Meet your McConnell staff  

Get to know your McConnell Residence Hall Directors and Resident Assistants. 

McConnell Residence Hall Directors

 

Name: Sara M. Olson – Residence Hall Director
Phone: 928-523-5998
E-mail: sara.olson@nau.edu 

Education:

• Master of Arts in Higher Education in Student Affairs – University of Arizona, 2008
• Bachelors of Science in Chemistry – University of Wisconsin, 2006

Why I chose Northern Arizona University: I love working with the students of Northern Arizona University! They are constantly teaching me something new. I love seeing students come in at the beginning of the first year and leaving as true Lumberjacks by the end of the year!  I'm also a football fan and love the outdoors (especially here in northern Arizona). 

Name: Lisa Maroni – Graduate Assistant Residence Hall Director
Phone: 928-523-7475
Email: lisa.maroni@nau.edu 

Education:

• Currently pursuing a master's degree in Counseling with an emphasis in Student Affairs - NAU
• Bachelor of Arts in International Studies-Business, Saginaw Valley State University - University Center, MI  2010

About Lisa: I am coming to NAU after completing a year teaching English in two different Asian countries. I also served as an academic tutor throughout my undergraduate career and hold a TESOL Certificate to teach English. From my undergraduate experiences in student government, international club, competitive swing dance team and choir, I absolutely love working and living in a college environment. I am very excited to work with residents to help them feel connected to campus and to help make their academic and residential experience here as successful as possible. Go Jacks!

Name: Jennifer Platts – Graduate Assistant Residence Hall Director
Phone: 928-523-1253
Email: Jennifer Platts@nau.edu

Education:

• Currently pursuing a master’s degree in Foundations of Educational Leadership – NAU
• Bachelors of Science in Marketing – Johnson & Wales University Providence, RI 2010

Why Jennifer chose Northern Arizona University: 
I was really excited to come to NAU for the graduate program but I was also really motivated by the gorgeous views of the mountains and the overwhelming lumberjack pride.

 

McConnell Resident Assistants

Name: Alicia Gillman
Wing: 1B
Year/Major: Senior in Electronic Media & Film
Hometown/HS: Vacaville, CA & Anthem, AZ - Boulder Creek High School

Why I chose NAU/Why I'm excited to be an RA: I chose NAU because it is somewhere that I can call home. I love the four seasons and being able to experience snow! I'm excited to continue as an RA because I love getting to know my residents and helping them out when they need me.

Name: Louis DeMola
Wing:1C
Year/Major: Senior in AstrophysicsHometown/HS: Las Vegas, NV - Shadow Ridge High School

Why I chose NAU/Why I'm excited to be an RA: I chose NAU because of the wonderful weather, and the fantastic environment on campus. I am excited to expand my experiences, and to be a resource for the community.

Name: Stephanie Pichon
Wing: 2C
Year/Major: Sophomore in Hotel and Restaurant Management
Hometown/HS: Gilbert, AZ - Mesquite High School

Why I chose NAU/Why I’m excited to be an RA: I chose to come to NAU because of the small town feel and the wonderful people. I love the weather and Flagstaff is a great place to be able to call my home away from home. I am excited to share my energetic outlook with my residents and help them to have a fantastic and memorable college experience.

Name: Yaeren Hernandez
Wing: 2B
Year/Major: Senior in Biomedical Science and Modern Languages
Hometown/HS: Rio Rico, AZ - Rio Rico High School

Why I chose NAU/ Why I'm excited to be an RA: It was new, mysterious, foreign, exotic, and unknown. New year, new classes, new adventures, new challenges and new RESIDENTS!

Name: Erin Church
Wing: 2B
Year/Major: Junior; Elementary/Special Education
Hometown/HS: Gilbert, AZ - Mesquite High School

Why I chose NAU/Why I’m excited to be an RA: I chose NAU because the campus is beautiful and they have a wonderful education program! I am excited to be an RA because I want to be able to help the first-year students' transition to NAU easier, better, and fun!! Oh and I get to meet lots of great new people!

