Wood Center Staff
Lydia Anderson - Director [Contact]
Lydia has been the director of Wood Center since 2001. She has worked for the department since 1976 in many different positions. Lydia's dedication to student union work was evident the moment she came to work at Wood Center. Lydia is a transplant from California and enjoys hobbies such as gardening, dancing, quilting, and traveling. Her husband Bob and son Matt are the joys of her life as is their Gordon Setter, Casey.
Cara Hollingsworth - Director of Leadership, Involvement and Volunteer Expericence (LIVE) [Contact]
Cara began her adventure at the Wood Center in August of 2008. Previously she was living in her home state of Wyoming , working as the Student Activities Director at Laramie County Community College . Cara earned her Master’s degree in Counseling with an emphasis in Student Affairs in May of 2007 and she is passionate about working with college students and other individuals to help them develop their full potential. When she’s not at work, you can find Cara running with her two labs Zane & Riley, hiking with her husband Mike, cheering on the Cubs or just enjoying the beauty of Alaska!
Jeri Maxwell - Associate Director - Operations [Contact]
Jeri began her career at the Wood Center as a student worker (Pub Attendant), in September of 1985. She was hired as a full time employee in November of 1988 as the Scheduling Clerk. Jeri received her bachelors in Psychology from UAF in 1989. She took one year off from her Scheduling Clerk in July 1989 until July 1990 and worked as the Natural Helpers Coordinator and Teen Suicide Prevention Officer at Crisis Line. She was promoted to Pub Manager in August of 1992. In August of 2003 Jeri was promoted to the position of Associate Director of Operations. Jeri came to Fairbanks from Spokane, Washington via Ketchikan, Alaska in 1985. Her Husband, Howard, and her children, Andrew and MacKenzie, keep her extremely busy, although she still finds time to enjoy things such as canning fish, making jams, walking, and quilting!
Dayna Mackey - Associate Director - Programming [contact]
Dayna joined the Wood Center team in January of 2008 by way of Arkansas. Dayna spent 8 years in the Natural State. She finished her Masters in Higher Education Administration at the University of Arkansas in 2002, then worked full time in Residence Life. Her latest adventure was at Arkansas State University, which she had the greatest pleasure to assist first year students as an Area Coordinator for the First Year Residential Experience area. Dayna loves working in the college atmosphere and the opportunity to meet so many different people. Her dream of working in a Student Union has come true here at the Wood Center, especially with programming efforts. Dayna's hobbies include golfing, yoga, training for triathlons, watching TV and spending time with her family, which consist of a cat-Callie, 2 Boston Terriers-Fenway and Bella, and husband-Robert.
Carrie McGee - Fiscal Officer [Contact]
Carrie came to Alaska in 1987. She graduated from UAF in 1992 and began working as a student employee at ASUAF. She moved to the Wood Center offices in 1999, where she is the Fiscal Officer. She is most often found amidst piles of paper and the toys on her desk. Her family members include two dogs, two cats and two mice.
Mark Oldmixon - Outdoor Adventures Coordinator [contact]
Mark became the Coordinator for Outdoor Adventures in April of 2007 after a year and half as the graduate assistant to Outdoor Adventures. He completed his Master's in Education at UAF in April of 2007 as well. He hopes to grow the program to include more technical skills training and certification courses. He has also developed a wilderness leadership curriculum which he is offering through the Natural Resource Management School.
Credentials: American Mountain Guide Top-Rope Site Manager, ACA Canoe/ Kayak Instructor, BCU 3-star paddler, Level 2 Coach Trainee, EMT-1, Wilderness First Responder.
Cody Rogers - Student Activities Coordinator [contact]
Cody began working at Wood Center as a student assistant in the Student Activities Office a few years ago and is now the Student Activities Coordinator. She joined the Wood Center staff in September of 2008 and hit the ground running. Cody completed her Masters at Western Washington University in August of 2008.
Terin Porter - New Student Orientation Coordinator [contact]
Terin joined the Wood Center Family for the first time in August of 2005, as a Leadership Program Student Assistant. That spring, she interned as the Wood Center Public Relations Coordinator. After graduating in May 2006, Terin worked for LARS, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and Satterberg Law Office. In June of 2008, Terin became the Wood Center New Student Orientation Coordinator, and was thrilled to return to UAF and its wonderful student union building. Terin loves UAF and has a passion for positive student development. She loves dancing, boating, camping, yoga, spending quality time with family and friends, and living with her husband, Benjamin, and their two crazy Blue Heeler puppies, Maggie Mae and Augustus.
Heather Kraemer - Pub Manager [contact]
Heather, a UAF Alumnus, was born and raised here in Alaska. She joined the ranks of Wood Center in 2003 as a student employee and more recently as a staff member in 2007. She enjoys camping, hiking, reading, skiing, rafting, exercise, music, writing, movies, beading, the environment and her two very entertaining kitties Onyx and Yuki. Heather loves Alaska and UAF, it has been a truly rewarding experience for her to facilitate the outlets and opportunities the Wood Center Pub provides for it's students, faculty and staff.
Nicole Pearce - Scheduling Coordinator [contact]
Nicole joined the Wood Center team in July of 2009. Before moving to Fairbanks, Nicole was a Stewardship Director for both The Nature Conservancy of Michigan and Jefferson Land Trust in Port Townsend, Washington. She has worked as a kayak guide on Lake Superior and as Head Naturalist at Denali Backcountry Lodge. Since moving to Fairbanks two years ago, she has worked at the Alaska Bird Observatory as their Membership Manager.
Nicole enjoys exploring the hills and valleys around her home on Chena Hot Springs Road with her partner David and dog Brody. She is an active member, volunteer, and soon to be board member of the Interior Alaska Land Trust. In her free time, she posts recipes and anecdotes about living in Fairbanks on her blog, Arctic Garden Studio.
Ginny Austin - Assistant Coordinator of Student Organizations [contact]
Ginny recently joined the Wood Center in January of 2009 after eight years of teaching at an international boarding school in Senegal, West Africa.
She’s happy to be working in the university setting and ridiculously excited about being in Alaska. But please bear with her — she’s still adjusting to the cold.
Julene Lowdermilk - Wood Center Fiscal Technician/Administrative Assistant [contact]
Julene was born and raised in Fairbanks. She's always said you have to really love it here or be a little crazy to live here. She thinks she's both! Julene first started at the University in 1991 and has taken on many different jobs across campus over the years, and now calls Wood Center, home.
She shares her life with her Jack Russell, Lady (15); husband of 25 years Tim; sons, Josh and Chad; and grandson Riley! She loves all kinds of critters (especially dogs) and loves life!
Pastimes are enjoying the company of friends and family, and traveling.
Raymie Rushing - Student Organizations Fiscal Technician [Contact]
Raymie joined Wood Center in the fall of 2009 and is very excited to be part of such a wonderful team and organization! She was raised in beautiful Sedona, AZ and spent many years exploring the lower 48. Her professional background lies in property management, project management and real estate development, with an emphasis in accounting. When away from work, you will find her taking pictures, traveling, and enjoying life with her husband, teenage daughter and, of course, her many dogs.
Laura Beebe - Graduate Assistant for Outdoor Adventures [Contact]