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).

 

 

Residence Life
Student Life Suite – Burpee Student Center
5050 E. State Street
Rockford, IL 61108

Hours:
Mon-Fri – 8:30 am to 5:00 pm

Phone:  815-226-4026

Assistant Dean of Students/Director of Residence Life
Scott Mitchell
815-226-4026

Graduate Hall Directors
Jeannine Menjivar (Dayton, Ekvall & Olson)
815-226-4047

Abigail Cincinnati (Svenson, McPhail & Caster)
815-394-5023

Domenic Boyce (Talcott & Lathrop)
815-226-4094

Elijah 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)