Name: Jessica Velazquez
Wing: 2C
Year/Major: Junior in Political Science
Hometown/HS: California/Phoenix, AZ - Westview High School

Why I chose NAU/Why I'm excited to be an RA: I chose NAU because it seemed like a good fit for me. I am excited to be an RA because I loved it so much last year that I just had to come back!

Name: Danica Spicer
Wing: 1B
Year/Major: Sophomore/biology major
Hometown: Broomfield, CO 

Why I chose NAU: To have a new adventure, meet new people, and see new things all at a great place!

 

 

Name: Daniel Parke
Wing: 1C
Year/Major: Sophomore/Sociology major
Hometown: Scottsdale, AZ - Chaparral High School

Why I chose NAU: I chose NAU because I wanted to stay in-state and experience a change in climate as well as the more noteworthy educational experience that I believe NAU offers over the other prominent in-state Universities.

Why I'm excited to be an RA: I am excited to be an RA because I think that it will provide excellent experience for future employment and that as an RA I have a chance to meet a lot of awesome new students and help them enjoy their time here and be successful in achieving their educational goals at NAU.

Name: Kyle Homewood
Wing: 2D
Year/Major: Junior in Vocal Performance
Hometown/HS: Chandler, AZ - Corona Del Sol High School

Why I chose NAU/Why I'm excited to be an RA: The Music Program and the Mountains/Helping student’s transition to college.  

Name: Matthew Michalowski
Wing: 2D
Year/Major: Senior in Secondary Education 
Hometown/HS: Mesa, AZ - Red Mountain High School

Why I chose NAU/Why I'm excited to be an RA: I chose NAU because it’s far enough from home where I can be independent and close enough to where if I need to go home I can. Also, Flagstaff is legit. I chose to be an RA for the community aspect of the job.

Name: Jacob Marshall
Wing: 3B
Year/Major: Senior in Nursing with Biology & Psychology minors
Hometown/HS: Glendale, AZ - Independence High School

Why I chose NAU/Why I'm excited to be an RA: I came up to NAU for the weather and the distance. I am excited to be an RA to meet new people and to be a part of an amazing community.

Name: Tom Heger
Wing: 3B
Year/Major: Junior in Business Management
Hometown/HS: Temecula, CA - Great Oak High School

Why I chose NAU/Why I'm excited to be an RA: Who wouldn't want to be a Lumberjack!? I love the outdoors and Flagstaff is a great place to enjoy that while going to school. I'm excited to be an RA so I can help and enjoy the community on campus.

Name: Iris Culton
Wing: 3C
Year/ Major: Junior in Nursing
Hometown/ HS: Page, AZ - Cactus High School (Glendale, AZ)

Why I chose NAU/Why I'm excited to be a RA: I chose NAU because not only does it provide such a diverse campus, it also provides such a large assortment of resources for students. I also loved the small knit community the campus had. The campus is small enough to give me a sense of belonging. I'm excited to be a RA because I was able to have a very close relationship with both of my RA's freshman and sophomore year, this made me want to build such relationships with students on campus. I wanted to positively influence the students time here at NAU! 

Name: Carly Sandell
Wing: 3C
Year/Major: Sophomore in Marketing & Management
Hometown/HS: Fort Collins, CO - Rocky Mountain High School

Why I chose NAU/Why I’m excited to be an RA: I chose NAU because I loved the location and they offered all of the classes that I wanted to take. It was also far enough away from home so that I could be independent but still close enough so that I could get home quickly if I needed to. I am excited to be an RA because I get to help incoming freshmen have the best college experience possible.

Name: Shalana Kelley
Wing: 3D
Year/Major: Junior in Journalism with minors in Photography and Anthropology
Hometown/HS: Morenci, AZ - Morenci Jr/Sr High School

Why I chose NAU/Why I'm excited to be an RA: Flagstaff is an amazing environment. I cannot currently imagine life anywhere else. Being able to have an impact on resident's lives as they transition into adulthood is a beautiful experience. Being an RA is exciting, because you get to help residents discover who they will be in life, while residents end up helping you discover more of yourself.

