Meet Our Team
Allen Yarnell Center for Student Success
Dr. Carina N. Beck
Vice Provost - Allen Yarnell Center for Student Success
& Director, Hilleman Scholars
AYCSS Central
Lori Oakley, M.S.
Systems Management Program Manager
As a graduate of a land grant university and family of educators, I knew I wanted to continue the legacy and mission. Montana State University has allowed me to provide services to the students at MSU through supporting the Allen Yarnell Center staff and offices. I support Student Success with targeted interventions tested in data analytics, metrics, budgeting, the ChampChange program, scholarship support via the CatScholarship system, computer systems and hiring and supporting staff that exemplify the servant leadership. As a team member that supports all offices within the Allen Yarnell Center, I see my co-workers exhibit the common thread of service on behalf of students, in advocating for action, providing services, understand circumstances, and celebrating successes.
John Hunter
Program Manager, Champ Change
From the red side of Manchester, England. Graduated from the University of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne. John worked extensively in IT systems support and management in several European countries before moving to the US. A Montana resident for five years, John joined the Allen Yarnell Center for Student Success in 2018 and is program manager for Cattracks and the ChampChange program. He can be found on KGLT playing obscure soul music, organizing the local cribbage club, and watching the world’s greatest football team, Manchester United.
Wendy Soeweno, M.S.
Associate Director for AYCSS Communication
Wendy joined the Allen Yarnell of Student Success in January 2020. As an Assistant Director for communication, Wendy’s role is to ensure that MSU students find the resources they need to achieve academic success. She is leading the communication team in AYCSS to develop strategies across platforms to reach students, faculty and employers. Using her skills from her previous work in the corporate world of media agency and consumer products, she has been implementing brand strategy and digital communication to increase retention and graduation rate in MSU.
Rebekah LaCroix, B.S.
Assistant to the Vice Provost and Front Desk Operations Manager
Inspired by the positive influence faculty and staff had on her during her own time in college, Rebekah eagerly joined the Allen Yarnell Center for Student Success team in July of 2022 as Front Desk Operations Manager and Assistant to the Vice Provost. Rebekah works supporting the different departments within the AYCSS, ensuring MSU students have access to the variety of resources the department offers them. Rebekah received her B.S. in Business Administration and International Development at Point Loma Nazarene University, and has experience in administration support, nonprofits, and working with students. Outside of work, she enjoys spending lots of time outside and exploring new hobbies, food, and places.
Career, Internship & Student Employment Services
Joan Ghassemi, J.D.
Graduate Programs Career Educator
Joan joined the Allen Yarnell Center for Student Success in 2022. She earned her B.A. in Political Science from the University of Akron and a Juris Doctorate from Ohio Northern University. Joan practiced in the areas of Criminal Defense and Bankruptcy Debtor work for 18 years in Tampa Bay, Florida. She founded and served as the managing partner of her own law firm and had the pleasure of hiring and mentoring law clerks, attorneys, and support staff. Joan served in leadership roles in several non-profits including: Business and Professional Women of St. Pete/Pinellas, Humane Society of Pinellas and is currently on the Advisory Council for the Bozeman Library Foundation. She is a licensed member of the Florida Bar and the Middle District of Florida: United States District Court. Joan loves encouraging others to follow their dreams and passions. A licensed Pilates instructor, Joan also enjoys painting, reading, bike riding, and hiking with her husband, Reza, and their French Bulldog, Roshi.
Grace Hernden, B.A.
Career Education Coach
Grace joined the Allen Yarnell Center for Student Success in 2023. Her background in counseling, resource navigation and marketing gives her a unique perspective to guide students through career exploration. Grace enjoys collaborating and learning from students, while assisting them along their career path. Grace earned her B.A. in Communications from the University of Colorado at Boulder and completed an Addictions Counseling graduate certificate through Montana State University. Outside of the AYCSS office you’ll find Grace camping, reading and playing with her mutt Dexter.
Office of Financial Education
Keith Hamburg, B.A.
