Residence Life at Puget Sound

As word of this blog has spread like wildfire among our student staff (thanks to our pioneer blogger KW!) folks have wanted to get in on the action and introduce themselves to you! Of course we love this idea, and hope you are excited to get to know a few more of the folks you might see welcoming students home in August!

Abby Wilson: Harrington Garden Level RA

Hey there! I’m Abby Wilson, a sophomore here at The Puge. So far I have found interest in majoring in International Political Economy (IPE for short), which pretty much just sandwiches together both the beauty of International Relations and the earnestness of Economics. Last year I resided in the Garden Level (basement) of Todd/Phibbs hall, and the people on my floor truly made my freshman year incredible, much more than I was expecting from my hall. My stay there is what prompted my interest in joining Residence Life. This year I am again going to be living on the Garden Level, but of Harrington Hall, which will be a nice change of scenery from south campus to the North side of it. I call Silverdale, WA home, a smallish town about 45 minutes NW of lovely Tacoma, so I know the area fairly well if there are any questions about this funky lil’ region! I’m getting pretty stoked for the freshmen to move in, because my RAs helped me a lot while I was settling in to my new home at UPS, and I am so glad that I have the opportunity to be of any assistance during such a crazy transition! I can’t wait to get to know the incoming class!

Ryan Del Rosario: Seward Garden Level & First Floor RPA

Hey there Logger-to-be,

My name is Ryan Del Rosario and I am honored to once again be a member of the Residence Life Staff Team. This year I’ll be living with the gentlemen of the Garden Level and First Floor of Seward Hall!!!

During my first year at Puget Sound I was the Programmer for the Sewlangster (Seward/Regester/Langlow) Resident Hall Association (RHA). This was the opportunity of a lifetime because while it gave me the chance to create programs for my living community, it also gave me the voice to advocate for all students on a campus-wide level. If you have any questions about that you should ask an RA! I officially joined Residence Life in my sophomore year as a Resident Assistant (RA) on the 3^rd floor of Regester. This year I am so fortunate to work with RHA again as the Resident Programming Advisor (RPA…Puget Sound likes acronyms.)

But enough of the jibber jabber.

Even though I am a Business Leadership Program/Economics double major, I am a man of music. I can almost guarantee that if you come by my room (which I encourage you all to do regardless of where ya live!) you will hear me playing a record or jamming on an instrument. My hope is that one day I can work in the music business – perhaps owning a shop or a record company.

This summer I’ve been working as the Director of Sports and Specialty Science Camps at the Palo Alto Family YMCA. It’s been amazing so far, but I would be lying if I didn’t say that I was missing Puget Sound. I can’t wait to go back and work with my fearless voice of reason, Resident Director Ayanna Bledsoe and the rest of my wonderful staff team! See ya in August!

“They say for new-student orientation, a man – a RA – walks the streets of Tacoma in a taco suit. He is known only as the Tacoman…the Taco-man? He does not seek vengeance for his fallen brethren, but instead hopes to assist all new-students in really any way he can.”           – Anonymous Logger

Megan Free: Todd/Phibbs Second Floor RA

 Hi, I’m Megan Free and if you live on TP2 you’ll be living with me! Last year I lived in the TPB (the garden level) and grew to be a family with my floor and am so excited to be back in TP again! After living in TP for just a couple weeks I applied for RHA and was elected the RHA Programmer where I had an amazing time working with other students in TP. As a programmer I and the other RHA members planned awesome events such as Sunday night Sundaes, Oscar Night, South Quad Dance Party, and other fun events. At UPS I am majoring in Molecular and Cellular Biology with a pre-med emphasis. This past year I was a part of Global Medical Brigades and joined them on a trip to Nicaragua. I also joined Greek life where I was welcomed into another family! Lastly I played intramural flag football with residents from TP!

Born and raised just outside of Portland I have not had to make many adjustments to living in the Pacific Northwest but have continued to take advantage of what it has to offer. I enjoy snowboarding, hiking, camping, running and laying out in the sun on a hot summer or even spring day. I have enjoyed spending time at Point Defiance park, walking around, or dipping into the Sound!

Although I am enjoying my summer in Portland, I can’t wait to return to Tacoma! I am so excited to meet all the freshmen and work with a great staff team!

Daniel Peterschmidt: Todd/Phibbs First Floor RA

Wazzzzup.

Nah, that’s not how I normally talk. What is up? There we go.

Hi! My name’s Daniel Peterschmidt and I’ll be on first floor of Todd/Phibbs with my co-RA, Megan Baunsgard. I’ll also be working with the Resident Director Matt Jarrell. I hail from Carlsbad, CA, a beach town near San Diego. Whether you’re a fan of the infamous Northwest weather or not, I guarantee you’ll find something to love about Tacoma. I’m really excited to start the year and help get you all situated in the residence halls. If I was from the south, I would’ve said “y’all,” but alas. Well, we are living in South Quad, so we could make “y’all” a thing (yes, I can hear you quoting Mean Girls).

I’m a Chinese major, Computer Science minor. I LOVE music and have played in a couple different ensembles at UPS. I mainly play clarinet, but the piano is my first love. I’m also a bit of a shutterbug.

Last year, I was Director of Business Services on Resident Student Association, a mainly student-operated organization that builds a strong on-campus community by putting on various fun events. If you’re interested in on-campus leadership positions, feel free to ask me about the Resident Hall Association which plays a large part in this process and is a great opportunity for freshmen.

Like I said earlier, I’m pumped to start this year. If you have any questions at all, my door is always open and if you want to hang, my door is also open for that as well. See you in the fall!

Megan Baunsgard: Todd/Phibbs First Floor RA

Hi everybody! Welcome to Puget Sound! My name is Megan Baunsgard. This is my Junior year here and my first year being a RA! I am a Politics and Government Major with an emphasis in comparative politics and a designation in Asian Studies. Outside of the classroom, I am involved in the Repertory Dance Group (RDG), Puget Sound Cheer, LEAD, Model UN, and I also work an on campus Job.

I am most excited this year to work on the Residence Life staff as one of two RA’s on the first floor of Todd/Phibbs so I can share my wonderful Puget Sound experience with everybody. I never imagined I would meet so many great people here and develop into such a devoted student. There are just so many opportunities at this school that I would encourage all incoming students to take! For example, before coming to Puget Sound I had no experience in dance. But I am now an active member of the biggest club on campus, RDG! This club has helped me find a perfect balance between schoolwork and extracurricular activities, and they put on some of the coolest shows every semester. So that’s my message to all incoming students! Get involved! Do everything and anything that sparks your interest! I am very excited to meet all the new residents of Todd/Phibbs this fall.

#MattJarrellismyhero

Mark Howard: Anderson/Langdon First Floor RA

Hello. My name is Mark Howard. I am a sophomore RA in Anderson Langdon first floor. If you are on my floor I hope you are excited for a fun active (sometimes) loud RA. Last year I lived in A/L third floor and the environment in A/L is what made me want to be an RA. I intend to major in exercise science/kinesiology with the intention to become a physical therapist or sports trainer. Last year I took classes for the bio major/pre-med so I understand the workload for a first year and how demanding it can be.

I am from Berkeley, California so I find Tacoma/ the upper NW very similar to my home though I do prefer to live up here. I have participated in track and field through high school, where i ran for three years and threw for one, and now in college where i throw discus and hammer. If you have any interest in track please do not hesitate to talk to me or email the head track coach to find out more information. My goal for this year is to be an involved and extremely accessible RA so this coming semester if you have any questions at all please feel free to ask or just stop by to hang out.

Sam Coates: Seward Second Floor RA

Howdy, I’m Samantha Coates. I hail from the small, hick-filled town of Battle Ground, Washington; home of hay bales and lassoing cowboys found in the high school’s parking lot. I’m the lucky girl who gets to be the RA to all those living on SEWARD 2! I’m a sucker for any Disney or Pixar movie, country music, fruit, the gym, outdoor activities, and any type of competition (seriously, I’ll race you down the stairs…and I will win). I’m so excited to be starting my second year at UPS this fall as a math major. Next year, I hope to participate in our math semester seminar in Budapest, Hungary. If you can’t find me in my room or outside, you might be able to find me at one of my two other jobs on campus. I will be working as a tutor for all statistics classes in our Center for Writing, Learning, and Teaching (CWLT) and starting my second year at our lovely Phone-a-Thon House as a LINK caller (yes, I’m that person who calls you after you graduate for moola #LoggersGiveBack). I’ll be pretty busy this coming year, but I’m more than ready to take on the challenge and have a fantastic year with all of my residents and my wonderful staff team. GO LOGGERS!

