Matea Čaluk (she/her/hers)
chief of staff, Residence Education and Housing Services (REHS)
(caluk@msu.edu)
Matea is a native of Bosnia and Herzegovina and relocated to the United States in the late 90s as a refugee of the regional civil war. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Relations and Advertising and a Master of Education degree in College Student Affairs Leadership from Grand Valley State University. She is currently a Doctoral student in the Educational Leadership program in the College of Education at Michigan State University (MSU). Prior to coming to MSU, Matea served in professional capacities at Aquinas College and Grand Valley State University in Michigan. Matea began her journey at MSU in 2013 in the Residence Education and Housing Services (REHS) department where she served in various roles prior to joining the Prevention, Outreach and Education (POE) team at MSU. In POE, Matea served as the Associate Director, leading operations and strategic planning for the department, and overseeing the undergraduate student prevention services initiatives and programs. In 2023, Matea returned to REHS where she currently serves as the Chief of Staff for the Residence Education and Housing Services Department within the Division of Student Life & Engagement. She is currently the Chair-Elect for the NASPA Center for Women and a member of the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce’s (LRCC) DEI Committee. She is a recent recipient of the 10 over the Next Ten award from the LRCC, highlighting community change agents who are projected to contribute profoundly to the region over the next ten years. Matea is a member of Ingham County’s Racial Equity Task force and a Board member of Communities in Schools – Michigan. Matea believes that a safe environment for all to thrive is the foundation to furthering education, ideas, and big thinking. She strives to create inclusive communities, free of harm and violence where individuals can be their authentic selves. Matea has dedicated her career in lending a voice to cultivate equitable practices and create opportunity for access.