Senior Financial Coach
Keith serves as the Senior Financial Coach in the Office of Financial Education at Montana State University and has done so since August of 2013. Keith’s goal is to help his student clients pay for school while taking on as little debt as possible, allowing them to “Live like a college student today, so they don’t have to tomorrow.” He has the privilege to work with students, assisting them to engage and take control of their finances with budgeting, scholarship searching, credit, and more. Keith has been in Bozeman since 1994, and before coming to MSU, he owned his own business and also worked for MetLife Financial Services.
Keith’s belief is to always meet a client where they are at on their financial journey. He is a first-generation college student with a degree in Communications (1990).
Jennifer White-Dobbs, M.A.
Financial Coach
Jennifer joined AYCSS in 2019. She enjoys working with students to learn strategies for successful budgeting, find creative ways to pay for school, and develop their future financial goals. Engaging with students through coaching as well as offering clinics and teaching class sessions are her favorite parts of the job. Feeling confident about finances is a challenge and a valuable life skill to learn in college. With a B.A. in Anthropology from the University of Maine, Orono and a M.A. in Museum Studies from the Cooperstown Graduate Program, Jennifer’s previous work experience is in museum education and collections. She moved to Bozeman with her family to enjoy the beautiful outdoor lifestyle. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, skiing, horseback riding, and exploring.
Vanessa Chau, MBA
Career Services & Financial Education Program Manager
Vanessa serves as the Career Services & Financial Education Program Manager in AYCSS.
Prior to joining MSU, Vanessa worked at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas
for 16 years and served in multiple roles such as, Human Resources Professional, Business
Operations Manager, and Project Manager. Now Vanessa will be bringing her experiences
to work closely with administrative leadership, faculty, staff and students.
As a Career Services & Financial Education Program Manager, Vanessa will focus on
supporting her teams and with minimal contact with the students. However, she is available
to answer questions over the phone or walk-ins who needs help to navigate AYCSS website, studentaid.gov, search for CAT scholarships, complete FAFSA financial aid, and federal loans forgiveness
information. Her goals are to develop, plan, and implement strategies to expand the
Career Services and Financial Education programs in 2023.
When not in the office, Vanessa enjoys experimenting with cooking at home, horseback
riding when the weather permits, and traveling.
Office of Student Success
Dr. Amy Lincoln
Director, Office of Student Success
Amy joined the Allen Yarnell Office of Student Success in the summer of 2017. She received her B.S. and M.S. in Speech Language Pathology from the University of Washington. Amy’s clinical background included working with a diversity of clients struggling with speech, language and developmental disabilities in a private practice setting. Her clinical specialty in Speech Language Pathology was working with school-aged students with language based learning disabilities including reading, writing and executive processing challenges. Amy’s love of research lead her to pursue her PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience, focusing on reading, memory and learning, at the University of California, Davis. Throughout her career paths as a clinician, researcher and advisor, Amy is driven with a passion for supporting the success of struggling and underserved students. Amy and her family moved to Bozeman in 2008. In addition to a love for travel, which took the family overseas for several years, she enjoys summer hiking and winter skiing here in Montana with her husband, sons and golden retriever.
Amy Roach, B.A.
Assistant Director - Student Learning Management
Amy grew up in eastern Montana and earned a bachelor’s degree in American studies from Pomona College in Claremont, California. She was a music publicist in Aspen and a museum curator in Billings. She got her start in journalism as the host of an interview program on Yellowstone Public Radio. In 1997 she moved to Washington, DC, where she worked for National Public Radio, National Geographic, and C-SPAN. She enjoys reading, movies, and travel. (To date she has visited 23 countries, 4 continents, and 49 states.) Since her return to the Big Sky in 2017, she has celebrated Montana’s extraordinary beauty by hiking, biking, and attempting to stay upright on skis.
Wyatt Mitchell, M.A.
