The Graduate Student Organization of the Student Affairs in Higher Education program within the College of Education is offering a series of virtual panels featuring discussions from alumni regarding the work they do within their functional area.
Please join us on April 14th from 12:00-1:00 pm CDT for our third topic focusing on Student Organizations and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion within the field! Register today by emailing SAHErecruitment@marquette.edu to get the link!
Ellie Rome (She/Her/Hers)
Student Activities/Student Government/Leadership Programming, Madison College
Ellie Rome graduated from the SAHE program in 2016. Before coming to Marquette, she started her career in residence life at her alma mater, Lawrence University, which solidified her decision to pursue a career in student affairs and return to school. During graduate school and immediately after, she worked in Student Involvement at UW-Milwaukee, supporting student organizations, developing leadership programs, and advising the fraternity and sorority community. Since she left Milwaukee in 2018, she has been working in student activities at Madison College, advising the student government and facilitating leadership programs at this 2-year college. Ellie is also the mother of a curious almost-two-year-old, and due to have her second child this summer. She plans to someday return to school for a doctoral degree in community and technical college administration.
Megan Theesfeld (She/Her/Hers)
Coordinator for Student Activities, Concordia University-Wisconsin
Megan Theesfeld currently serves as the Coordinator for Student Activities and Orientation at Concordia University-Wisconsin. This job helps combine her two passions in Student Affairs: connecting students with meaningful involvement experiences, and working with new students transitioning into the next step of their college journey. During her time at Marquette, she was the Graduate Assistant for Fraternity/Sorority Life at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She also held internships in Orientation and Career Center at different points in her graduate school career. Megan received a BA in Psychology from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities (Go Gophers!). A native of the Milwaukee area, she loves to explore Milwaukee in her free time — she’s never met a coffee shop she didn’t like! Feel free to connect with Megan on her LinkedIn.
Mike Lueder (He/Him/His)
Assistant Director for Civic Engagement, University Studies Program, UW-Oshkosh
Mike is currently the Assistant Director for Civic Engagement with the University Studies Program, the general education program at UW Oshkosh. In his role he works to create partnerships between faculty, students, and community agencies that allow for community-based learning to happen in the classroom as part of general education courses. Previously at UW Oshkosh, Mike worked as a Program Advisor in Reeve Memorial Union, overseeing Volunteerism, Late Night Programming, coffee house programming, and advising the student organizations of University Speaker Series, Titan Volunteers, Habitat for Humanity Campus Chapter, and the Disc Golf Club. Before UW Oshkosh Mike attended Marquette University (M.Ed. ’08), worked as a hall director at Truman State University, and graduated from St. Norbert College (BA ’03). In his free time, Mike serves on non-profit boards and is currently the Chair of the Oshkosh Area Community Pantry. Mike enjoys spending time with his wife and son, biking, competing in triathlons, and renovating houses.
Jamal Epperson (They/He)
Resident Director of the Student Housing Office, Loyola Marymount University
Jamal Epperson graduated from Marquette University's SAHE program in May 2019 and held assistantships as an Assistant Hall Director, Graduate Assistant for Diversity and Inclusion, and internships with SVPE and an RD Position at Brown University. Jamal currently works at Loyola Marymount University as a Resident Director of the Student Housing Office (SHO), a member of the COVID Support Team, and Coordinates the Anti-Racism Curriculum for Faculty and Staff. Within these roles, Mx. Epperson serves as chair of the Social Justice and Diversity Program, chair of the Systemic Analysis Committee, and is a member of the Restorative Justice Facilitator. Social Justice is a passion area of Jamal’s, and they aspire to liberate spaces we don't normally experience liberation in. They are a Capricorn sun, rising Scorpio, and Aries moon that enjoys writing music, playing video games, traveling, thrift shopping, and annoying their dog Nico.
Past Panelists
Anna Wilks-Metrou (she/her) is currently the Visit Programs Coordinator at the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee. Previously, she was an Admissions Advisor after graduating from the SAHE program in 2019. During her graduate program, Anna held graduate positions at UWM in Student Involvement and University Housing as well as at Marquette in New Student and Family Programs and the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Outside of work, you'll find Anna running, playing her piano and violin, and hanging out with her dog Millie!
Dan Garcia graduated from the SAHE program in 2015 and was the Graduate Assistant for SAHE Recruitment. He also had internship experiences in Marquette’s Office of Academic Planning and Budget and at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) Office of MD Admissions. He is currently the Program Manager for the Master of Science in Anesthesia program at MCW. Previously, Dan worked in MD admissions at MCW as well as in the financial aid office at Cardinal Stritch University. Dan is originally from Illinois but is now proud to call himself a Milwaukeean and Wisconsinite! Dan is interested in student services, diversity and inclusion, counseling skills, career development, woodworking, and the great outdoors.
Dan Hamrin graduated from the SAHE program in 2012 and is currently the Director of Admissions Operations and Systems at Lawrence University. He worked in the Admissions Office at Marquette during his time in the SAHE program and completed his practicum in the Office of Student Educational Services. Prior to his arrival at Lawrence, Dan served as the Director of Admissions Operations at the University of Oklahoma. Throughout his career, he has been fortunate to experience the areas of enrollment management as well as student transition and retention planning at institutions with vastly different approaches. When not working, you’ll find Dan spending time with his two boys, Will (7) and Ben (3) and spouse, Rebecca.
Abbey Kruse is the Assistant Director of the Office of Curricular and Student Affairs at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the Eshelman School of Pharmacy. She provides operational oversight to the office as well as supports professional pharmacy students throughout their four years in the PharmD program. As a member of the leadership team, she has led efforts in student intervention and support services for students at risk. Most recently, she has published research with colleagues from the Eshelman School of Pharmacy on student's self-awareness of performance while on pharmacy practice experiences. Abbey has held previous roles in academic advising, undergraduate and graduate student program management, recruitment and enrollment for multiple institutions. Abbey graduated from the College Student Personnel Administration masters program from Marquette University in 2011.
Lauren Thomas is the Assistant Director for Student Advising in the Lindner College of Business at the University of Cincinnati. She has been working in Academic Advising in higher education since 2014 when she graduated from Marquette’s SAHE program (although it had a different name back then). Lauren previously worked at Indiana University as an academic advisor in the department of Psychological and Brain Sciences working with Psychology and Neuroscience students. In her current role, Lauren has had the opportunity to advise a multitude of business students on their academic journey, teach a first-year seminar course, travel with students while co-leading multiple study abroad programs, become a lead member of the orientation and student retention teams, and develop and enhance a curriculum that focuses on diversity and inclusion. The opportunities and experiences that advising has given her has reinforced Lauren’s love and preference for this career path within higher education.
Inspired by her Jesuit education at Loyola University Chicago (B.A. '07) and Marquette University (M.Ed. '11), Katie Trulley has built her career around creating and maintaining inclusive communities that allow people to feel safe, respected and inspired. As an academic advisor for more than 600 students each year and through other related initiatives, she strives to meet this goal. In addition to her advising role, she currently serves as the co-chair of the NWTC Diversity Team, is active in cross-functional initiatives across NWTC, and facilitates professional development trainings at the college related to equity and inclusion. She is passionate about community involvement, serves on the YWCA Greater Green Bay Board of Directors, and was honored by receiving the 2021 Future 15 Award from Green Bay’s Current Young Professionals. Outside of work, Katie finds joy in spending time with her family, friends, and her best friend (dog), Laurel. Post-COVID, she looks forward to attending concerts and traveling.
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