Jacqueline Riddle’s mom was a resident director (RD) at PLNU when she was born. “She was born into Klassen Hall,” her dad, Steven, said. Both of her parents have served PLNU for more than two decades: dad, Steve, for nearly 29 years and mom, Kim, for almost 25. Steve’s current role is as manager of events and support services. Kim is the director of auxiliary services and university events coordinator. This fall, Jacqueline’s PLNU story will start its latest chapter with her as a freshman psychology major at Point Loma.
Though there was a time that Jacqueline thought she didn’t want to attend the school where her parents both worked, about two-and-a-half years ago, her feelings changed, and PLNU became her dream school. She didn’t want to apply anywhere else, but at her dad’s suggestion, she applied to five other schools. Jacqueline was accepted at all six, but her decision was easy.
“She wanted to come here and make her own experience,” Steve said.
“We are excited she wants to come here because we know that we want her to have a good college experience,” Kim said. “We do know what she is going to experience. Point Loma is a place for students to find community, make good friends, learn about themselves, and venture out a little bit.”
“Point Loma is a place for students to find community, make good friends, learn about themselves, and venture out a little bit.”
As director of auxiliary services, Kim oversees the university’s print, mail, and conference services as well as the coordinator of the Liberty Station facilities. As university events coordinator, she assists with large campus events.
“We are a very service-oriented department,” she said. “I enjoy working with people having events to help them to have a successful event. I like the logistical part of it.”
Steve’s role entails the set-up and delivery of event-necessary items; the delivery of mail, packages, and print service items from the Point Loma campus to the university’s other three San Diego locations (Liberty Station, Mission Valley, and Balboa); and the management of the university’s furniture once purchased.
“The most fun I have on the job is the strategy and figuring things out and how it’s going to come together and be a successful event,” he said.
Prior to her current role, Kim served as an RD and in the campus bookstore. Steve started out as the manager of athletic facilities and then the assistant athletic director for facilities and events. Four years ago, he transitioned to his current role, which has allowed his schedule to better align with the rest of his family’s.
“We’ve loved it here,” Kim said. “That’s why we’ve stayed here so long.” They are excited for Jacqueline to experience life in the residence halls as a student and to see PLNU from that point of view.
“We’re just excited that she is at a place where we know there are such safe boundaries around her. We do know how blessed we are.”
“I think that Point Loma has done an outstanding job in communicating from the recruitment process through acceptance and getting [Jacqueline] ready for Welcome Week,” Steve said. “I have been very impressed with how the information flows. It flows to her. I think that’s really huge in teaching and shaping. It’s going to help us send her here. It’s going to help the university send her on.”
“There are such great opportunities here for her to get involved,” Kim said. “We’re just excited that she is at a place where we know there are such safe boundaries around her. We do know how blessed we are.”
When the Riddles aren’t working, they enjoy spending time with Jacqueline and their other two children: Malik, 27, and Isabella, 13. They recently went on a cruise together, and Steve and his daughters took a road trip to Chicago. Kim also enjoys reading, and Steve enjoys cycling.
