Meet Our Staff

The Residence Life team consists of professional staff members and selected student leaders (Resident Assistants) who 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 develop a partnership with our residents. This partnership provides many opportunities for personal growth, intellectual and leadership development, and maturity in your learning-living environment.

Professional Staff

Scott Mitchell
Assistant Dean of Students/Director of Residence Life
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 is currently pursuing an Ed.D. in Higher Education and Organizational Change from Benedictine University (Lisle, IL).  

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

John Nicholson
Residence Hall Director – Small Houses Complex
M.S.E., Fort Hays State University
B.S. Truman State University

John Nicholson is the Residence Hall Director for the small houses, he joined the Rockford University staff in June of 2017. John is originally from Glenview, Illinois and received a Bachelor of Science in justice systems and a minor in economics from Truman State University (Kirksville, MO). He also holds a Master of Science in Education from Fort Hays State University (Hays, KS).

As a new professional John is actively engaged in multiple associations including Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education (NASPA) and the Association for Orientation, Transition, and Retention (NODA). John is a new member in Great Lakes Association of College and University Housing Officers (GLACUHO).

Molly Hutchcroft
Residence Hall Director – Cummings Complex and Olson Hall
M.S.W., University of Denver
B.A. Psychology, DePaul University

Molly Hutchcroft is the Residence Hall Director for Cummings Complex and Olson Hall. She joined the Rockford University staff in August 2017 after graduating with her Master’s Degree in Social Work, with a concentration on mental health, from the University of Denver. Prior to living in Denver, CO, Molly lived in Chicago for four years while pursuing her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology at DePaul University. She is originally from Hiawatha, IA.

Working with many different populations over the past six years, Molly brings a new perspective to Rockford University. Molly began working with college students when she was at DePaul University by being a Resident Advisor and being on the executive board for Residence Hall Council. When she graduated and moved to Denver, she began working with children 5-17 years of age with behavioral and mental health concerns in a residential setting providing crisis response. She also worked with college students who had experienced interpersonal violence, brought in discussions about interpersonal violence into the classrooms, and assisted with many other events to bring awareness about interpersonal violence to the college environment. Molly has also worked with adults struggling with substance use and mental health. Molly is a recent member of the Great Lakes Association of College and University Housing Officers (GLACUHO) and hopes to become a member of other Student Affairs organizations.

Resident Assistant Staff

Resident Assistants (RA) are upper-class student leaders who are carefully selected and trained to help foster a learning-living environment in the residence halls at Rockford University. The RA’s are assigned a high degree of responsibility in working with the students and administration to create and maintain a safe, productive community in the halls.

RAs are also on the front lines of assisting new students in making the transition to university life as smooth as possible. Through various activities, RAs help students adjust to life at Rockford University by putting on programs that encourage students to develop and master life skills such as problem solving and critical thinking while developing their individuality. Your RA will be there to listen to and answer your questions (or refer you to someone who can), and take a genuine interest in you as a person. Your RA will also confront you if you are violating policy and will ask you to confront each other when someone else’s behavior is a problem.

Resident Assistants are generally selected towards the end of the spring semester. If you are interested in becoming a RA, we encourage you to look over the application and speak with a current RA.

Barnes Hall

Sintheyah (Sindy)

Academic Year: Senior
Major:  English & Sociology
Concentration:  Criminal Justice 
Hometown: Rockford, IL

Emerson Hall

Haley

Academic Year:  Junior
Major: Nursing
Hometown: Sandwich, IL

Olson Hall

Nathan (Nate)

Academic Year:  Junior
Major:  Biology Pre-Med
Hometown: Winnebago, IL

Caster Hall

Abigail (Abbie)

Academic year: Junior
Major: Nursing
Hometown: McHenry, IL

Lathrop Hall

Finnley

Academic Year:  Junior
Major:  Studio Fine Arts
Concentration:  Printmaking
Hometown: Santa Fe, NM

Svenson Hall

Sarah

Academic Year:  Junior
Major:  Dance
Hometown: Virginia Beach, VA