Residence Life Staff
The Residence Life Staff provide an on-site network of 24-hour assistance for residents in the student housing complex. This team handles day-to-day administrative functions of student housing and is prepared to address all personal and community needs, including social and educational programming. In addition to the two full-time and two part-time live-in professionals, a full-time Residential Maintenance Coordinator, a security officer, and nine paraprofessional student leaders are employed to ensure that a positive environment is maintained in student housing, conducive for living and learning.
Christopher Washko
Residence Life Manager
Washko is the UAS Residence Life Manager, overseeing all matters of residential living at the university. He has nearly eight years of professional experience in residence life, leadership development, student activities, and campus wellness. Prior to coming to UAS he served as the Director of Residence Life at a regional boarding school and postsecondary vocational program in the rural village of Galena, in the Alaskan Interior. He instructs SLIRP and advises Alpha Phi Omega and Omicron Delta Kappa.
Washko earned his Masters of Science degree in Student Affairs and Higher Education from Indiana State University, and a BS in Biology and a BA in Art & Design from Alma College in Michigan. He is currently completing his Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration through Indiana State. Washko lives on campus with his pampered cat and Addie, the Lodge Dog, who both thrive on attention from residents. Both he and his pets enjoy the outdoors, board games, and visits from students bearing baked goods. Please feel free to address Washko with any concerns, suggestions, or ideas related to the facilities, atmosphere, programs, policies, or staff of Student Housing. His office is in the Lodge, Rm 103.
Kenner Barnes
Banfield Hall Residence Coordinator, Summer Conferencing Guest Services
Kenner Barnes is the Residence Hall Coordinator, primarily responsible for Banfield Hall and managing the Lodge Desk. Additionally, she coordinates guest services for summer conference housing. Kenner joins us after finishing her BA in Political Science and English from the University of Idaho, where she was a Graduate Assistant Residence Director and managed three large residence halls. Kenner is continuing her education at UAS in the Masters of Public Administration program. Kenner advises Community Council and coordinates the Housing Hosts program and the Academic Success workshop series with the Learning Center. Her primary focus is to assist first-year residents in their transition to college life, so stop by her office in the Lodge to visit (across from the Lodge Desk, Rm 105).
Annie Dawson
Apartment Residence Coordinator
Annie Dawson is primarily responsible for building community with residents living in the apartments and empowering them to be successful. Annie just arrived in Juneau in August after working as an Area Coordinator for Residence Life at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Prior to that, she worked at Elon University in North Carolina as an Assistant Director of Residence Life. She is also a UAS student enrolled in the Outdoor Skills and Leadership (ODS) certificate program and hopes to coordinate an outdoor excursion for students living in housing. Annie earned her MS in Student Affairs in Higher Education from Colorado State University and her BA in Sociology from Valpariso University in Indiana. Stop by room 105 in the Lodge to “talk story” (to use a Native Hawaiian term) and to let Annie know how your experience at UAS can be enhanced.
Karl Sears
Residential Maintenance Coordinator
Karl Sears oversees all maintenance needs within the student housing complex. He processes and addresses all work orders and supervises the Custodial Assistants, who help to keep the common areas in Banfield and the Lodge clean and presentable. Karl is extremely approachable and enjoys meeting the students who live in our close-knit community. Household repairs, light bulb replacement, plumbing problems or leaks, icy walkways, door lock troubles, and other general maintenance needs can be reported through work orders to Karl. Difficulties with washers and dryers in the laundry rooms should also be relayed to Karl in a timely fashion. Though Karl does not reside in Housing, he is available until 6:30pm weekdays so that students can connect with him after class before he retires to his less exciting residence off-campus. Karl enjoys frosted oatmeal cookies, philosophical conversations, and sarcasm laced with a hint of righteous indignation. His office is currently located in the Lodge in an undisclosed location. Karl receives messages and work orders at the Lodge Desk.
Community Advisors
Community Advisors are paraprofessional Residence Life staff members who are trained to maintain a safe, healthy, and engaging residential community for residents in Student Housing at UAS. Each CA is assigned to a smaller sub-community within the larger housing complex where they live and get to know all of the residents in that area. CAs provide 24-hour on-call assistance year-round for student housing. They receive extensive training in crisis response, conflict mediation, policy enforcement, and programming. Residents are expected to comply with requests and directives of the CA staff and to readily utilize them to address safety concerns, disruptive behaviors, and general personal and community needs. Share ideas for activities with your CA and be sure to approach him or her for assistance as needed. The CA on duty can always be reached by calling the CA cell phone at 209-6539.
Peer Advocates
Three Peer Advocates serve as highly trained paraprofessional student services staff dedicated to serving the needs of students and contributing to wellness education on campus. Funded through an Alaska state grant from the Department of Health and Social Services, the Student Wellness and Peer Education program exists to improve general well-being of UAS students. Alternative activities, preventative education, and the coordination of the Peer Support Office drop-in center on the main level of the Lodge are some of the ways the PAs promote health and wellness. First and foremost, these students serve as objective and confidential resources for all UAS students, truly working to be advocates for their peers. Call the PSO at 796-6391 to set up an appointment, to learn their office hours, or to receive more information.
Additional Student Employment Opportunities in Residence Life
The Office of Residence Life employs more students than any other department on campus. Student positions in Residence Life are available year-round as needed, and may include Residential Mail Clerk, Lodge Desk Attendant, Custodial Assistant, or Office Assistant. In the summer, students are hired to serve on the cleaning crew and as Conference Assistants/Camp Advisors; a benefit to being employed by this department is that students receive a summer housing rebate in addition to hourly wages. Interested students should inquire at the Lodge Desk and apply online at www.uakjobs.com.
