Meet Our Speaking Coaches
Jeffrey Chittick
B.A. in Communication Studies, Coe College, 2012
Jeffrey is a first year coach in the Speaking Center. Jeffrey received the Coe College Young Writer’s Award in 2012 and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society. He plans to focus his graduate studies on interpretive methods of research. Jeffrey is from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, describes himself as a “complete beer nerd” and spends his free time golfing, running, and enjoying the company of friends.
Heather Fries
B.S. in Mass Communication, East Tennessee State University, 2011
Heather is a second year coach in the Speaking Center. Heather has received the James R. Cook Memorial Research Grant in 2012 and the Society of Professional Journalists Scholarship in 2010. Heather’s graduate research focuses on environmental health communication, particularly persuasive message techniques in Alaskan native villages. A former resident of Knoxville, Tennessee, Heather enjoys being outdoors, photography, reading, astronomy, cooking, and politics.
Elizabeth Rossi
B.A. in Communication Studies, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2012
Elizbeth is a first year coach in the Speaking Center. As an undergraduate Elizabeth received the 2010 Outstanding Student of the Year Award from the UAF Department of Communication. Her research interests include intercultural and computer mediated communication.
Danielle Tessen
B.A. in Communication Studies, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2011
Danielle is a first year coach in the Speaking Center. Danielle research interests include gender studies and will focus on interpersonal and intercultural communication in advocating for people with special needs. A native of Fairbanks, she enjoys playing soccer, spending time with her extended Fairbanks family, tea, and being active with her husband.
Michelle White
B.A. in Communication, Western Washington University, 2011
Michelle is a second year coach in the Speaking Center. Michelle has her certification in Japanese Language and Culture and has more than 300+ hours volunteering in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESOL) classroom. Her graduate research focuses on environment and intercultural communication. A native of Renton, Washington, her interests include music, reading, volunteering, traveling, painting and meeting new people.
Liz Wallace
B.A. in Communication Studies, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2011
Liz is a second year coach in the Speaking Center. As an undergraduate Liz was awarded Communication Student of the Year in 2011. She currently studies interpersonal communication in the workplace. She enjoys baking, yoga, travel, and spending time with family.
Coordinator of the UAF Speaking Center
Michael C. Souders, Ph.D
Michael is the new coordinator for the UAF Speaking Center. He earned his Ph.D in Commmunication Studies from the University of Kansas in 2011, specializing in rhetoric and argumentation. He has nine years of experience teaching and coaching public speaking and helped coach the 2009 National Debate Tournament champions at the University of Kansas. Michael is originally from Anacortes, Washington but has also lived in Hawaii, California, New Mexico, Georgia, Colorado, Kansas and now Alaska.