the office.
What’s the most challenging thing about what you do? And what’s the most rewarding?
Our halls are home for our students, and we want everyone to feel safe, supported, and comfortable. Those definitions vary by person and it can be challenging to balance competing wants and needs. Because we typically operate at capacity, we can’t always accommodate preference requests, but we do our best.
This past August, I said goodbye to the JD students who moved into housing [in 2021] at the same time I started working at the Law School. Getting to know them and being able to support their journey from Orientation move-in day all the way through after the bar exam is very rewarding.
What do you wish you’d known about the Law School on your first day of working here?
The School of Law is filled at every level with people who are experts at what they do and love doing it. Since the Office of Residential Life is located in Hayden Hall, I have less face time with my colleagues in Vanderbilt Hall and elsewhere on campus. I wish I had made connections with my colleagues across the University sooner, as it’s been one of the highlights of working here.
What is your favorite spot on campus, and why?
The terraces on the upper floors of D’Agostino Hall provide some of the best views of our area. I always enjoy a visit with colleagues or tour groups on Admitted Student Days.
Posted February 14, 2025