It may be difficult to find the connection between working at Oberlin College and being in the military. Both, however, have given Keith Watkins, associate director of residential education and dining services and facilities, the opportunity to interact with many people from different backgrounds, with different skill sets.

Both, as he says, have continued his “[skills at] relating, keeping an open mind and being flexible.”

Watkins has a long title and an even longer list of responsibilities. He is responsible for managing all facility trades, overseeing custodial operations and dealing with any residence hall facility issues. He is most enthusiastic about working on new projects with students.

“The fun part of the job is finding these new challenges and helping students utilize the system and figure out how the system works,” Watkins said.

When he first began working here six years ago, students from the Oberlin Student Cooperative Association approached him about creating a tofu kitchen. He joined the effort, and within six months OSCA and Watkins had a proposal and had secured funding.

Watkins is currently working with the students planning the new sustainability-themed village house set to open next semester.

These two projects, the oldest and most recent in his career at Oberlin, stand out because they have pushed his horizons.

“[Working on the new house] has been massively enjoyable because of the students bringing forward challenges, bringing forward ideas. They have a constant stream of information that takes my work outside of what I do from day to day,” he said.

He is even positive about students approaching him with complaints. He explains that most of the time they are the result of “miscommunication and misunderstanding.” He takes pride in the process of resolution.

“[When problems arise] once we are able to get together, nine times out of ten, they are always able to solve themselves without intervention,” Watkins said.

In fact, Watkins could not think of a single interaction with students he has had at Oberlin that has ended badly. 

“It’s always worked out in a very positive light,” he said. “I don’t think there’s even been one that’s been neutral.”

As a result of his pleasure in conflict resolution, many students have been able to develop relationships with Watkins throughout his time at Oberlin.

“[I am sure that they know that I am] passionate, energetic, determined, open-minded, and willing to state what [I] think,” he said.

Watkins is also confident in his campus persona.

“Everyone that knows me knows what I’m like,” he explained. “If I’ve only interacted with them even once, I think those are things they know about me. I don’t hold much back. It’s just easier to be me, and hopefully everyone enjoys that.”

Those who know Watkins may imagine that he enjoys competitions and challenges, which coincide with the nature of his work. In addition to being a practical problem-solver, he is an avid reader, writer and artist. He writes poetry and short stories, and has an artistic specialty in superheroes. Watkins’s own artwork is so admired that he tends to give it as gifts. The only artwork hanging in his office, though, is his nine-year-old stepson’s.

In addition to his artwork, Watkins also gives away his phone number, working hard to be as accessible as possible to students for any problems they may have. Some have demonstrated concern about his being so open to students, but he does not see a problem.

“No one has ever abused it. That’s impressive in itself, that no one’s ever abused an opportunity for communication,” he said.

Watkins feels strongly that if students have a serious concern, they should be able to reach someone for help; often he is that someone. He says that even if communication does not immediately seem to relate to his job, he is able to learn from it and eventually find a way to tie it in with his responsibilities.

“I love it,” he said. “It allows you to get away from your day-to-day job.”