Spotlight On: Orlando T. White

You might have met Zsa Zsa on her walks around campus, but have you met her human, Orlando T. White? As an associate dean of Residential Education, White (with help from his English bulldog) gets to know many undergrads and helps shape neighborhood life through the recruitment, selection, and training of residential student leaders (resident assistants and ethnic theme associates). White also manages professional staff supporting Neighborhoods D and O, EVGR-A Duan Family Hall, and Mirrielees House.

What education and experience do you bring to this work? 

I have a bachelor’s degree in mass communication from Colorado State University-Pueblo, and a master’s in public administration from the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs. As an undergraduate, I was an RA, and I have worked for 15 years in residential education.

Tell us about your family.

I’m married, and my partner Jon currently works at Stanford. My mom is still in the Colorado Springs area, where I was born and raised. I have extended family in Louisiana, Wisconsin, Greece, Turkey, and Croatia.

Do you have any pets?

I have a dog, Zsa Zsa, and an old cat named Garfield.

What are your hobbies?

I’m into weight lifting, hiking and performing arts, including ballet. Recently, I have embraced my identity as an amateur stair climber. Stair climbing is a very niche athletic event: In high-rise buildings as well as sports stadiums all over the world, people race from the bottom of a set of stairs to the very top. Stanford Rec wrote a story about my participation in it.

What is one experience you think all students should have?

See a concert or other performance at Frost Amphitheater. I’ve seen the San Francisco Ballet perform there. It’s outdoors and is something I would recommend.

What is unique about Neighborhoods D and O?

They are mostly on the west side of campus. Students think it’s more remote, and I like that it’s somewhat secluded and quieter. Lake Lagunita is nearby. But it’s really the people that make up the neighborhoods. For example, the main dining hall in Neighborhood D, Ricker, has a Cafe and Study Night on Sunday that a lot of students participate in.

Tell us about a challenge you experienced at Stanford and how you overcame it.

I started at Stanford right on top of the pandemic. An ongoing challenge was: how do we go from the pandemic to the end of the pandemic? I tried to be as flexible as possible to comply with public health guidance, give the students what they want, and support the staff. Taking time to listen to folks has helped, so people can have input into policy changes — or at least have a heads up.

What hidden gem have you discovered on campus?

The Rains Buttery, a vestige of Peter Coutts’ 1875 farm, is an old building on the east side of campus. Apparently they used to make butter there. Today it’s a small, quaint meeting space, with a Mediterranean feel.

Tell us a fun fact about yourself.

I love game shows. I was the Plus One on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? when my partner was a contestant. I answered a question about what country the true winner was from the time they incorrectly announced the winner of the Miss Universe pageant. The answer is the Philippines.