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 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). 

Graduate Assistant Staff:  GA 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 or 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:  Emerson and Barnes Halls, Talcott and Lathrop Halls, Caster and Olson Halls, and Svenson and Dayton Halls.  

Undergraduate Student Leaders:  Resident Assistants

A Resident Assistant (RA) is an upper-class student leader, carefully selected and trained to help foster a learning-living environment in the residence halls at Rockford University.  There is an RA assigned per residence hall floor.  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 Student Leader application process and speak with a current RA.

GRADUATE HALL DIRECTOR: Emerson & Barnes Hall

Alexandria Santiago
Hometown: Lisle, IL
Degrees Held:  Rockford University, BA ’18- English

EMERSON HALL

3rd Floor:  Abby
Hometown:  Winnebego, IL
Academic Year:  Sophomore
Major:  Business

2nd & 1st Floor:  Gwen
Hometown:  Springfield, IL
Academic Year:  Junior
Major:  Accounting, Business Administration- Finance

GRADUATE HALL DIRECTOR: Talcott & Lathrop Hall

Clayton Duffy
Hometown: Stillman Valley, IL
Degrees Held:  Rockford University,  BS ’17- Business Administration 

TALCOTT HALL

3rd Floor:  Kenneth 
Hometown:  Litchfield, IL
Academic Year: Junior
Major:  Accounting

2nd Floor:  Danni
Hometown:  Machesney Park, IL
Academic Year:  Senior
Major:  Biology

GRADUATE HALL DIRECTOR: Olson/Caster/McPhail Halls

Brittany Crosby
Hometown:  Riverside, RI
Degrees Held:  Mount Ida College, B.S.- Business Administration in Sport Management

OLSON HALL

2nd Floor:  Natalia
Hometown:  Huntley, IL
Academic Year:  Junior
Major:  Biology

1st Floor: Zachary
Hometown:  Elkhorn, WI
Academic Year:  Sophomore
Major:  Elementary Education

MCPHAIL HALL

Athletic GA & VISTA Housing at Rockford University

Point of Contact:  Professional Residence Life Staff

GRADUATE HALL DIRECTOR: Svenson/Dayton/Ekvall Halls

Damian Helser
Hometown:  Lake Summerset, IL
Degrees Held:  

SVENSON HALL

2nd Floor:  Crystal
Hometown:  Loves Park, IL
Academic Year:  Junior
Major:  English

1st Floor:  Iszak
Hometown:  Burbank, IL
Academic Year:  Sophomore
Major:  Business Administration

EKVALL HALL

Damian Helser (GA Hall Director)

2nd & 1st:  TBA
Hometown: 
Academic Year:  
Major: