Meet Our Staff

The Residence Life team consists of professional staff 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 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.

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).

Graduate Hall Directors

Four Graduate 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.  

Resident Assistants

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.  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 application and speak with a current RA.

Department Information

Residence Life
Student Life Suite - Burpee Student Center
5050 E. State Street
Rockford, IL 61108
815-226-4026
Scott Mitchell, Assistant Dean of Students/Director of Residence Life
residencelife@rockford.edu

Hours:
Mon-Fri - 8:30 am to 5:00 pm

GRADUATE HALL DIRECTOR: Emerson & Barnes Hall

To Be Announced
Hometown: 
Degrees Held:

EMERSON HALL

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

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

 1st Floor & Barnes 1st:  Kenneth 
Hometown:  Litchfield, IL
Academic Year: Junior
Major:  Accounting

BARNES HALL

3rd Floor:  Emily
Hometown:  Glendale Heights, IL
Academic Year:  Sophomore
Major:  Nursing

2nd Floor:  Andrei
Hometown:  Potomac, MD
Academic Year:  Sophomore
Major:  Philosophy & Political Science

GRADUATE HALL DIRECTOR: Talcott & Lathrop Hall

To Be Announced
Hometown: 
Degrees Held:

TALCOTT HALL

3rd Floor:  Jacob
Hometown:  Cortland, IL
Academic Year:  Senior
Major:  Biology

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

LATHROP HALL

3rd Floor:  Bryce
Hometown:  La Fayette, IL
Academic Year:  Sophomore
Major:  Physical Education

2nd Floor:  Nate
Hometown:  Pecatonica, IL
Academic Year:  Senior
Major:  Biology

 1st Floor & Talcott 1st:  Sarah
Hometown:  Virginia Beach, VA
Academic Year:   Senior
Major:  Dance

GRADUATE HALL DIRECTOR: Olson & Caster Hall

To Be Announced
Hometown: 
Degrees Held:

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

CASTER HALL

2nd Floor:  Tiniya
Hometown:  Chicago, IL
Academic Year:  Senior
Major:  Criminal Justice

1st Floor:  Jeremy
Hometown:  Polo, IL
Academic Year: Junior
Major:  Physical Education

GRADUATE HALL DIRECTOR: Svenson & Dayton Hall

To Be Announced
Hometown: 
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

DAYTON HALL

2nd Floor:  Abbie
Hometown:  McHenry, IL
Academic Year:  Senior
Major:  Nursing

1st Floor:  Liam
Hometown:  Antioch, IL
Academic Year:  Junior
Major:  Psychology

MCPHAIL HALL

Athletic GA & VISTA Housing at Rockford University

Point of Contact:  Professional Residence Life Staff

EKVALL HALL

Closed 2019-2020