Grete Slaugh: Regester Third Floor RA

Hello to all incoming and returning Puget Sound students! My name is Grete Slaugh, and I will be the RA on the third floor of Regester this year. Regester is home to both honors and non-honors students, and is situated next to Seward, T/P, and our New Residence Hall. This will be my second year on Residence Life, and I’m really looking forward to meeting all the residents in my community (whether you live on my floor or not) and helping make your upcoming year the very best.

As a biology major, German minor, and member of the honors program, I’m well acquainted with the rigors of college life, as are all the members of our Residence Life team. However, whether we are new to the team or returning for our second and third years, we also know how many great opportunities Puget Sound and the surrounding Tacoma area has to offer. Among such opportunities, I have had work-study for the past two years in our campus Fitness Center (which is also home to our basketball courts, cardio/weight rooms, and dance studio) and will be a writing advisor in our Center for Writing, Learning, and Teaching this next year (which provides help for literally any stage of paper writing, time management, tutoring, you name it). In addition to serving on Residence Life, I also volunteer in the Tacoma community through Phi Eta Sigma and the Phi Sigma Biological Honors Society, which allows me to connect with our surrounding Pacific Northwestern neighbors and visit interesting, new places within walking, bus, or biking distance.

When I’m not studying in Thompson, our science building, or enjoying much needed ice cream and smoothies in The Cellar (one of three student-run venues for refreshments on campus), I’m typically reading fantasy/science fiction novels, talking with my family back in Colorado, or preparing my next creative challenge as an RA. When I finish with my undergraduate education, I hope to attend graduate school so that I can one day become a geneticist and work in my own laboratory.

So, now that you know a little bit more about me, I’d just like to say that whatever you are feeling in this time before coming to school, our team at Residence Life is here to give you a sincere welcome and to help you discover all the opportunities that the University of Puget Sound has to offer. From murder mysteries and $1 campus movies to video game tournaments and cooking nights, there is a place for everyone on our campus, and though I only get the privilege of being the RA to a select number of you, I can sincerely say that I look forward to helping any and all of you find your own niche here at Puget Sound.

Are you a staff member wanting to tell the world about yourself? Let us know!

Hey hey!  My name is James Spaan and this is my first year as a Resident Director at Puget Sound!   I am excited to be serving the entire North Quad, which includes: Anderson/Langdon (“AL”), Schiff and Harrington (“Scharrington”), as well as, Smith and University (“Smuni”).  As a Resident Director, it is my responsibility to make sure that you, as students, are supported in your academic, social, civic and personal endeavors.  Sounds like a lofty job doesn’t it?  Thankfully I have 19 wonderful Resident Assistants and other student leaders that I get to work with and support in making Puget Sound the best place to live and learn!  As a Resident Director I live and work in the halls, so you will probably see me as you head off to class or out to enjoy the wonderful outdoors that the Pacific Northwest has to offer.  Feel free to stop on by my office on first floor AL anytime to ask a question or to just chat!

When/where/in what position did you begin your Residence Life career?   I started in undergrad at Calvin College where I was a Community Partnership Coordinator (community service coordinator for the hall), Resident Assistant, Residence Life Intern, and Front Desk Assistant.  Let’s just say, it is not really a surprise that I ended up here at Puget Sound, working as a Resident Director.

What’s your favorite thing about Tacoma?  Despite having lived in the Pacific Northwest almost my entire life, I never really had a chance to explore Tacoma.  Now that I am here and have been exploring it, I love that it has big city amenities with a small town feel.  Tacoma has awesome museums, parks, new restaurants, and plenty to explore!

Where’s your favorite place to go in Tacoma?  Check back with me in a month and it will probably have changed, but at the moment, anything close to the water.  Point Defiance, the waterfront, narrows bridge.  Just beautiful.

Where’s your favorite spot on campus?  Anything to do with Commencement!  The walkway is a great place to relax and enjoy the green spaces of Puget Sound and the new hall is going to have some amazing views of Mt. Rainier.

What is your spirit animal? A penguin!  I swam with them in the Galapagos and I couldn’t stop grinning for a year.  They just crack me up and make everyday a great day!

