Maureen Clouse: Working to provide a great campus life experience for students

	The spirit of the green — Maureen “Moe” Clouse is known on the UNT campus for her infectious Mean Green spirit and pride in the university.

Maureen Clouse, assistant director for residential and judicial affairs, shows her devotion to her three families – her husband and three children, her parents and seven siblings, and her UNT family – in every photo in her office.

Born on Groundhog Day to James and Patty McGuinness, a special education teacher and a nurse, Clouse says the hospital wrapped her in aluminum foil to keep her warm.

"It was the coldest day of the year in Point Pleasant Beach, N.J.," she explains.

Because one of Clouse's siblings was stillborn, her mother co-founded Empty Arms, a network for parents who have lost a child. Clouse says she has always admired her mother's charitable spirit.

"Mother is my greatest influence and my role model," Clouse says without reservation.

In 1997 she married Jason Clouse, now a seventh-grade special education teacher in Denton. The year after marrying, she took a job in UNT's housing department. Her job responsibilities include discipline, programming and community development in the housing department as well as serving as adviser for the Residence Hall Association. The position gives her many opportunities to get acquainted with students and staff members.

Clouse, known to her family and co-workers as "Moe," is a UNT student herself seeking a doctoral degree in higher education and aspires to continually enhance campus life at UNT.

"Moe's desire to improve the quality of the student experience at North Texas is unmatched," says Amy Ayres, director of student activities and organizations. "She is an ambassador for our students and an asset to our university."

This time of year is usually busier than normal for Clouse, who traditionally is heavily involved in Homecoming activities. This year, she is coordinating UNT's Spirit Wall competition, a campuswide contest encouraging groups to assemble and decorate large panels to display.

Deeply religious, Clouse credits her loved ones, her friends and her faith for helping her deal with the plight of her middle child, daughter Reilly. The 4-year-old was born with Port-wine stain, a serious skin ailment often misdiagnosed as a birthmark, that manifests itself in severe skin lesions.

Clouse says dealing with her daughter's condition was the first time she ever faced a challenge of that magnitude.

"Reilly's condition has opened my eyes to many things," she says. "It was the turning point in my life."

One of Clouse's greatest challenges has been balancing the special needs of her daughter with the needs of her other two children, son Kevin, 6, and daughter Regan, 4 months.

Clouse enjoys traveling and has already visited 20 of the 50 states. She plans one day to visit Ireland, her great-grandparents' ancestral home. But the trip will have to come later, she says.

"After I earn the Ph.D," she says. "That'll be my graduation present to myself."

BY ROBIN FLETCHER inhouse@unt.edu

Other featured articles in this issue:

• UNT Board of Regents awards construction contract for Eagle Point projects
• Homecoming is Oct. 16-18
• Professor to serve as guest researcher at CDC
• Princeton Review includes UNT in The Best Western Colleges guidebook
• UNT faculty, staff encouraged to contribute nominations for annual alumni awards
• The Club at Gateway Center opens for fall season; new chef brings new flavor
• SECC campaign puts focus on caring
• NAFTA pumps dollars into Texas economy, but at border cities' expense
• Faculty Senate hears reports from Pohl, new VP for research and technology transfer

homepage