Meet the Orientation Staff
2012 Orientation Leaders
Each Discoveries Orientation group is assigned an orientation leader who is a current DU student. The Orientation team is excited to welcome you to campus and answer any questions you have!
Madeleine Alvarado
Major: Psychology
FSEM Title: Inequality in Schools & Sports
Favorite Class at DU: Abnormal Psychology
Favorite place in Denver: Wash Park
Nick Anderson
Major: International Studies, English
FSEM Title: The Theater of the Absurd
Favorite Class at DU: Creative Writing
Favorite place in Denver: Red Rocks
Christopher Bandrowsky
Major: Digital Media Studies
FSEM Title: Expressive Culture in Everyday Life
Favorite Class at DU: Intro to American Politics
Favorite place in Denver: Red Rocks
Landan Banks
Major: Biology
FSEM Title: Bioethics in Science and Medicine; Politics and the Nobel Prize
Favorite Class at DU: Cellular and Molecular Biology
Favorite place in Denver: Glendale Stadium at Infinite Park
Irene Bischofberger
Major: Marketing, Strategic Communications
FSEM Title: Stranger than Fiction: Research, Craft, and Creative Nonfiction
Favorite Class at DU: Photography with Roddy MacInnes
Favorite place in Denver: The Mountains
Shannon Blodgett
Major: Accounting
FSEM Title: Transfer Orientation Leader
Favorite Class at DU: Accounting
Favorite place in Denver: Red Rocks
Megan Bobroske
Major: Psychology
FSEM Title: Transfer Orientation Leader
Favorite Class at DU: Social Psychology
Favorite place in Denver: 16th Street Mall
Kristen Bunton
Major: Accounting
FSEM Title: Science through Theatre
Favorite Class at DU: Cost Accounting
Favorite place in Denver: Stella's Coffee Haus
Elizabeth Burger
Major: Biology
FSEM Title: Introduction to Forensic Science and Real Life CSI
Favorite Class at DU: Concepts in Biology: Physiological Sciences
Favorite place in Denver: Red Rocks
Emma Calderon
Major: Business, International Studies
FSEM Title: Public Cultures: Displays, Performance, and Spectatorship
Favorite Class at DU: Humor: Landmark Cases of the Supreme Court
Favorite place in Denver: The Mountains
Charles Carlisle
Major: Business
FSEM Title: The Geography of Food: Eating to Live and Living to Eat
Favorite Class at DU: Colorado's Rivers: FSEM
Favorite place in Denver: Gaia Bistro on Pearl Street
Natalie Casey
Major: Business
FSEM Title: Teen Grrrl's and Popular Culture
Favorite Class at DU: Spanish
Favorite place in Denver: Anything in the city
Dakota Chastain
Major: Undeclared
FSEM Title: American Atheism: Retrospect & Prospect
Favorite Class at DU: Revolutions and Revolutionaries in Latin America
Favorite place in Denver: Mellow Mushroom Restaurant
Krystal Chavez
Major: Anthropology, Spanish
FSEM Title: Transfer Orientation Leader
Favorite Class at DU: FSEM: Personal Histories of Photography
Favorite place in Denver: Hiking Mount Evans
Campbell Clarey
Major: Business
FSEM Title: The End of the World
Favorite Class at DU: FSEM: Personal Histories of Photography
Favorite place in Denver: Vail
Alex Cortes
Major: Undeclared
FSEM Title: The Fascination of Evil
Favorite Class at DU: FSEM - Crafting Fiction
Favorite place in Denver: Tattered Cover
Gage Crispe
Major: Management, Marketing
FSEM Title: Creative Computing with Music
Favorite Class at DU: WRIT 1122
Favorite place in Denver: BD's Mongolian Grill off of 16th Street Mall or Red Rocks
Tanisha Crosby-Attipoe
Major: Cognitive Neuroscience
FSEM Title: Science of Violence against Women
Favorite Class at DU: Japanese
Favorite place in Colorado: Illegal Pete's
Margaret Cunningham
Major: Hospitality Management
FSEM Title: Paradoxes in Mathematics
Favorite Class at DU: Spanish
Favorite place in Denver: Camping in Summit County
Darcy Dellera
Major: Marketing
FSEM Title: Contemporary Issues in Social Justice
Favorite Class at DU: FSEM: Fashion, Identity, and Society
Favorite place in Denver: Cherry Creek
Heidi Ebert
Major: International Studies
FSEM Title: Transfer Orientation Leader
Michelle Earley
Major: Math
FSEM Title: Transfer Orientation Leader
