About us

Ashley joined the Campus Advising Solutions in January 2020 after advising students within International and Areas Studies majors for five years. When the Campus Advising Solutions transitioned into the Navigate Hub for Exploring Students and Campus Advising Solutions (CAS), she joined the CAS team to continue to serve both students and academic advisors at the U.  As an undergraduate, she double majored in English and History before moving to Utah to earn a Master’s degree in History at the U. Having been a first-gen student, Ashley is passionate about working with students during orientation in finding their place at the U and in identifying the possibilities that come through learning.

David has been with the Navigate Hub for Exploring Students since March 1996. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in French (plus a Secretarial Certificate) from the University of Utah and attended the University of Washington for one year.

Emily joined the Navigate Hub for Exploring Students team in April 2024. She is a University of Utah Alumni with a BA in English, earned her post master’s degree in educational psychology from Brooklyn College (CUNY), and certified as an ICF life coach. Emily is passionate about helping students identify their personal strengths to deepen their self-understanding and chart their individual pathway to success. Off duty, Emily is probably in the garden or trying new recipes.

Amber joined the Navigate Hub for Exploring Students team in July 2024 after 8 years in Student Affairs. She received her BA in Sociology with a Minor in Criminal Justice from Fort Hays State University, and her M.Ed in Educational Leadership & Policy at the U. Amber is passionate about helping students find community and success on campus. When she's not at work, she enjoys spending time with her partner, kiddo, and 2 black cats, reading, and watching Colorado Avalanche hockey.

Born and raised in Salt Lake City, Cassidy developed a deep appreciation for the opportunities life has offered her. She earned her degree in Early Childhood Education from Grand Canyon University and later pursued a Master of Science in Management and Leadership from Western Governors University. Since 2018, she has worked full-time in higher education, where she admires the grit and determination of students striving for a better future. Cassidy is passionate about the arts, spending time with her son, health and wellness, sharing laughter, and cheering on her favorite teams. Go Utah! Go Celtics!

Madeline graduated from the U with Honors B.S. degrees in Psychology & Health, Society & Policy, & a B.S. in International Studies with Minors in Leadership Studies & Health. She graduated in 2018 with her Master’s Degree in International Relations from Royal Holloway, University of London.

Emily is an alumna of the University of Wyoming and Western Wyoming Community College. She joined the Navigate Hub for Exploring Students team in 2024 after working in the Office of Orientation & Student Success at SLCC. During her time there, Emily advised and advocated for first-generation and traditionally underrepresented students, as well as English Language Learners. Before pursuing a career in higher education, Emily taught in the Dual Language Immersion program in Canyons School District for 7 years. Her passion lies in helping students find a sense of belonging at the university and exploring all the choices and possibilities available to them in their college experience. Outside of work, you'll find Emily at the theatre, watching women's sports, or on a walk with her partner and their little old man dog, Freddie.

Shelby graduated from The University of Nevada, Reno with her B.S and M.S in Human Development and Family Studies. During graduate school, she became a Certified Family Life Educator and is passionate about helping individuals achieve their academic, personal, and professional goals. In her free time, she likes to travel, watch movies, and decorate sugar cookies.

Breeanna Nguyen is a dedicated higher education professional with a strong background in academic advising, student support, and program coordination. She brings over a decade of experience working with diverse student populations, including transfer, first-generation, and underrepresented students. With a master's degree in management and leadership and a passion for creating accessible educational pathways, Bree is committed to fostering student success through personalized advising and strategic program development. Outside of work, she stays busy raising her kids and running a small family farm. Bree is also an avid crafter, horror enthusiast, and enjoys camping, swimming, and spending time outdoors with her family.

Jeannette earned two bachelor’s degrees in Mass Communication and English Literature, along with a Master of Public Administration—all from the University of Utah (Go Utes!). She is passionate about student success and believes strongly in the transformative power of higher education. Her work is rooted in creating supportive, inclusive spaces where students feel empowered to reach their academic, personal, and professional goals.

Outside the office, you’ll usually find her with either a book or paintbrush in hand, or wrangling her four dogs.

Hannah joined the team in June 2022. Originally from Oklahoma, she double majored in Spanish & Psychology as an undergrad at Hendrix College and went on to earn an M.Ed. from the University of Texas at Austin. Hannah is passionate about supporting students in building community in college. Outside of work, she is an avid podcast listener who is always on the hunt for the next great dog park to explore with her wife and their pup!

Amanda is a Utah native who graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Utah with a double major in Psychology and Communication. She began her career in mental healthcare and found opportunities within the field to help youth get their education back on track after experiencing mental health challenges. Amanda wanted to find a way to combine her passion for mental health advocacy with her interests in education, and landed in the Navigate Hub for Exploring Students as an Academic Standards Advisor helping students get back on track after academic challenges.

I started with an interest/goal of attending medical school or PA school and thought that I would major in Biology along with being Pre-Med but I quickly discovered that both area weren't a good fit for me so I looked into other options. I really enjoyed my first psychology class and made plans to minor in psych; as I took classes towards that, I was introduced to the Health Society & Policy major. After doing some research, I decided to declare based on the fact that it relates to healthcare (which I was considering), and I was interested in the curriculum. I ended up being really happy with my major, and I graduated with double majors in Health Society & Policy and Psychology.

My first job out of college was as a Residential Shelter Advocate at the Women's Shelter. Shortly after that, I accepted a Staff Assistant position at a small college in my hometown. That position introduced me to working in the world of Higher Ed. and provided me with the opportunity to work with students - which I absolutely loved. I was interested in working with students more closely, so I decided to become an Academic Advisor. I started advising at the U in 2015 and have been here ever since!