Assistant Director - Second Wind
Wyatt has been involved at multiple universities for almost a decade in either an instructor and staff capacity. Here at MSU, Wyatt reaches students individually through his Success Advising role. He is passionate about navigating the university experience to help students reach their goals and move toward the future they design. Wyatt is thankful to influence students at a group level through the Second Wind Program. This program aligns with his passion to help those who could benefit the most from increased support and guidance. Outside of the university setting, Wyatt is an avid outdoorsman who loves whitewater rafting, backpacking, and playing with his dog.
Janet Barkow, M.A.
Student Success Advisor
Janet received a B.S. in Psychology from Colorado State University and a M.A. in Education from The University of Colorado. She taught Elementary Education for 14 years in Broomfield, Colorado. In 2003, Janet and her family reconnected with their Montana roots and moved to Bozeman. In Bozeman, Janet has worked at REI, taught Nordic Ski Clinics and been a K-12 Substitute School Teacher. In 2012, Janet joined AYCSS as a Success Advisor. She loves the idea that you learn better when you go wide, consequently sharing the many resources available to students at MSU. Her passion for education keeps her enthusiastically involved in working with students, supporting their academic experience through efficient, effective learning strategies.
Chip Ritter, M.A.
Student Success Advisor
Chip is thrilled to be at MSU and back in Higher Education after 20 years in the tech
sector. He believes earning your college degree is a long-term investment in yourself
— and that the more you put into your college experience, the more you’ll get out
of it. The entire campus is your classroom, offering the opportunity to learn more
about how you like to work, play, and socialize while you gain the skills and knowledge
you need to propel yourself into the future. Every member of the faculty and staff
at MSU wants to set you up for success. Come see us at AYCSS to take advantage of
what we have to offer.
When not in the office, Chip can be found hanging out with his wife and daughter,
singing with the Bozeman Symphony Choir, or banking as many turns as possible at Bridger
Bowl. He also cherishes his visits to Minnesota, where his son is attending college.
Chip earned a bachelor’s degree in Clinical and Counseling Psychology with a minor
in Vocal Music Performance from San Jose State University and a Master’s in Student
Affairs Administration from Michigan State University. He has special insight into
Residence Life, Study Abroad, and the international student experience, having lived
and worked outside the United States.
William Kuba, Ed.D
Student Success Advisor
Bill has over 30 years of student affairs, enrollment management, and academic experience at all levels in education, in both the proprietary and non-profit environments. Before going into semi-retirement he was an Asst. Professor and Department Head of Physical Education at a small Iowa University and a member of the State of Iowa’s K-12 Physical Education curriculum redesign team. Currently, he holds an IRB / Jeanne Cleary Act Compliance Certification and Montana Teaching Credentials for K-12 Health Enhancement. He has an Ed.D. from Montana State University – Bozeman, MA in Teaching from Whitworth College, and a BA from Tabor College.
Sonja Chandler, B.S.
Student Success Advisor
Hilleman Scholars Program
Dr. Carina N. Beck
Vice Provost - Allen Yarnell Center for Student Success
& Director, Hilleman Scholars
Jenna Hicks, B.S.
Assistant Director for Program Logistics
Jenna joined the Allen Yarnell Center for Student Success in December 2020 and is from the Hi-Line of Montana. She earned her B.S. in Agriculture Education with a focus on communication from MSU in Fall 2020. Jenna is an alumnus of the MSU Hilleman Scholars Program and was in the 2017 cohort of students. She served as both a scholar mentor in 2018 and a lead mentor for the program in 2019. Jenna is passionate about the MSU Hilleman Scholars Program as it helped her achieve her dream of an education and she is excited to help build and support the program. When she’s not at work, Jenna enjoys spending time with her dogs and her husband.
Kristin Kawashima, B.A.
Assistant Director for Scholar Success
Kristin serves as the Scholar Success Program Manager for the Hilleman Scholars Program. She received her B.A. in Psychology and Education from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and has spent the last decade working with youth in a variety of settings. Kristin was drawn to the Hilleman Scholars Program’s mission to support scholars on their paths to becoming the world’s future problem solvers and leaders. She is passionate about encouraging students to discover their full potential through a combination of leadership development, peer mentoring, and mindset coaching. Kristin strives to create a caring and supportive environment to help guide Hilleman Scholars as they explore their purpose and ways to transform their communities for the better. Outside of the office, Kristin enjoys trail running, traveling, and going on adventures with her pup.
