9/1/2020
Upper Iowa University has announced its resident assistants (RAs) for 2020-21. The RA program is a University-sponsored leadership opportunity that aims to enhance the educational experience of student leaders while helping other students adjust to on-campus living and enriching the UIU experience. In addition to providing supervision and responding to complaints, reports, requests and emergencies, RAs ensure that students benefit from a traditional college experience while attending UIU.
“As they work to provide the best college campus experience available, an RA serves as friend and mentor to all other Peacocks,” Daryl Grove, assistant dean of students, said. “Lead RAs Ibrieal Jenkins and Hogan Penny and the entire RA staff are eager to see that all students benefit from UIU’s mission to inspire success and empower lives within a safe and enjoyable residential environment. All RAs are in this six feet apart, but together at heart.”
The 2020 RAs are as follows:
Name: Ibrieal Jenkins
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Major: Education: Birth-3rd Grade Inclusive Settings with a Reading endorsement
UIU Activities: Phi Beta Delta president, Education Club
Why I wanted to be an RA: I wanted to provide help to residents as much as my RA did was when I was a freshman. I also like interacting with my peers on Campus.
Name: Hogan Penny
Hometown: Paradise, Texas
Major: Financial and Business Management, Graphic Design
UIU Activities: Baseball and Alpha Zeta Phi (AZP)
Why I wanted to be an RA: It allows me to meet people that I normally wouldn’t.
Name: Iberus Jenkins
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Major: Exercise and Sports Studies
UIU Activities: Men’s Track and Field
Why I wanted to be an RA: I wanted to take on the responsibility of being able to handle a residential floor and get the students involved in the school.
Name: Yi Mun Choo
Hometown: Selangor, Malaysia
Major: Business in Marketing
UIU Activities: Japanese Korean Club (JKC) vice president and International Student Association (ISA)
Why I wanted to be an RA: I wanted to gain more experiences.
Name: Cody Lawrence
Hometown: Rockford, Illinois
Major: Accounting, Finance and Business Administration with an emphasis in Global Business
UIU Activities: Men’s Bowling Team, Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Student Ambassador
Why I wanted to be an RA: I love to help people, make new friends and also help others meet new friends. The position has already taught me more about responsibilities and human emotion that will help in my everyday life. I am sure there are many more such qualities to learn.
Name: Brady Krupa
Hometown: Willmar, Minnesota
Major: Business Administration with emphases in Entrepreneurship and Marketing
UIU Activities: Men’s Track and Field, Peacocks for a Cure
Why I wanted to be an RA: I wanted to increase my leadership skills and create new connections with people I might not otherwise encounter.
Name: Hannah Schutte
Hometown: Luana, Iowa
Major: Birth-Grade 3 Inclusive Settings. Endorsements in Reading, Language Arts, Special Education and Coaching
UIU Activities: Education Club, Peacocks for a Cure, Student Philanthropy, E.Y.E.
Why I wanted to be an RA: I wanted more responsibilities and to serve as a good role model for Upper Iowa. I really liked my RA last year, which is why I became one. I want to be there for students and get them more involved on Campus, like I am! This is also getting me out of my comfort zone and helping me meet new people.
Name: Grant Dieken
Hometown: Clear Lake, Iowa
Major: Secondary Education, All Social Sciences
UIU Activities: Men’s Cross Country and Track, Peacocks for Progress, Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Student Athlete Mentor
Why I wanted to be an RA: It offers a unique experience that will challenge me to grow and become a better person; gives me experience working with all kinds of different people, and helps me be more prepared when I have a classroom full of students to teach.
Name: Raven Russell
Hometown: Plano, Illinois
Major: Criminal Justice and Psychology
UIU Activities: N/A
Why I wanted to be an RA: To challenge myself, create new relationships and provide help to my peers.
Name: Matt Swolley
Hometown: Indianola, Iowa
Major: Criminal Justice with a minor in Communications
UIU Activities: Criminal Justice Club
Why I wanted to be an RA: To help understand how to be a better community leader, which will help me in a future law enforcement career.
Name: Gabrielle Palomo
Hometown: Homewood, Illinois
Major: Biology
UIU Activities: Kappa Pi Upsilon (KPY) president, Science and Environmental Club secretary, Mock Trial
Why I wanted to be an RA: I became an RA after friends made the recommendation to me, and I wanted to develop new skills in a different leadership role.
Name: Shaylen Fliehler
Hometown: Buckley, Washington
Major: Exercise and Sports Studies with an emphasis in Exercise Science.
UIU Activities: Work in the Athletic Training program
Why I wanted to be an RA: To challenge myself and provide help for students who need it.
Name: Shania Christopherson
Hometown: Okoboji, Iowa
Major: Art and Psychology
UIU Activities: N/A
Why I wanted to be an RA: To make new friends and create more awesome memories.
Name: Meghan Klein
Hometown: Dysart, Iowa
Major: Forensic Science
UIU Activities: Chi Alpha
Why I wanted to be an RA: I think it creates good experiences for my future.
Name: Caitlin Schauer
Hometown: Waseca, Minnesota
Major: Marketing and Psychology
UIU Activities: Beta Theta Omega (BTQ) vice president, Student Government representative for BTQ, Peacocks for Progress secretary
Why I wanted to be an RA: I wanted to be a helpful resource for students.
Name: Alex Dombrowski
Hometown: East Hampton, Connecticut
Major: Emergency Disaster Management
UIU Activities: Women’s Bowling, Student Philanthropy Club, Greek Council
Why I wanted to be an RA: So I can help students, be closer to people on Campus, and create new relationships and opportunities.
Name: Adrian Wurtz
Hometown: West Union, Iowa
Major: Financial Management
UIU Activities: Peacocks for Progress
Why I wanted to be an RA: To challenge myself in management and leadership, and develop a stronger foundation for myself as an individual and team member.
Name: Andrew Paskey
Hometown: York, Pennsylvania
Major: Business Administration and Psychology
UIU Activities: Men’s Track and Field, Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Student-Athlete Mentor, Peacocks for Progress
Why I wanted to be an RA: To provide aid to my peers with their daily lives in Fayette.
