Meet our Advisors and Staff
Navigate Hub for Exploring Students - Leadership
Bio
Julia joined the AAC team in 2012. She is an alumna of the University of Utah with undergraduate studies in Mass Communication and Leadership Studies. She also earned her Master’s degree in Information Systems from the U. Julia is passionate about working with first year students, exploring students, and underrepresented students. In her free time, Julia enjoys gardening, renovating her home, spending time with her two black cats, and sewing.
advisor story 
Bio
Ashley joined the AAC team in January 2020 after 5 years in International and Area Studies. As an undergraduate, she double majored in English and History before moving to Utah to earn a Master’s degree in History at the U. Having been a first-gen student, Ashley is passionate about working with students during orientation in finding their place at the U and in identifying the possibilities that come through learning.
Navigate Hub for Exploring Students - Academic Advisors
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Emily joined the Navigate Hub for Exploring Students team in April 2024. She is a University of Utah Alumni with a BA in English, earned her post master’s degree in educational psychology from Brooklyn College (CUNY), and certified as an ICF life coach. Emily is passionate about helping students identify their personal strengths to deepen their self-understanding and chart their individual pathway to success. Off duty, Emily is probably in the garden or trying new recipes.
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Stephanie joined the Navigate Hub for Exploring Students in July 2015 as part of the Major Exploration Program team. She graduated from the U in 2010, double majoring in Psychology and Behavioral Science & Health.
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Erin joined the Navigate Hub for Exploring Students team in July 2024 after spending 7 years working as an academic advisor and career specialist with business students at Utah State University. Erin moved to Utah in 2012 to complete her undergraduate degree as a first generation, non-traditional student in Integrated Studies and later her MBA at Utah State University. Prior to working in higher education, Erin worked in social services specializing in serving at-risk youth and individuals with disabilities; she now applies those same skills and passion to helping students in higher education achieve academic and professional success. In her free time, Erin teaches part-time at USU, is trying her hand at pottery, and loves to spend time with her son and her pup, Zoey.
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Heather enjoys advising students and helping them reach their academic goals. She graduated from the University of Utah with a B.S. degree in Human Development and a M. Ed degree in School Counseling.
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Zach grew up in Utah and graduated from the U in 2019 with a double major in Linguistics and International Studies. After 4 years of teaching English as a second language, he’s back at the U! Zach joined PreProfessional Advising in Fall 2023. When he's not advising PreHealth students, he enjoys singing with the Utah Chamber Artists, gardening with native plants, and going camping with his dogs, Loki and Thor.
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Amber joined the Navigate Hub for Exploring Students team in July 2024 after 8 years in Student Affairs. She received her BA in Sociology with a Minor in Criminal Justice from Fort Hays State University, and her M.Ed in Educational Leadership & Policy at the U. Amber is passionate about helping students find community and success on campus. When she's not at work, she enjoys spending time with her partner, kiddo, and 2 black cats, reading, and watching Colorado Avalanche hockey.
Hannah HillBio
Hannah joined the Navigate Hub for Exploring Students team in June 2022. Originally from Oklahoma, she double majored in Spanish & Psychology as an undergrad at Hendrix College and went on to earn an M.Ed. from the University of Texas at Austin. Hannah is passionate about supporting students in building community in college. Outside of work, she is an avid podcast listener who is always on the hunt for the next great dog park to explore with her partner and their pup!
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Quentin is a proud alum of the University of Utah. He graduated in 2011 with a degree in Exercise Physiology (now called Kinesiology). Quentin obtained his Masters of Education degree from Clemson University in South Carolina. After moving back to Utah in 2019, he has been an academic advisor on campus dedicated to helping students as they navigate their academics. Additionally, Quentin is fanatical about movies, musical theater and the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
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Emily is an alumna of the University of Wyoming and Western Wyoming Community College. She joined the Navigate Hub for Exploring Students team in 2024 after working in the Office of Orientation & Student Success at SLCC. During her time there, Emily advised and advocated for first-generation and traditionally underrepresented students, as well as English Language Learners. Before pursuing a career in higher education, Emily taught in the Dual Language Immersion program in Canyons School District for 7 years. Her passion lies in helping students find a sense of belonging at the university and exploring all the choices and possibilities available to them in their college experience. Outside of work, you'll find Emily at the theatre, watching women's sports, or on a walk with her partner and their little old man dog, Freddie.
Amanda MacKayBio
Amanda is a Utah native who graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Utah with a double major in Psychology and Communication. She began her career in mental healthcare and found opportunities within the field to help youth get their education back on track after experiencing mental health challenges. Amanda wanted to find a way to combine her passion for mental health advocacy with her interests in education, and landed in the Navigate Hub for Exploring Students as an Academic Standards Advisor helping students get back on track after academic challenges.
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College is hard! Shelley's role as Director of PPA is to help students navigate the complexities of how to be a competitive applicant for professional health programs, and also simply just how to be a successful college student. She currently teaches two courses, UGS 1020: Intro to PreMed/PrePA and UGS 1021: Applying to Med School.