Where’s your hometown? Aloha, OR.  Not to be confused with the Hawaiian word for “Hello” my lovely home town is pronounced Ah-LO-wa.  It is the original home of Reo’s Ribs, owned by Snoop Dogg’s uncle Reo.

What type of relationship do you have with the residents in your area?  My goal is to help guide the community in a direction that is supportive, fun and engaging.  A lot of this work comes through working with my wonderful Resident Assistant team and Residence Hall Association.  With that said, I also am always available (and usually need an excuse to get away from my office) and would love to grab a coffee, play a game or just chat about life.

How would you describe yourself in 3 words? Playful, inquisitive, real

What do you like to do in your spare time?  I am a board game enthusiast and love to play new games!  I also love to cook (usually) and go out to eat.  I try to work it all off by playing soccer, basketball or *insert sport here*.  I am also a diehard Oregon Duck football and basketball fan #WTD, Trail Blazer fanatic  #ripcity, and an expert GM in Fantasy Football.  Translation: I watch/enjoy sports.

What’s your favorite movie? The Big Bang Theory.  Ok, I’m cheating… but for real. If forced to choose a MOVIE, A Beautiful Mind.

What’s your favorite station/meal in the SUB? TBD.  Check with me at the end of Fall Semester and I will let you know.

What’s your favorite Diversions/Opp drink? Traditional, classy and simple: 12oz. Americano, no-room.

If you could do anything over again in college, join any different society, take any new class–would you? What would you do? I honestly would change very little except that I would have traveled more during college including doing a semester abroad.  However, my best advice is to explore and be open-minded.  College is all about finding your passion.  Take classes that sound exciting!  Be in groups that are engaging.  Don’t settle.

Is this thing on?  Hello, my name is Matt Jarrell, and I am proud to start my second year at the University of Puget Sound as Resident Director for Todd/Phibbs Hall and the campus houses.  As a Resident Director, I oversee the supervision of the Resident Assistant staff, hall programming, community development, and student conduct.  I also live in the hall, and my office is located on the first floor in TP, so it is very easy to meet with me!  Together with the RA staff, I work to provide intentional environments where you are supported and challenged, so that you may discover, value, and enhance yourself and your community.

When/where/in what position did you begin your Residence Life career? My Residence Life journey started as student at Western Washington University for two years, and my professional career began at the University of Puget Sound in 2012 in my current role as Resident Director for Todd/Phibbs Hall and the on-campus houses.

What’s your favorite thing about Tacoma? Tacoma is not your average “college town.”  My favorite thing about Tacoma is how much there is to explore. We have mountains, the ocean and handfuls of different cultures to experience through food, music and more.

Where’s your favorite place to go in Tacoma? Point Defiance Park is my second home.  Go for a run along many of the trails, kayak or pack a picnic when the weather is nice.  Explore Fort Nisqually.  If that isn’t enough, they even have go carts.  Yep.  Go carts.

Where’s your favorite spot on campus? I’m lucky to live so close to Todd Field.  The grass is luscious and it’s a hotspot for students to play sports, enjoy the sun or study outside.  Come early so you can claim a spot of your own.  Maybe bring a Frisbee and laugh loudly so I’ll come outside and ask what’s so funny?

What is your spirit animal? My spirit animal is a boxer.  (The dog, not the human that punches a lot.)

Where’s your hometown? Federal Way, WA.  Home of Wildwaves, the giant waterpark you can see from I-5.  It’s just north of campus and is made up of a million strip malls and shopping centers.

What type of relationship do you have with the residents in your area? My goal is to educate students about our policies and procedures, and hold them accountable when necessary.  Living in the hall with students, there is a lot of laughter, ridiculous memories, and personal growth that I’m lucky enough to be part of.

How would you describe yourself in 3 words? “Male Leslie Knope” (Parks and Rec).  If you don’t watch that show, you should start.  But here are three adjectives if you aren’t familiar with the character: Outgoing. Thoughtful. Optimistic.

What do you like to do in your spare time? In my spare time I like to run so I can eat whatever I want to.  I’m in a pretty serious relationship with my Netflix account.  I’m also a fan of going on adventures and spending time with friends and family.

What’s your favorite movie? Bridesmaids.  #lookaway

What’s your favorite station/meal in the SUB? Weekend brunch.  All day.  Everyday.