Ann Dickensheets, B.A.
MSU Hilleman Scholars Success Advisor
Ann joined the Office of Student Success in the fall of 2021. She received her BA in biology and secondary education from the University of Colorado, in her hometown of Boulder. For the next ten years, she taught middle and high school science, math and physical education and couched track and cross country. In 1997, Ann and her husband moved to Bozeman where they raised their two sons and daughter. Since then, she has spent 22 years coordinating the youth and college ministries and leading music at the Methodist church, and has led dozens of domestic and international service weeks. In her spare time, Ann enjoys singing, traveling, hiking with her dog and skiing the beautiful trails around Bozeman.
Stephanie Sharpe, B.A.
MSU Hilleman Scholars Success Advisor
Stephanie’s work as a Student Success Advisor with the Hilleman Scholars Program coincides with her career-long goal of making learning accessible to all students. A former middle and high school English teacher with an English Literature/Secondary Education degree, Stephanie spent nearly 20 years in the classroom where she devoted herself to helping students succeed through strategies, resources, and engagement. Her work with College Board as a curriculum writer and teacher trainer reinforced her belief that complex concepts can be accessed when we provide the tools that connect a student with their learning objectives. For the past few years Stephanie has worked one-on-one with students who need assistance with executive functioning, a critical component of student success. She is eager to use her experience to further the development of Hilleman scholars.
Stephanie’s passions beyond education are exploring the Montana outdoors, reading, writing, and hanging out with her rambunctious boxers. She and her husband are the parents of three children, one of whom is a proud Montana State Bobcat.
Return-to-Learn
Jennifer White-Dobbs, M.A.
Program Manager
Jennifer joined AYCSS in 2019 and Return-to-Learn in 2021. Working with returning students is a fantastic opportunity and it is always exciting to learn someone’s story and find out their goals as they work to complete their degree. She enjoys helping students navigate campus resources, build a plan for a successful school/life combination, and develop the college experience they desire. With a B.A. in Anthropology from the University of Maine, Orono and a M.A. in Museum Studies from the Cooperstown Graduate Program, Jennifer’s previous work experience is in museum education and collections. She moved to Bozeman with her family to enjoy the beautiful outdoor lifestyle. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, skiing, horseback riding, and exploring.
Montana's Own
Deborah Albin, M.S.
Assistant Director for Montana’s Own & 1893 Program
MSU students are the problem solvers and leaders of tomorrow, and it is Deb Albin’s privilege to help prepare them for these roles. Having previously spent over a decade working as an educator for the MSU Extension Service, being a native Montanan, and a proud two-time alum of MSU (Sociology ’09 and Public Relations ’16), Deb knows first-hand the importance of investing time and resources in Montanans and supporting students from communities throughout the state.
As the manager of the Montana’s Own and 1893 scholarship programs, Deb identifies promising MSU juniors and seniors and works with them to shape their life and career goals and complete their undergraduate studies feeling strong and confident. Utilizing one-on-one meetings, group workshops, networking events, and personalized action plans, scholars in these two programs spend their final semesters examining their personal interests, strengths, and skills and combining them with their academic knowledge to embark on lives and careers of meaning and purpose.
Gold Standard
Lauren Larson
Gold Standard Program &Student Employment Manager
Lauren started in Allen Yarnell Center for Student Success in February 2023. She joins
us to aid in the development of the Gold Standard Program as well as the Student Career
Program. Lauren's professional background includes a variety of different industries
giver her the perspective needed to help students prepare for their future careers.
Lauren has worked for Five Star/ Five Diamond hotels, division 1 athletic programs,
and startups companies. Her primary focus has been in the customer service departments
as well a program and account management.
Lauren is passionate about students and individuals finding their place in the professional
world. She strives to help individuals feel confident and prepared for anything life
throws at them. She wishes to help others learn the important skills needed to be
successful in any workplace and find a healthy work-life balance at all stages of
employment.