Meet The Staff

Meet Our Staff

The Residence Life professional staff team consists of the Director of Residence Life and four Graduate Assistant Hall Directors.  Undergraduate student leaders (Resident Assistants) round out the residence life staff team and they live on each residence hall floor.  The staff work hard to help you make the most of your residence life experience. Through a variety of programs and services, the team works together to foster floor and residence hall communities at Rockford University.  This is done in collaboration with our residents. This partnership provides many opportunities for personal growth, intellectual and leadership development.

Full-Time Staff:  Assistant Dean of Students/Director of Residence Life

Scott Mitchell
M.S.W., University of North Dakota
B.A., Wartburg College

Scott Mitchell is the Assistant Dean of Students/Director of Residence Life  and joined the Rockford University staff in September 2016.  Scott is originally from Nevada, Iowa and received a Bachelor of Arts in social work with a minor in psychology from Wartburg College (Waverly, IA).  He holds a Master of Social Work degree with an emphasis in health from the University of North Dakota (Grand Forks, ND).

Scott brings 30 years of professional experience in residence life and college student affairs to Rockford University.  Upon completion of his Bachelor of Arts degree, he began his professional career in residence life serving as a hall director and residence life coordinator at multiple institutions:  North Dakota State University, University of North Dakota, and the University of Northern Iowa.  Scott went on to serve as an Assistant Director of Education and Development at Missouri State University and most recently as the Director of Campus Student Affairs at Ashford University (Clinton, IA).  These positions also allowed the opportunity to gain experience in academic advising, as well as an instructor of Liberal Arts courses focusing on resident assistants and student development.

Scott is a current member of the Association of College and University Housing Officers-International (ACUHO-I) and the Great Lakes Association of College and University Housing Officers (GLACUHO).   Previously memberships include:  American College Personnel Association (ACPA); Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education (NASPA);  and the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA).

GA Hall Director
Svenson, McPhail & Ekvall Halls 

Andrew Johnson 
Hometown:  Minocqua, WI 
Degrees Held:  Rockford University, BA ’26 Spanish

GA Hall Director
Caster & Olson Halls 

Elizabeth Elison
Hometown:  Mundelein, IL
Degrees Held:  Rockford University, BS ’25 Organizational Leadership

GA Hall Director
Talcott & Lathrop Halls 

Payton Crims 
Hometown:  Alsip, IL 
Degrees Held:  Monmouth College, BA ’26 Political Science & Communication Studies 

3rd Floor:  Devon
Hometown:  Valparaiso, IN
Academic Year:  Sophomore
Major:  Kinesiology
RU Involvement:  Men’s Soccer, SAAC
Dream Vacation:  Greece 

2nd Floor:  Adam
Hometown:  Eureka, CA 
Academic Year:  Sophomore 
Major:  Political Science 
RU Involvement:  COD- Esports 
Dream Vacation:  Greece 

3rd Floor:  Antonio (Tony)
Hometown:  Waco, TX
Academic Year:  Junior
Major:  Theatre Arts
Dream Vacation: London, UK 

2nd Floor:  Wesley (Wes) 
Hometown:  Milwaukee, WI
Academic Year:  Junior 
Major:  Business Administration/Sports Management 
RU Involvement:  Men’s Soccer, OGA, FCA, MCC, Tri-Alpha 
Dream Vacation:  Jamaica 

3rd Floor:  Manel 
Hometown:  Paris, France 
Academic Year:  Junior 
Major:  Business Administration 
Dream Vacation:  Tokyo, Japan 

2nd & 1st Floors:  Derrick 
Hometown:  McHenry, IL 
Academic Year:  Senior 
Major:  Criminal Justice 
RU Involvement:  Baseball, MCM 
Dream Vacation:  Italy 

3rd Floor:  Donna 
Hometown:  Kenosha, WI 
Academic Year:  Junior 
Major:  Exercise Science 
RU Involvement:  Women’s Soccer, Cross Country, Track & Field, SAAC 
Dream Vacation:  Spain 

2nd & 1st Floors:  Emily 
Hometown:  Chicago, IL 
Academic Year:  Sophomore 
Major:  Nursing 
RU Involvement:  Flag Football, Alpha Helix, Peer Academic Coach 
Dream Vacation:  Japan 

2nd Floor:  Goomaral (Mara) 
Hometown:  Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia 
Academic Year:  Junior 
Major:  Business Administration & Financial Economics 
RU Involvement:  Women’s Soccer, Multicultural Club 
Dream Vacation:  Maldives, Asia 

1st Floor:  Francesco (Frankie) 
Hometown:  Munster, IN 
Academic Year:  Senior 
Major:  Supply Chain Management 
RU Involvement:  Men’s Soccer 
Dream Vacation:  New Zealand 

2nd & 1st Floors:  Elise 
Hometown:  Stillman Valley, IL 
Academic Year:  Junior 
Major:  Studio Art & Middle Grades Literacy 
RU Involvement:  Women’s Soccer 
Dream Vacation:  Greece 

2nd Floor:  Nichelle 
Hometown:  Rockford, IL 
Academic Year:  Senior 
Major:  Nursing 
RU Involvement:  Women’s Bowling, Royal Regents Poms club 
Dream Vacation:  Puerto Rico

1st Floor:  Michael 
Hometown:  Freeport, IL 
Academic Year:  Senior 
Major:  Biochemistry 
RU Involvement:  Cross Country & Track, Alpha Helix 
Dream Vacation:  Switzerland 

2nd Floor:  Abigael (Abbi) 
Hometown:  Poplar Grove, IL 
Academic Year:  Senior 
Major:  Business Administration 
Dream Vacation:  World Cruise 

1st Floor:  Wendell 
Hometown:  Chicago, IL 
Academic Year:  Senior 
Major:  Computer Science 
RU Involvement:  Football 
Dream Vacation:  Hawaii