Residence Life Staff Biographies

Jamie Abreu-Napolski
EDGE Coordinator
474-1885
fnjra@uaf.edu
Jamie was born and raised in Alaska. She has worked for the University since October 1997, when she began working for Residence Life as a Resident Assistant. She has continued to work up through the department to her current position as EDGE Coordinator. Jamie also worked for two summers with the Upward Bound program, but has always returned to Residence Life. Jamie graduated from UAF in May 2001 with a degree in English and a minor in Journalism.

 

Jennifer Betschart
Resident Director - Skarland Hall
455-3907
fnjlb4@uaf.edu
Jenni was born and raised in Dallas, Oregon, a community that she thought was small until she moved to the Far North. Tourism brought Jenni to Alaska in 1999 from her alma mater, the University of Puget Sound, where she earned a B.S. in Biology and Art. Jenni worked her way through college as a Resident Assistant and a Hall Director. Following six seasons as a tour bus driver on the roads and byways of Alaska, Jenni was called back into Residence Life, this time working with Alaskan Native youth at the Nenana Student Living Center. This is her first year on staff at UAF. She is a vocal hockey fan and an active member of the First Assembly of God church in Fairbanks. Jenni looks forward to assisting first-year students as they transition into their collegiate years.

Amber Cagwin
Marketing and Conference Services Manager
474-5846
fnacc@uaf.edu
Amber grew up in southern California, and moved to Alaska to earn a BS in biology with a minor in business. Upon graduation, Amber worked with Residence Life as a Conference Services Intern, moved on to work with Theatre UAF as their Box Office Manager and Coordinator. She returned to Residence Life in 2001 as the Marketing and Conference Services Manager, where she oversees all guest housing on campus, maintains the Residence Life web site, oversees the Hess Rec Center and all events that take place there, as well as updating and creating forms, applications, and publicity for Residence Life. Amber currently serves on the ACUHO-I Conference Services Workshop Committee as the Marketing and Communications Chair.

 

Blaine DeWalt
Assistant Resident Director - Bartlett
455-3900
fsbmd1@uaf.edu
Blaine was born and raised in Alaska. He has gone right from working as a lifeguard for a few years in the east coast to his current employment in Residence Life. He’s spent 2 years as an RA in Moore and Lathrop halls. He is currently the Assistant Resident Director for Bartlett Hall. He’s currently working on a double major in Information Technology and Business Administration. He looks forward to another great year with Residence Life.

 

Caitlin Donlon
Resident Director - Moore
455-3905
fncjd1@uaf.edu
Caitlin came to UAF from Oregon State University. She recently completed her masters degree in College Student Services Administration (CSSA). That fancy title means she has spent the past two years studying what makes a university function and why students want to come, stay and graduate from college. Prior to graduate school Caitlin attended Colorado State University in Fort Collins and graduated with a bachelor's in Sports Medicine.

When she was not in college, she spent time growing up in England, teaching English in Spain, working at a physical therapy clinic in California, and leading adventure camping tours around the U.S. She is excited to be at UAF where she has the opportunity to be inspired by college students, hard core hockey games and the daily entertaining events that transpire in the residence halls.

 

Glenn Helkenn
Resident Director - MacLean House
455-3903
fnglh@uaf.edu
Glenn was born and raised in rural Alask, growing up on a homestead (yep, inlcuding the log cabin, wood stove, outhouse and lots of salmon and moose meat!) along the Copper River and then on a farm in the Tanana Valley. He has two Bachelor degrees, one in Social Science and the other in Multi-Cultural American History (focused on African American and Native American History). He has served as a Sergeant in the U.S. Army and has worked as a Residential Counselor, Addicitons Counselor, and Human Services professional for over ten years. Before coming to UAF he helped staff a domestic violence shelter and taught wilderness skills on the side. Glenn is looking forward to serving the students at the MacLean House in their move to the "big city".

 

Kevin Huddy
Director of Residence Life
474-7247
ffklh1@uaf.edu
Kevin began serving as the Director of Residence Life in September of 1999. Prior to that time, he served 25 years in the United States Army as an infantry officer. His military career took him to Europe, Asia, the Persian Gulf, and a variety of locations in North America. His last military assignment was as the Professor of Military Science at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Director Huddy and his family first moved to Fairbanks in 1995. He has a BS degree in biology and a Master's degree in education.

 

Eli Kramer
Assignments Coordinator
474-5282
fneok@uaf.edu
Eli is originally from Yellow Springs, OH and received a BA from the University of Miami before moving to Alaska in 1998. Having spent the last eight years on the boundary of Denali National Park Eli has a special passion for Interior Alaska and is very proud to be a part of the Residence Life team at UAF. Eli is responsible for assigning undergraduate and “single” students to the Residence Halls and coordinating their on-campus housing opportunities throughout their time at UAF.