Favorite Class at DU: History of Math
Favorite place in Denver: Wash Park
Hannah Eckert
Major: Psychology
FSEM Title: Evil or Eden: Landscape and Human Perceptions
Favorite Class at DU: Personal Histories of Photography
Favorite place in Denver: Botanical Gardens
Nate Ellert
Major: International Studies
FSEM Title: Introduction to Hermeneutics (The Big Questions)
Favorite Class at DU: Topics in Violence, War and Peace
Favorite place in Denver: Wash Park
Katie Elles
Major: Psychology Pre-Med
FSEM Title: Understanding Moral Panics
Favorite Class at DU: Gangs and America- Sociology
Favorite place in Denver: Boulder hiking trails, Museum of Nature and Science, Cherry Creek St. Park
Mia Estenson
Major: Spanish
FSEM Title: Revolution and Revolutionaries in Latin America
Favorite Class at DU: Critical View of Latin America through Film
Favorite place in Denver: Wash Park or Pearl Street Farmers Market
Sam Estenson
Major: Intercultural Communications
FSEM Title: Race, Politics, and Inequality in American Society
Favorite Class at DU: German Business: Culture Shock to Cross Cultural Competency
Favorite place in Denver: Larimer Square
Taliah Farnsworth
Major: Biology, Psychology
FSEM Title: Genes and Fossils: Evidence for Evolution?
Favorite Class at DU: Both Introduction to Neurobiology and Endocrinology
Favorite place in Denver: SoBo, Old South Pearl, and Wash Park
Rebecca Gandler
FSEM Title: Stranger than Fiction: Research, Craft, and Creative Nonfiction
Favorite Class at DU: Evolution/Ecology/Biodiversity
Favorite place in Denver: Wash Park
Mikaela Gibson
Major: Management
FSEM Title: Transfer Orientation Leader
Favorite Class at DU: Legal Studies
Favorite place in Denver: Downtown
Nicole Gibson
Major: Communication Studies
FSEM Title: Gender, Feminism, Power & Pop Culture: Decoding Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Favorite Class at DU: Schooling and Society
Favorite place in Denver: Red Rocks
Ally Girardi
Major: Accounting
FSEM Title: Transfer Orientation Leader
Favorite Class at DU: Accounting 3016
Favorite place in Denver: Cheesman Park
Lindsey Goodwin
Major: International Studies, Italian
FSEM Title: Youth Cultures: Inequality, Resistance, and Empowerment
Favorite Class at DU: Post-Communist Europe
Favorite place in Denver: Stella's
Hannah Gunther
Major: Biology
FSEM Title: The Biology of Science Fiction
Favorite Class at DU: Evolution and Biodiversity
Favorite place in Denver: Camping and Snowboarding
Samantha Harper
Major: English: Textual Studies
FSEM Title: The Strange World of Quantum Physics and How It Affects YOU Every Day
Favorite Class at DU: Lighting Design
Favorite place in Denver: Red Rocks
Audriana Havey
Major: International Business
FSEM Title: Torture and the Modern World
Favorite Class at DU: FSEM: Ciphers and Codes
Favorite place in Denver: Red Rocks, 16th Street Mall, DCPA, Wash Park, Earl's Restaurant, Maggiano's
Scott Heider
Major: Finance
FSEM Title: Election Games
Favorite Class at DU: Financial Accounting, Murder in America, Investements
Favorite place in Denver: Any Golf course, Coors Field, Racines Restaurant
Emily Hiller
Major: Business
FSEM Title: Education and Social Change
Favorite Class at DU: WRIT 1733 with Hesse
Favorite place in Denver: Wash Park
Sophie Hoad
Major: Journalism, Art
FSEM Title: Progressive Rock and its Visual Culture
Favorite Class at DU: figure painting, media law
Favorite place in Denver: Pearl Street, Wash Park, LoDo, Garden of the Gods, Rocky Mt. National Park
Siena Hood
Major: International Studies, Criminology
FSEM Title: Animals, Ethics, and the Environment
Favorite Class at DU: Crime and International Politics
Favorite place in Denver: Wash Park
Alexandra Jacobson
Major: Mathematics
FSEM Title: Exploring Mathematics by Programming Your Web Browser
Favorite Class at DU: Calculus 2
Favorite place in Denver: Marco's Coal-Fired Pizzeria
Carter (Tink) James
Major: Biology
FSEM Title: Ray, Wave, or Photon? The Nature of Light
Favorite Class at DU: Perspectives of Pre-Vetinary Medicine
Favorite place in Denver: Stella's
