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The reception room in the Center for Health and Wellbeing/Living Well space in the Davis Center has a dedicated wall for music. The wall is covered with lyrics of popular songs—from Aretha Franklin to the Beatles to Bob Marley. One of the first people you might meet there is Michael Hill, Jr., an alcohol and drug educator who has worked at ����̽̽ for six years.

Hill says the lyrics are a good icebreaker for students who stop by. “The song wall is the starting point in our conversation, maybe 75 to 85 percent of the time. They might say ‘I love this song’ or ‘I used to listen to this album all the time when I was in high school.’”

It’s a useful tool to build rapport, because most of the students arriving at Hill’s office aren’t there voluntarily. Many have violated ����̽̽’s drug and alcohol policy, and part of Hill’s role is to work through the circumstances with each student and provide some education and resources they can use.

Hill guides students through completion of BASICS, an evidence-based substance use education program designed for college students. “It’s not an abstinence-based program, though students may choose to stop use of a substance,” Hill explains. “I provide an affirming and educational space where the student can decide what’s best for them.”

Hill may refer a student to a licensed counselor on staff at ����̽̽ Counseling and Psychiatry Services (CAPS) or provide them a tour of the Living Well space and the resource corners there.

He grew up in New York City and visited Vermont for the first time as part of his college search. He ended up at St. Michael’s College, where he earned his B.A. in English literature. His career path was shaped in part by his father’s experience—his dad struggled with a substance use disorder, got sober, and became a credentialed alcoholism and substance use counselor in New York City.

Hill worked for several years at Spectrum Youth and Family Services in Burlington where he developed the Multicultural Youth Program, and at Burlington High School as a student assistant program counselor.

“I knew from these experiences that this was what I wanted to do,” Hill says. “Every professional experience that I've had is connected to working with young people, kids and young adults and their communities.”

While building his career, Hill also earned an M.S. in social work at ����̽̽. Now he’s pursuing an Ed.D. through the Educational Leadership and Policy Studies program at ����̽̽.

Hill sees part of his life and work at ����̽̽ as being present as an involved community member.

“I prioritize showing up for things like the Black Student Union soul food event, or the Asian Student Union’s New Year's celebration, or creating programs like the BIPOC self-care event, so students can see ‘this person works for us, and he’s also interested in having a genuine and sincere relationship with us.’”

Colleagues say it is Hill’s personal warmth, integrity and respect for each individual that makes him so approachable–qualities recognized earlier this year when Hill was named as one of 12 recipients of the President’s Our Common Ground Staff Awards.

“It’s an especially difficult time for college students,” Hill says. “There can be many external factors that influence why they engage with substances. For instance, students of color may not feel like they have a complete place just for themselves. Our programs acknowledge that and seek to build connectedness—it’s such an essential ingredient in building student success.”

Having worked in the Burlington area for the past decade, a walk through town often earns Hill a warm wave or a shout from a past student, colleague or community member. He gets the same type of reception on campus when walking between his offices at the Davis Center and Billings Hall.

“The biggest compliment is having older students say to incoming ones, ‘hey, you should really get to know Mike.’ That gives me an opportunity to know that I've made enough of an impact that they're telling their friends this person is safe, this person is cool to work with. So, the cycle keeps going.”