What’s your favorite Diversions/Opp drink? Fall Semester:  Green Tea.  Spring Semester: Green tea lemonade.

If you could do anything over again in college, join any different society, take any new class–would you? What would you do? My best advice for college is to be fearless.  I wish I didn’t listen to the voice in my head wondering what people would think if I did this or that.  If you’re interested in doing something, be brave, find some initiative and do it.  You control your college experience.  Don’t check the temperature of the water with your one of your toes, dive in and enjoy before it’s over.

Hi there! My name is Jenni Chadick, and I am so excited to be starting my fifth year at Puget Sound. My role in our department is to coordinate the training of our student and professional staff, run our recruitment and selection process, advise our residential student government (RSA), and many other “duties as assigned” as we like to say in our field. As a Pacific Northwest native, I love living in Tacoma and I can’t wait to share my love of the south sound with all our new students starting in August.

When/where/in what position did you begin your Residence Life career? While I was in Residence Life as a student at Western Washington University (go Vikings!) for two years, my professional career began right here at Puget Sound in 2009. I was an RD for three years in Todd/Phibbs, garden level. It was a great experience!

What’s your favorite thing about Tacoma? The community. It’s hard to sum it up, but Tacoma just has so many great people and things to do – I love going to one of the many farmer’s market’s we have in town, the Tacoma Running Club I’m a lapsed member of, the parks and places to hang out and catch up with family. There are just so many wonderful things about a city that is large enough to have things to do and a vibrant culture, yet small enough for free parking (mostly) and light traffic (mostly).

Where’s your favorite place to go in Tacoma? I love Ruston Way. Any time I can get a view of the water, I am in heaven!

Where’s your favorite spot on campus? Walking through President’s Woods is always a great reminder of how beautiful our campus is, and how well our facilities team takes care of the grounds. I was here through the construction of commencement walk, and it has made a huge impact on campus – I feel like I’m getting smarter just by walking through campus! I must say though, when the new Commencement Hall is complete, south campus will be a tough place to beat.

What is your spirit animal? A cat. I have two – Éowyn and Gimli – and they are pretty much the best. Just like them, my perfect day includes napping in the sun and eating good food.

Where’s your hometown? Gig Harbor, WA. It’s about 15 minutes from campus – my mom still lives there. If you get a chance, you should check it out! The downtown area is very cute, and there are some fantastic views of the sound and Mt. Rainier on a clear day.

What type of relationship do you have with the residents in your area? I no longer live on campus, but I hope my residents and staff view me as fair, honest, and hard-working. I know how to hold students accountable when it needs to happen, and my hope is that students understand why we have our policies and procedures and if they don’t represent us well know how to challenge that respectfully. I’m also known to ask around for the best bands to be listening to, and for being a sort of grown-up hipster.

How would you describe yourself in 3 words? Creative investigative sponge.

What do you like to do in your spare time? Hang out in my brand new backyard! I’ve taken up gardening and hammock laying most weekends. That could be due to the great weather we’ve been having.

What’s your favorite movie? Away We Go is one of my favorites, with a great soundtrack. How to Train Your Dragon is up there too.

What’s your favorite station/meal in the SUB? I am a sucker for the burrito. I’ve had two in one day before – one for lunch and one for dinner. Don’t judge.

What’s your favorite Diversions/Opp drink? I’ll never turn down a tall soy latte.

If you could do anything over again in college, join any different society, take any new class–would you? What would you do? I would have had the courage to declare as an graphic design major. I have always loved multimedia art, and in high school was very talented. As a first-generation college student, I (and my parents) were worried about what kind of career I would have without a “practical” major (graphic design being an art major). Of course I then double majored in psychology and sociology, and could do what I do now despite what my major was! The best advice I ever received was from the director of the honors program at WWU who told me “College is where you learn to learn. Grad school is for specialization.” It was too late for me to change my major, but I share that advice with students. Follow your passion, and take care of a few practical necessitates here and there. I can’t tell you how many successful, happy, and well-adjusted 30-somethings I know who are doing things not at all related to their college major. It’s about the energy you put in to learn about yourself and the world, and discovering what will sustain you for the long haul. Fortunately, if you’re reading this you’re probably a Puget Sound student and that is exactly what a liberal arts education is all about!