Alex Janssen
Major: Spanish, Psychology
FSEM Title: Expressive Culture in Everyday Life
Favorite Class at DU: Intro to Social Work or Sociology of Religion
Favorite place in Denver: Illegal Pete's, Kaladi's, and the mountains
Julia Jarvis
Major: Accounting
FSEM Title: With and Without Nature
Favorite Class at DU: History of Rock and Roll
Favorite place in Denver: Wash Park
Matt Jarvis
Major: Geography
FSEM Title: Colorado's Rivers
Favorite Class at DU: Colorado's Rivers
Favorite place in Denver: Wash Park
Brianna Johnson
Major: International Studies
FSEM Title: How Thingamajigs Work? Moving Beyond the Technical Lingo
Favorite Class at DU: Global Politics and Economics of Food
Favorite place in Denver: Yogurtland
Shawni Johnson
Major: Business
FSEM Title: The Beauty and Magic of Numbers
Favorite Class at DU: Statistics
Favorite place in Denver: Pearl Street (all the restaurants and shops are awesome)
Aparna Kailasam
Major: Molecular Biology
FSEM Title: Geography & Genealogy
Favorite Class at DU: Forensic Pathology
Favorite place in Denver: Wash Park
Gergana Kostadinova
Major: International Studies, Spanish
FSEM Title: Feminist Perspectives on Spanish Literature and Film
Favorite Class at DU: Post Communism Development in Eastern Europe, US-Middle East Special Relationships, Religious and Social Justice in Vienna, Modern Spanish Film, Leadership and Sustainability in Belize
Favorite place in Denver: Wash Park, Stella's, Larimer Square, the Sushi Den, Duo
Andrew Kwist
Major: Anthropology
FSEM Title: Global Families
Favorite Class at DU: Humankind in Context
Favorite place in Denver: Museums, hiking trail, park
Carissa Land
Major: Psychology
FSEM Title: Feminism and Romance: Can there be a Happily Ever After?
Favorite Class at DU: The Sociology of Childhood
Favorite place in Denver: Pearl Street
Ellen Leslie
Major: Vocal Performance, French
FSEM Title: Listening to the World: Musical Traditions and Human Understanding
Favorite Class at DU: Medieval/Renaissance Musicology
Favorite place in Denver: D Bar Desserts
Christopher Lewis
Major: Undeclared
FSEM Title: Private Troubles and Public Issues-The Class of 2016 and the American Future
Favorite Class at DU: Hard Choices in Public Policy
Favorite place in Denver: Steubens Restaurant
Ben List
Major: International Studies
FSEM Title: Bohemian Landscapes: Environment and Culture of the Czech Republic
Grace Madar
Major: Cognitive Neuroscience
FSEM Title: Mathematics Through Fiction
Favorite Class at DU: Cognitive Neuroscience or General Biology
Favorite place in Denver: The Winter Park hiking trail/skiing system. Specifically around Monarch Lake
Megan Marshall
Major: Public Policy
FSEM Title: Private Troubles and Public Issues-The Class of 2016 and the American Future
Favorite Class at DU: Schooling and Society Sociology
Favorite place in Denver: Kaladi's
Elise Matson
Major: Hospitality Management
FSEM Title: Anthropology and Archaeology of Denver
Favorite Class at DU: Intro to Media and Culture
Favorite place in Denver: Red Rocks
Tyler Maydew
Major: Mechanical Engineering
FSEM Title: Paradoxes in Mathematics
Favorite Class at DU: Engineering Concepts I
Favorite place in Denver: LoDo/16th Street Area
Megan McCaslin
Major: Psychology
FSEM Title: Science through Theatre
Favorite Class at DU: HSEM: Pets, Partners, or Pot Roast
Favorite place in Denver: Red Rocks, Pearl St., Wash Park, Coors Field, LoDo
Allison McGraw
Major: Chemistry, Math
FSEM Title: Measuring the Milky Way
Favorite Class at DU: Murder in America
Favorite place in Denver: I love Adventure Golf and Raceway, the zoo, and Denver Museum of Nature and Science
Emma McKay
Major: International Studies, French
FSEM Title: Psychology of Dance and Exercise
Favorite Class at DU: WRIT 1633 class with Geoffrey Bateman
Favorite place in Denver: The mountains during ski season
Rachel Meek
Major: Finance, Marketing
FSEM Title: Colorado: The History of Here
Favorite Class at DU:
Favorite place in Denver: Stella's and Wash Park
Katrin Meiusi
