Surrounded by a baby carrier, stacks of games and toys, Nick Wiard sat on the couch in his office tucked away in a cozy corner of Minton Hall.

The toys belong to his 5-month-old daughter, Hayden.

Wiard, Minton Hall director and resident, is just one of a handful of dorm employees that juggle family life and a busy work schedule. Nick’s wife Julia Wiard works in Downing University Center as a coordinator of leadership and volunteerism.

Nick, who usually works 37 to 40 hours per week, said that sometimes it’s hard to manage both. But because he and his wife love their jobs and work with each other’s schedules, it works out perfectly.

He usually spends the weekend and a few hours each day with Hayden in the mornings before taking her to day care at First Baptist Church.

“Me and Julia think our jobs are great because we can bring Hayden here and put her in the baby carrier, and the residents just love seeing how she changes and grows,” he said.

Although he tries to spend as much time with Hayden as possible, he knows that there are some things he is missing out on. Hayden is now starting to eat solid foods.

He said having an understanding wife and job has helped him devote equal time to both of these important aspects of his life.

But a lot of employees on campus have babies, he said.

“Because this job in particular requires an M.A. or a Ph.D., folks are staying in longer and babies in residence halls is not a new thing,” he said.

No matter how much time he spends at work, Nick said he knows he can always come home to family.

“I could have had the worst day and I can come home to Hayden’s laugh and her smile and it puts everything into perspective,” he said. “You get a lot out of parenting and it is very rewarding because we are shaping her.”

Nick’s goal is to work in Housing and Residence Life for a long time, but the 2008-09 academic year will be his last as a hall director. He and his wife are looking for a new place to live off campus for the future.

For Julia Wiard, having a job she loves and being a mother are both rewarding.

“It’s very hard being away from her a lot,” she said. “I want to be at home with her, but I have an obligation to work too, so sometimes I bring her in here and it’s neat for me because I know my co-workers get to see her grow.”

She said that no two days are the same. But because she and Nick work together, it makes their parenting experience more rewarding.

“Everything about being a mother is rewarding,” she said. “When they smile and you realize they are smiling at you because of something you did, it’s a great feeling.”

Savannah Pennington, a Madisonville freshman and Minton resident, said that sharing a residence with babies makes her college experience unique.

“It’s really neat and cute because it’s like having little dorm mascots running around,” she said. “It’s funny how Nick has the kangaroo pouch thing going on when he carries his daughter around to do ‘baby rounds.’”

Brian Powell, Poland Hall director, also devotes most of his time to his wife, Carrie, and his 22-month-old daughter, Corrie.

“Sometimes, like now, I don’t know how I juggle everything because everyone always talks about time management, but I think people should focus more on ‘energy management,’” he said. “You can’t manage time, but you can manage your energy and how you prioritize your efforts.”

Powell and his wife try to avoid putting Corrie in day care. They occasionally have friends from church watch her.

He said he thinks the role of families is changing because people are now spending more time with their families.

“I think generationally we are moving more toward a work-to-live society rather than the old live-to-work mentality,” he said. “I think employers had to respond to the demand of their workers, but also because the employers are from the same generations and have the same philosophies.”

Reach Alex Booze at diversions@chherald.com.