 

Emily Machos (Photo not available)
Summer Housing Coordinator
474-7247
fneem@uaf.edu

 

Robert Mackey
Resident Director - Wickersham, McIntosh, Nerland, Stevens
455-3904
fnerm@uaf.edu
E. Robert Mackey was born and raised in Little Rock, Arkansas. After graduating from Arkansas State University in 1995, he served as the Director of Resource Development and interim Director of Housing for Southwest Arkansas Community Development Corporation (SWACDC) as an Americorps/VISTA Volunteer from 1995-1996. In 1997, Robert graduated from Southern Arkansas University with a Bachelors of Science in Education and is a certified Secondary Social Studies Teacher. Robert received his Masters in Public Administration in 1999 from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR) while working as a graduate student for several departments. Robert was also twice elected as the President of the UALR Graduate Students Association, served as the President Pro-Tempore of the UALR Associated Student Government, and was a member of the UALR Head Basketball Coach Search Committee. During his tenure, Robert was inducted in Alpha Epsilon Lambda Graduate Honors Fraternity and received the Robert Sarver Award for Leadership, Citizenship, Scholarship, and Character in 1999. Upon graduating from UALR, Robert accepted a position with the Arkansas Division of Youth Services (DYS) where he helped implement the state Juvenile Tracking System, developed the interim juvenile tracking paper flow system, authored the DYS quarterly and annual reports for the Arkansas State Legislature, and maintained the DYS Web page. In 2000, Robert started his PhD studies at the University of Arkansas (UA). During his time at the UA, he served as a graduate research assistant for the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, a Graduate Assistant Resident Director, the Employer Relations Coordinator for the UA Office of Career Services, and also worked as a Financial Aid Officer. In 2005, Robert worked as a Catastrophe Adjuster to help victims of Hurricanes Rita, Wilma, and Katrina. Robert accepted the position of Resident Director with the University of Alaska and started work in July. Robert expects to finish his dissertation and receive his PhD in Higher Education Public Policy by December, 2007.

 

Laura McCollough
Associate Director of Residence Life
474-1956
fnlcm@uaf.edu
Laura is originally from Montevallo, Alabama, and earned her BA at Carson Newman College and her Masters at University of Alabama. Laura has worked at the University of Alabama, Huntingdon College, University of Tennessee, and has been at UAF for 4 years. Laura enjoys working with students and hopes to help them grow into contributing members of society.

 

John Napolski
Resident Director, Cutler Apartments
455-3902
fnjsn@uaf.edu
John is originally from Downers Grove, IL, and received his BS in Zoology from Southern Illinois University. He enjoys hunting, fishing and shooting.

 

 

Ricky Pitts
Assistant Resident Director - Nerland
455-3906
fsdrp7@uaf.edu
Ricky was born and raised in Alaska, and graduated from Colony High School. He began working for Res Life as a Resident Assistant in 2005, and has currently taken on the role as Assistant Resident Director of Nerland Hall for the '07 - '08 school year. He is currently in his final year of undergraduate studies to become a civil/structural engineer.

 

 

 

Nathan Platt
Assistant Director of Residence Life
474-5280
fnnjp@uaf.edu
As the Assistant Director for Facilities and Operations, Nathan's responsibilities include coordinating maintenance, custodial service, and making sure the buildings are clean, safe, and well maintained. A UAF graduate, Nathan is originally from Abington, Connecticut. In addition to working in Residence Life here, Nathan has also worked at Whitman College and Prince William Sound Community College.

 

Cameron Poindexter
Assistant Resident Director - Stevens Hall
455-3908
fscap2@uaf.edu
Cameron was born in Homer, Alaska and is pursuing a degree in Business Administration. He enjoys soccer and running. Cameron began college at UAF in the fall of 2004 and became a resident assistant for the 2005-2006 school year. He is now a senior and hopes to graduate in 2008 and begin graduate school at a respected school of business.

 

 

 

Susan Rozier
Building Services Coordinator
474-6642
fnssr@uaf.edu
As the Building Services Coordinator, Susan's responsibilities include performing custodial inspections in residence halls to ensure contractual compliance, quality control inspections of family and faculty housing units, and conference housing areas, and helping to ensure the residence facilities are safe, clean and well maintained. Susan is currently working on a business degree at UAF, and has an extensive background working with custodians and as a custodial inspector.

 

Linda Stanley (photo not available)
Business Manager
474-7247
fnlms@uaf.edu
Linda Stanley works at UAF as the Business Manager for Residence Life. She has experience in both management of profit and non profit organizations. She began college at Illinois State University, continuing her education at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. As the Residence Life Business Manager, she is responsible for creating the yearly budget, overseeing financial transactions, and ensuring customer service and the assignment process for both single and family students is fair, equitable and efficient.

 

Allyn Yanish
Family Housing Manager
474-7943
fnaey@uaf.edu
Allyn came to Fairbanks from Roseau, MN in 1983. Before coming to UAF, he spent 15 years working in management capacities for a local business. He is a member of Fairbanks Host Lions Club. He enjoys time with his family, sports and outdoor activities.

Belinda (photo not available)
Family/Faculty Housing Coordinator
474-7247
fnbrn@uaf.edu
As the Family/Faculty Housing Coordinator, Belinda is responsible for assignments and coordination of Family, Faculty, and Graduate student housing.

 

Jody (photo not available)
Administrative Assistant
474-7247
fnjkt@uaf.edu
Jody has long been associated with Residence Life. In her current position, she handles payroll, personnel, purchasing and travel paperwork.