Major: Undeclared Business
FSEM Title: History of Mass Media Technologies
Favorite Class at DU: Chinese I
Favorite place in Denver: The mountains
Kelsey Meyer
Major: International Studies, Biology
FSEM Title: Ciphers and Codes
Favorite Class at DU: Hazards, Disasters, and Responses in International Studies
Favorite place in Denver: Tattered Cover
Elle Mohs
Major: Journalism
FSEM Title: Science at the boundary: A Look into the Nanoworld
Favorite Class at DU: Intro to Media and Culture
Favorite place in Denver: Wash Park
Dan Mollenkamp
Major: International Studies
FSEM Title: Transfer Orientation Leader
Favorite Class at DU: Comparative European Democracies
Favorite place in Denver: Mount Evans
Carly Moore
Major: Journalism
FSEM Title: Journalism and Democracy
Favorite Class at DU: Innovations in Media
Favorite place in Denver: 16th Street Mall
Richelle Moulin
Major: Marketing
FSEM Title: Studying Moral Lives
Favorite Class at DU: Self and Society or Introduction to Advertising
Favorite place in Denver: Cherry Creek
Kelli Mowrey
Major: International Studies, Spanish
FSEM Title: Immigrant Stories: Theirs and Ours
Favorite Class at DU: Exploring the Amazon
Favorite place in Denver: The Tattered Cover Bookstore
Jake Muniz
Major: Finance
FSEM Title: Capitalism and Democracy
Favorite Class at DU: PLP
Favorite place in Denver: Coors Field
John Oberly
Major: International Studies
FSEM Title: The End of the World
Favorite Class at DU: Ethical Foundations in the Global Political Economy
Favorite place in Denver: The Highlands
Kristen O'Connell
Major: Psychology, French
FSEM Title: Graphic Writing Across Cultures
Favorite Class at DU: French
Favorite place in Denver: DeBoer Park (south of campus)
Katie Owens
Major: Studio Art, Journalism Studies
FSEM Title: Inequality in Schools & Sports
Favorite Class at DU: Alfredo Ortiz's Intro to Drawing class
Favorite place in Denver: Wash Park, Stellas, Mt. Evans
Dylan Perry
Major: Biology, Psychology
FSEM Title: Personal Genomics
Favorite Class at DU: Neuroscience, General Chemistry, Analysis of Equilibrium Systems
Favorite place in Denver: Red Rocks
Caroline Pierce
Major: Strategic Communications
FSEM Title: Mexican American History and Culture
Favorite Class at DU: Kids and Courts with Paul Colomy
Favorite place in Denver: Skiing in the mountains - but I love downtown Denver, exploring new restaurants and monuments
Kyla Renfrow
Major: Psychology, Spanish
FSEM Title: Foundering and Founders of the American Republic
Favorite Class at DU: Child Psychopathology
Favorite place in Denver: Wash Park
Kaley Rickert
Major: International Studies
FSEM Title: Constitutional Controversy in the Supreme Court
Favorite Class at DU: Landmark Cases of the Supreme Court
Favorite place in Denver: 16th Street Mall
Justin Ritter
Major: International Studies, French
FSEM Title: What is a Book?
Favorite Class at DU: Iraq: Between War, Culture & History
Favorite place in Denver: Little Man Ice Cream in the Highlands
Mark Roberts
Major: Undeclared Business
FSEM Title: Trash & (Zero) Waste in a Disposable World
Favorite Class at DU: Colorado's Rivers
Favorite place in Denver: restaurants or sports
Tess Rockers
Major: Electronic Media Arts and Design (eMAD)
FSEM Title: History of Mass Media Technologies
Favorite Class at DU: 3D approaches
Favorite place in Denver: Wash Park
Adam Rosen
Major: Theatre, Marketing
FSEM Title: Melodrama to Minstrelsy: The Popular Stage in 19th Century America
Favorite Class at DU: Business Ethics
Favorite place in Denver: 16th Street Mall
Marley Schafer
Major: International Studies
FSEM Title: Whose/Who's America? The American Mythos in Immigrant Literature in the United States
Favorite Class at DU: Global Political Economy or Literary Inquiry: Theatre & Drama
Favorite place in Denver: Wash Park
Matt Schassburger
Major: International Business
FSEM Title: Pacific Century: America China and Global Leadership
Favorite Class at DU: Legal Studies and Business Ethics
Favorite place in Denver: Cherry Creek (bike paths, restaurants, and shops!)
