Residence Life welcomes new staff
March 3, 2020
Timothy Ledna started as an area coordinator this spring and has over 10 years of experience working in student affairs in higher education. He’s from Chicago, but joins UAF most recently after working at a Hispanic-serving irstitution in rural Colorado where he was a residence hall manager. Timothy received his M.S. in mental health counseling from the University of Nevada Las Vegas and an M.A. in theology from the University of Notre Dame. As the area coordinator within Residence Life, Ledna oversees residential student care and conduct case management, guest housing operations, programming and community development initiatives, and serves as a co-advisor to the Residence Hall Association .
Emmett Foster is a former resident assistant in employee, family and graduate housing. He is pursuing his master's at UAF and has his B.A. in communication studies with an emphasis in organizational leadership and a B.A. in theology. As the Moore Hall resident director he supervises both the resident assistants and desk attendants, and manages the community development and operations of the facility, which houses the Gender Diversity Living Learning Community . He also advises the community council and works to create an inclusive and welcoming environment for his first-year students by providing leadership and mentorship in creating a positive environment that fosters understanding, appreciation and celebration of diversity among residents and student staff.
Maeve Spiegler is from North Carolina, and served most recently as the diversity, leadership and social justice coordinator at Trocaire College in Buffalo, New York. She has six years of experience in student housing and diversity programming. As the resident director of Skarland Hall , she plans to bring an intersectional, accessible and student-centered approach to Residence Life, as well as experience in crisis management and event planning, which are all components of her role within the community. She’ll work closely with the Honors College, Outdoor Adventures and Engineering LLCs . She will also oversee the new Impact LLC in Skarland Hall this fall. In addition to her other supervisory roles, Spiegler also supervises and works directly with UAF's residential peer mentors .
Karen Doherty, who has nearly a decade of Residence Life experience, recently left Boston for Alaska to serve as the McIntosh and Wickersham resident director. Both McIntosh (traditional residence hall with keyless entry) and Wickersham (suite-style hall with private sink and toilet space) are for returning students, first-years over 20 years of age, transfers and graduate students. Doherty is responsible for the daily operation, management and supervision of both halls, which currently house 118 residents. She ensures that the residence halls are safe, secure and clean environments that support students' growth, development and pursuit of an educational degree by creating and implementing fresh and new programs that are responsive to student needs, develop a positive sense of community, and align with the academic mission of the university.
Residence Life promotes an inviting, safe, equitable, inclusive, diverse environment that is focused on getting to know, connect and empower residents through education, programming and outreach. The central office is located in the Moore Bartlett Skarland Complex.
Students can get involved through RHA and their individual area community councils, which both offer great leadership and involvement opportunities. Residence Life also hires numerous student staff positions each academic year as resident assistants, desk attendants, peer mentors, office assistants, maintenance crew, and hospitality and guest housing staff.