Residence Education Coordinators

About Our Work:

Residence Education Coordinators (RECs) are responsible for developing strong residential communities; forming relationships with individual students; coaching and supervising student staff; implementing area-specific residential curriculum plans, facilitating educational opportunities including student conduct meetings and student leadership experiences, communicating with parents and other stakeholders, and organizing opening and closing processes. Residence Education Coordinators create and promote a learning centered, nurturing residential community. Learn more about the position here.

Meet Our Team:

Timothy R. Williams

Bachelor’s degree in Communication, University of Arkansas (Go HOGS!) 
Master’s degree in College Student Personnel, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

I have a passion for student development. I really enjoy interacting with students and helping them become the best that they can be. I have experience in housing, disability services, and multicultural student life. My favorite part about Purdue is being one of the RECs for Cary Quad. Cary is the flagship residence hall of Purdue and there is so much history I have the opportunity to preserve and build upon.

Joanna Rose-Gross

Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology with a minor in Spanish, SUNY Geneseo
Master’s Degree in College Student Personnel Administration from Illinois State University

I am passionate about developing cultural competencies and helping others, both students and staff, develop theirs. I believe social justice work should be present in every office, not just those that work specifically with diversity and inclusion initiatives.

 

Laura Trombley

Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education, Central Michigan University
Master’s Degree in College Student Affairs, Eastern Illinois University

I am passionate about reflection and growth, and bringing these themes into action to help people reflect on their identities and how they help us to write our life narratives. I’m especially interested in working with sexual violence prevention, education and advocacy, and promoting a culture of equity and wellness on campus for all.

 

Ashley McCray

Bachelor’s Degree in Spanish with a concentration in Hispanic Studies with a minor in business administration, University of Tennessee at Knoxville
Master’s Degree in Administration and Supervision with a concentration in Higher Education Administration, Tennessee State University

My interests lie heavily in international education. I have studied abroad twice and it changed my perspective of the world. I am also passionate about student engagement and involvement. I enjoy building trustworthy and accountable relationships with students where I am able to help develop interests and plug them in to campus.

Sarah Solberg

Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Master’s Degree in Student Affairs and Higher Education, Indiana State University

I have a passion working with students to assist in creating the experience they want while on campus and taking as much as possible from the experience. Learning about students’ passions and then figuring out how to integrate those passions into their lives post-graduation ins one of my goals.

 

Molli Keller

Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Communication, University of Evansville
Master’s degree in Student Affairs and Higher Education, Indiana State University

My passions fall mostly within study abroad. I was given the opportunity to gain work experience abroad by completing a semester internship in England after graduate school. I also enjoy working with student leadership and continuing to help students develop their leadership skills. I really enjoy how welcoming and supporting the University Residences team is at Purdue. My days are often filled with smiles and support from my colleagues.

Kelly Kessler

Bachelor’s degree in Food Service Management, Johnson & Wales University
Master’s degree in Teaching, Johnson & Wales

I have always wanted to help others accomplish their goals and I accomplish this through teaching and training. I love helping student leaders develop their skills for wherever life takes them. My favorite part about Purdue is working with people who love what they do! Oh, and Starbucks too! One of the most meaningful parts of my job is attending different events around campus to help me to understand my students' passions.

 

Raymond Borrero

Bachelor’s degree in Health Services Administration, Florida International University
Master’s degree in Higher Education Administration, Florida International University

I believe every single individual on campus plays a role in the experience of our students. My goal is for students to graduate from Purdue with more than just a degree. I believe every student should leave college with a sense of personal identity, prepared to take on the world as a well-rounded global citizen. The greatest accomplishment anyone can have in this field is knowing you’ve impacted a student’s life. Some of my proudest moments relate to students I have advised accomplishing a personal goal and thanking me for having influenced them in a positive way.

 

Dale Shanklin

Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy, Boise State University
Master’s degree in Higher Education, Florida State University

I am passionate about student leadership and development. It is an incredibly rewarding experience to work with students on exploring and expressing their identities as leaders and helping the students articulate ways in which they can make a positive impact on their communities. No other environment outside of the college campus has the ability to fill me with the same sense of excitement, opportunity, and purpose.

 

Joe M. Ybarra, Jr.

Bachelor’s degree in Music Education (Instrumental), Indiana State University
Master’s degree in Student Affairs and Higher Education, Indiana State University

I enjoy seeing students become well-rounded adults. Each student has the power to directly influence their own future by the decisions they make and the lessons they choose to learn. I really appreciate that at Purdue, there is never a dull moment. There is so much to do and so many people to interact with; the campus is full of life seven days a week. I am always looking for the next adventure. This could be a new lifting routine at the gym or exploring a new area or city for photography.

 

Landen Kiser

Bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies, Ball State University (Chirp Chirp!)
Master’s degree in Educational Administration with a focus in Adult & Higher Education, University of South Dakota

My favorite part about working at Purdue is the students, who are incredibly smart and talented, and are also very fun to work with. I appreciate the Greater Lafayette area because it has all the amenities of a big city but without the traffic! I am passionate about life-long learning; I love being able to create an environment for students where they can learn from faculty members and peers, but also the opportunity to teach something to others that they are passionate about.

 

Brooke Ellerman

Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality, Tourism, and Restaurant Management, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Master’s degree in Higher Education Administration, University of Kansas

I believe in the synergistic power community has in making someone successful. I am very passionate about helping first-generation students achieve their goals. Working with student leadership and building relationships with students are what really get me excited! When not at work, you can find me thrifting or walking my toy Australian Shepherd, Eileen.

 

Jeremy McGhee

Bachelor’s degree in English, Youngstown State University
Master’s degree in Student Affairs in Higher Education, Miami University

Being able to connect with other underrepresented groups and connecting to the world of ‘geekery’ (video games/anime/comic books) motivates me and gives me energy. The people at Purdue are great and everyone is very supportive and willing to help you out with anything! A meaningful experience I have at Purdue is connecting with black students on campus, sharing experiences and helping them succeed.

 

Colin J. Schrader

Bachelor’s degree in Cinema & Comparative Literature, University of Iowa
Master’s degree in Higher Education Leadership, Northwest Missouri State University

During my graduate work, I was involved with Faculty Pedagogy Development, and the Alcohol & Drug Prevention Committee. I am motivated by learning what is important to each individual student and helping them play to those strengths so they can succeed. I enjoy finding ways to motivate students through competition to participate in their residential community.

 

Alex Harrington

Bachelor’s degree in History & Sociology, University of California Merced
Master’s degree in Educational Administration & Leadership, University of the Pacific

My passion area is first generation, low-income and at-risk students, and providing them the resources and mentoring they need to be successful. I also work to advocate for students that may not have a voice on campus. My favorite part about Purdue is how familial Residential Life feels. I enjoy how close we all can be. I love to explore downtown Lafayette. The courthouse is beautiful and I love checking out the different restaurants throughout the downtown area.