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Shelby graduated from The University of Nevada, Reno with her B.S and M.S in Human Development and Family Studies. During graduate school, she became a Certified Family Life Educator and is passionate about helping individuals achieve their academic, personal, and professional goals. In her free time, she likes to travel, watch movies, and decorate sugar cookies.
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Madison is from the Midwest and recently moved to Utah with her husband and their dog, Fig, for new adventures in the mountains. Madison studied at Joliet Junior College in Illinois and received an Associate Degree in Culinary Arts, as well as an Associate Degree in Culinary Management. She is currently working on her Bachelor's in Hospitality and Tourism Management. In her free time she likes to read, listen to podcasts, and spend time with her family exploring.
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Madeline graduated from the U with Honors B.S. degrees in Psychology & Health, Society & Policy, & a B.S. in International Studies with Minors in Leadership Studies & Health. She graduated in 2018 with her Master’s Degree in International Relations from Royal Holloway, University of London.
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Cristina was born and raised in South Texas and relocated to Salt Lake City in May 2021 to work for the U. She spent 3 years in the School of Business working in graduate academic affairs and student experience and is thrilled to now be a part of the Navigate Hub for Exploring Students supporting incoming undergraduate students. She holds a BBA in Management and Marketing from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and an MEd in Higher Education Administration from the University of Texas at San Antonio. In her free time, she enjoys live music, crocheting, cooking, baking, traveling, and spending quality time with her partner and cat, Drew and Cheddar, respectively.
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Rosie is originally from Virginia and completed her B.A. in English before heading west for graduate study, earning Master’s degrees in Communication from the University of Colorado-Denver and the University of Utah, respectively. While she misses the ocean waves, she has embraced Salt Lake’s mountain views. Rosie loves the energy and enthusiasm of first-year students and is committed to helping them navigate higher education. Rosie enjoys sports and finding new restaurants. In particular, she is an avid soccer fan, so you will likely find her shouting at the television in between bites of Thai food, when Real Salt Lake or the Utah Royals are playing.
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Amy joined her alma mater as an advisor in 11 years after earning her BS degree in Psychology from the University of Utah. She also has a Master of Counseling degree from Arizona State University. Amy enjoys the outdoors, reading, music, and trying to train her senior rescue dog. While he is pretty set in his ways, you can, in fact, teach an old dog new tricks.
Alessandra ZamoraBio
Alessandra was born and raised in Salt Lake City and is a U alum twice over. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Gender Studies in 2017 and her Master’s degree in Education, Culture, and Society in 2019 before joining Preprofessional Advising in May 2021. As a first generation Latina, she is passionate and committed to helping students navigate higher education. She is a new mom and loves spending time with her family. An avid cook and baker, she loves to decorate cakes and is a huge foodie.
Navigate Hub for Exploring Students - Advising Ambassador
Bio
Emily joined the Navigate Hub for Exploring Students in 2023 as the student Advising Ambassador. Having just completed her first year at the U, Emily is majoring in Theatre with an emphasis in acting! She is a member of the Honors College and a graduate of West High School here in Salt Lake City. For her entire first semester at the U, Emily did was undecided on her major. She took UGS 1050: Major Exploration, a class that helps point you in the direction of interests you might like or dislike. This class encouraged her to make her passion for art into her major, and now helps students who are exploring just like was and still is. In her free time, Emily loves to play soccer, weight lift, and watch her favorite shows. If you see Emily around campus it might be her identical twin sister so if she is hesitant to wave that's why!
What is an Advising Ambassador?
Navigate Hub for Exploring Students - Administrative Team
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David has been with the Navigate Hub for Exploring Students since March 1996. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in French (plus a Secretarial Certificate) from the University of Utah and attended the University of Washington for one year.
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Cassidy is earning her associates in social work from SLCC, hoping to transfer to the University of Utah next fall to continue with my bachelor's and master's degree. I enjoy helping people, and giving them a voice.
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Leslie is from Los Angeles and has recently moved to Utah to join Navigate Hub for Exploring Students. In 2021, she received an associate degree in General Studies with an Emphasis in Social Behavior & Self- Development from Rio Hondo College. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Chicana/o/x & Latina/o/x Studies from California State University at Long Beach in May of 2023. She plans to obtain her master's degree in Social Work. She loves to go to Starbucks, listen to music, and is a huge fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
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McKenna is majoring in Biology and is looking toward a career in forensic science. She is also working on a minor in Sociology. Her interest in Biology mainly came from her dad who majored in Microbiology and bought her her first microscope. She was born and raised in Utah and loves everything about the mountains and the outdoors, going camping and rock hounding with her family any chance she gets. She also likes to spend her free time listening to music with her cat while she crochets.
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Zoey joined the University of Utah team as a Happiness Coordinator in 2024. Her areas of expertise include stress reduction, morale boosting, and spontaneous joy generation. Zoey holds a Bachelor of Canine Comfort from Woofminster College. When off duty, she enjoys long walks, treat sampling, and perfecting her belly rub technique.