Name: Melissa Ochoa
Wing: 3D
Year/Major: Junior in Criminal Justice
Hometown/HS: Sahuarita, AZ - Sahuarita High School

Why I chose NAU/ Why I'm excited to be an RA: It is just a really nice campus and the weather is so unpredictable it keeps things interesting. Flagstaff in general is a really beautiful place. Overall, as a career, I want to help people and make a difference in society. Being an RA, you meet new people from different backgrounds and help them adjust to the college life, or living away from home. I'm excited to be working with the McConnell staff as well, to have a home away from home and a new family.

Name: Brenna McGoff
Wing: 4B
Year/Major: Senior in Elementary & Early Childhood Education 
Hometown/HS: Quincy, MA - North Quincy High School

Why I chose NAU/Why I'm excited to be an RA: I chose NAU because it is such a great environment. I’m so excited to be an RA for a third year. I love seeing my residents grow over the year. They teach me so much and I’m so excited for this year!

Name: Kaitlin Rosser
Wing: 4B
Year/Major: Junior in Psychology 
Hometown/HS: Tawas City, MI/Peoria, AZ - Sunrise Mtn. High School

Why I chose NAU/Why I'm excited to be an RA: I chose NAU because the small town atmosphere and friendly campus community reminds me a lot of where I grew up. My favorite part of NAU, however, is the opportunity to walk to class every day with a great view of the beautiful surrounding scenery. I can't wait to meet my residents and introduce them to all the wonderful things NAU has to offer.

Name: Taylor Welson
Wing: 4C
Year/Major: Senior in Hotel & Restaurant Management minor in French
Hometown: Phoenix, AZ

Why I chose NAU/Why I'm excited to be an RA: The reason why I first came was because I wanted to be far enough away from home to gain some independence, but I wanted to be close enough to come home in a pinch. The reason I stay though is because I love the atmosphere and the environment that this school provides. Everyone here is so nice that it's hard not to make friends. I love the small close-knit community - it's so easy to get involved in things here! I absolutely love this job! It's such a rewarding job to have; you get to influence people you've never met before and get to know them very well in a short time. First year can be crucial to many freshman, and I'm determined to show my residents how great this place truly is! I love being there for people and can't wait to help my residents! =)

Name: Chloe Glenn
Wing: 4C
Year/Major: Senior, International Affairs & French
Hometown: Prescott, AZ

Why I chose NAU: I chose NAU because I wanted to stay in-state and experience a change in climate as well as the more noteworthy educational experience that I believe NAU offers over the other prominent in-state Universities.

Why I'm excited to be an RA: I am excited to be an RA because I think that it will provide excellent experience for future employment and that as an RA I have a chance to meet a lot of awesome new students and help them enjoy their time here and be successful in achieving their educational goals at NAU.

Name: Katy Kerr
Wing: 4D
Year/Major: Junior in Accounting
Hometown/HS: Gilbert, AZ - Highland High School

Why I chose NAU/Why I'm excited to be an RA: I chose NAU for it's beautiful green surroundings and to have the college experience. I wanted an out-of-state feel while still being close to home and NAU is such a warm, welcoming place. I'm excited as an RA to meet my residents and make their experience at NAU as positive as possible.

Name: Jenna Rodriguez
Wing: 4D
Year/Major: Sophomore/Mechanical Engineering
Hometown/HS: San Diego, CA - Ocean View Christian Academy

Why I chose NAU/Why I'm excited to be an RA: Once I visited the NAU campus, I knew that I wanted to go be a Lumberjack! The environment was amazing to me. I am a complete outdoors kind of person. As a San Diegan, I was used to the beach. But as a student at NAU, I have access to other outdoor activities that I rarely had in San Diego and I have always loved to learn new things. /I am so excited to be a Resident Assistant, because I am allowed to partake in my residents lives and learn through experiences that we go through together. I have the privilege to be somewhat like a "big sister", by helping them through this next period of their lives and giving them advice. I get to share my experiences with them just as a big sister does.