Rachael Scoggins
Major: Biochemistry
FSEM Title: The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict in the United States
Favorite Class at DU: My FSEM, the Israeli-Palestine course
Favorite place in Denver: Wash Park and Pearl Street
Karin Sharon
Major: Strategic Communications
FSEM Title: Activism and Documentary Filmmaking
Favorite Class at DU: Intro to Media and Culture
Favorite place in Denver: Downtown, Larimer's Square, Leela's Cafe
Mariah Shell
Major: International Studies, Spanish
FSEM Title: Im(possible) Worlds: The Fantastic Short Story in the Américas
Favorite Class at DU: Feeding the World: the Politics and Economics of Food and Agriculture
Favorite place in Denver: Wash Park
Will Sherman
Major: Geography
FSEM Title: Food Fights; Food Solutions
Favorite Class at DU: Revolutions and Revolutionaries in Latin America
Favorite place in Denver: LODO/DPAC/16th St. (essentially all of downtown denver)
Jessica Spomer
Major: International Studies, Public Policy
FSEM Title: Punk Style and the Anarchy of Meaning
Favorite Class at DU: Globalization and International Security, Professor Lewis Griffith
Favorite place in Denver: Wash Park, or the dinosaur exhibit at the museum of natural sciences, or 16th street, or Larimer Square
Stephen Stanis
Major: International Studies
FSEM Title: Youth Cultures: Inequality, Resistance, and Empowerment
Josh Stout
Major: Psychology
FSEM Title: Transfer Orientation Leader
Favorite Class at DU: Abnormal Psychology or Business Law
Favorite place in Denver: Leelas Coffee Shop
Taylor Sutcliffe
Major: Biology, Psychology
FSEM Title: I Can See Clearly Now: Light, Vision, and Imagine
Favorite Class at DU: Endocrinology
Favorite place in Denver: Pajama Baking Company, Pearl Street, Cherry Creek
Roman Valencia
Major: International Business, Political Science
FSEM Title: Evil and Supernatural in Russian Literature and Culture
Favorite Class at DU: Introduction to Philosophy
Favorite place in Denver: D'Corazon
Marleigh Van Alderwerelt
Major: Criminology
FSEM Title: Gay TV and Straight America
Favorite Class at DU: Criminology (with Ophir Sefiha)
Favorite place in Denver: Pearl Street
Kristin Van Horn
Major: Media Studies, Spanish
FSEM Title: Travel Writing: Exploring the World and the Self
Favorite Class at DU: New Media Law and Regulation
Favorite place in Denver: Wash Park
Billy Wallace
Major: International Studies
FSEM Title: Athens and Beijing: Two Worlds or One?
Favorite Class at DU: Contemporary Issues in the Global Economy
Favorite place in Denver: Observatory Park
Jill Waxman
Major: Strategic Communications
FSEM Title: Buddhism in the USA: Local and Global Perspectives
Favorite Class at DU: Urban Sociology
Favorite place in Denver: Boulder Flat Irons, Wash Park, Max Gill and Grill, Larimer street
Carly Westerfield
Major: Economics
FSEM Title: Diversity in the Workplace
Favorite Class at DU: Landmarks in Rhetorical Theory
Favorite place in Denver: Pearl Street (shopping, restaurants, coffee shops), Thrillseekers (indoor rock climbing), Washington Park
Emily Wheeler
Major: Psychology, Spanish
FSEM Title: The Science Behind Web Navigation & Social Networks
Favorite Class at DU: Psychology 1001
Favorite place in Denver: Leelah's coffee shop near 16th Street Mall
Irene Wilson
Major: Mechanical Engineering
FSEM Title: Social Problems through Cinema
Favorite Class at DU: Procedural Programming or intro into Psychology
Favorite place in Denver: Wash Park
Wes Yarborough
Major: International Studies
FSEM Title: The Rhetoric of Tango
Favorite Class at DU: Introduction to Sub-Saharan Africa
Favorite place in Denver: Downtown
Nick Young
Major: Engineering
FSEM Title: The Bible and Social Justice
Favorite Class at DU: Capitalism and Democracy
Favorite place in Denver: Pepsi Center
Shaylee Zaugg
