Meet Our Staff
The Residence Life team consists of full-time and graduate assistant staff, along with select undergraduate student leaders (Resident Assistants). 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 over twenty 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 in: American College Personnel Association (ACPA); Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education (NASPA); and the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA).
Section Menu
Residence Life
Student Life Suite – Burpee Student Center
5050 E. State Street
Rockford, IL 61108Hours:
Mon-Fri – 8:30 am to 5:00 pmPhone: 815-226-4026
Assistant Dean of Students/Director of Residence Life
Scott Mitchell
815-226-4026Graduate Hall Directors
Jeannine Menjivar (Dayton, Ekvall & Olson)
815-226-4047Abigail Cincinnati (Svenson, McPhail & Caster)
815-394-5023Domenic Boyce (Talcott & Lathrop)
815-226-4094Elijah Lowry (Emerson & Barnes)
815-394-5028
Graduate Assistant Hall Directors
Four GA Hall Directors have completed Bachelor’s Degrees and are pursuing Master’s Degrees at Rockford University. These individuals are selected to help oversee the running of the residence halls with leadership, administrative and community building responsibilities. They each supervise 4-5 Resident Assistants. These staff members live in the residence hall community to assist with 24 hour resident support through an on-call system. There is a Graduate Hall Director for each of the following: Talcott & Lathrop Halls; Emerson & Barnes Halls; Svenson, McPhail, and Caster Halls; and Dayton, Ekvall, and Olson Halls.
GA Hall Director
Dayton/Ekvall/Olson
Jeannine Menjivar
Hometown: Rockford, IL
Degrees Held:
Rockford University BS ’23
Accounting
GA Hall Director
Talcott/Lathrop
Domenic Boyce
Hometown: Rockford, IL
Degrees Held:
Rockford University BS ’23
Computer Science
GA Hall Director
Emerson/Barnes
Elijah Lowry
Hometown: Rockford, IL
Degrees Held:
Rockford University, BFA ’24
Theatre, Theatre Management & PK-12 Theatre/Drama Education
GA Hall Director
Svenson, McPhail, & Caster
Abigail Cincinnati
Hometown: Rockford, IL
Degrees Held:
Rockford University, BS ’24
History
Resident Assistant (RA) Staff
The primary responsibility of a Resident Assistant is to provide active support and assistance to students in the residence halls. RA’s work closely with the Hall Directors and Assistant Dean of Students/Director of Residence Life in maintaining standards and policies, facilitating academic and personal growth, and building community through residential education and Student Life Plan initiatives while supporting the mission of Rockford University.
LATHROP HALL
3rd Floor: Francesco (Frankie)
Hometown: Munster, IN
Academic Year: Sophomore
Major: Supply Chain Management
RU Athlete: Men’s Soccer
Favorite TV Show/Movie: Napoleon Dynamite
2nd Floor: Michael (Mike)
Hometown: Allahpattah, FL
Academic Year: Senior
Major: Marketing
RU Athlete: Football
Favorite TV Show/Movie: Bad Boys 2
TALCOTT HALL
3rd Floor: Isaac
Hometown: Bensenville, IL
Academic Year: Sophomore
Major: Criminal Justice
RU Athlete: Men’s Volleyball
ESports
Favorite TV Show/Movie: The Walking Dead
2nd Floor Matthew
Hometown: Countryside, IL
Academic Year: Junior
Major: Sports Management
RU Athlete: Men’s Basketball
Favorite TV Show/Movie: Transformers
1st Floor Talcott & Lathrop: Sean
Hometown: Colorado Springs, CO
Academic Year: Junior
Major: Computer Science
Favorite TV Show/Movie: Dragon Ball Z
BARNES HALL
3rd Floor: Paola
Hometown: Spain
Academic Year: Junior
Major: Economics
Favorite TV Show/Movie: Fast & Furious
2nd & 1st Floors: Elijah (Eli)
Hometown: Elmwood Park, IL
Academic Year: Sophomore
Major: Business
Favorite TV Show/Movie: Tangled
EMERSON HALL
3rd Floor: Judah
Hometown: Albuquerque, NM
Academic Year: Sophomore
Major: Kinesiology
RU Athlete: Softball
Favorite TV Show/Movie: Easy A
2nd & 1st Floors: Mahault
Hometown: Honfleur, France
Academic Year: Junior
Major: Marketing
RU Athlete: Women’s Soccer
Favorite TV Show/Movie: Modern Family
DAYTON HALL
2nd Floor: Elizabeth (Liz)
Hometown: Harker Heights, TX
Academic Year: Senior
Major: Organizational Leadership
Favorite TV Show/Movie: Grey’s Anatomy
1st Floor: Nasir
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Academic Year: Junior
Major: Nursing
RU Athlete: Football
Favorite TV Show/Movie: Star Wars (Return of the Jedi)
EKVALL HALL
1st & 2nd Floors: Mansi
Hometown: Hoffman Estates, IL
Academic Year: 2nd Semester- 1st Year
Major: Biochemistry
Favorite TV Show/Movie: Grey’s Anatomy
OLSON HALL
2nd Floor: Jasmine (Jasi)
Hometown: Dallas, TX
Academic Year: Junior
Major: Kinesiology
RU Athlete: Women’s Volleyball & Soccer
Favorite TV Show/Movie: Friends
1st Floor: Kaden
Hometown: Rockford, IL
Academic Year: Junior
Major: Kinesiology
RU Athlete: Football
Favorite TV Show/Movie: Ted Lasso
CASTER HALL
2nd Floor: Abigael (Abbi)
Hometown: Poplar Grove, IL
Academic Year: Sophomore
Major: Business
Favorite TV Show/Movie: Cars
1st Floor: Abraham (AB)
Hometown: Bakersfield, CA
Academic Year: Junior
Major: Kinesiology
RU Athlete: Men’s Soccer
Favorite TV Show/Movie: Impractical Jokers
MCPHAIL HALL
Athletic GA & Graduate Student Housing at Rockford University
Point of Contact: Abigail (Abi) Cincinnati, GA Hall Director
SVENSON HALL
2nd Floor: Savannah
Hometown: Aurora, IL
Academic Year: Junior
Major: Secondary Education/Chemistry
1st Floor: Alexandre (Alex)
Hometown: Aix-en-Provence, France
Academic Year: Junior
Major: Biochemistry
Favorite TV Show/Movie: My Demon (Korean TV Show)