Master's Program, Fall 2019 Entry
Rhiannon Coen-Johnson
Undergrad: University of Wisconsin- River Falls
Major: Communications
Hometown: Menomonie, WI
Assistantship: HESA Program
Bio: Hello! I'm Rhiannon and I am from the small town of Menomonie, WI. I am an avid reader, I love to travel, and recently I have been trying my hand at flipping furniture. I graduated in May 2019 from UW-River Falls with a Communications degree, and I can't wait to see what it's like to be a Husky! I didn't start to feel comfortable on my previous campus until I became an orientation leader at the end of my first year. That experience essentially launched me into numerous other student affairs experiences that helped me find my leadership style, and my passion for student development. The connections I made with fellow students and the student affairs professionals I worked with are the highlights of my undergrad experience. I chose to go into this field because I saw how you can make such a big impact with students by supporting them, and by helping them find tools to empower themselves.
Alex Doming
Undergrad: Westfield State University
Major: Special Education & Spanish
Hometown: Belchertown, MA
Assistantship: Community Standards
Bio: People on airplanes and other forms of public transit tell me that I’m incredibly enthusiastic, and I agree with them! During undergrad I worked in residential life, orientation, and admissions. I was involved with student government and Sigma Delta Pi - La Sociedad Nacional Honoraria Hispánica. I am also a triplet! I love my brothers, Troy and Dakota, with all my heart.
My academic interests include anti-racism, white identity, hegemony, men’s role in violence prevention, housing discrimination, Latinidad, imperialism, and assimilation. If it’s a topic that entails complicity in the exploitation of people, then it’s something that I care about. My favorite historical figure is Bartolome de las Casas for his change of heart and activism during his participation in Spanish colonialism. I was a Spanish teacher and member of the ResLife team at a private boarding school in Massachusetts during my first year out of undergrad. I really appreciate the knowledge and perspectives of the large international student population at the school. More recently, I was employed full-time in undercover quality assurance auditing (I was like a secret agent – ask me about it!) and logistics/operations/finance at Applus+ Technologies. Some important facets of my personhood that don’t directly relate to capitalism, careers, and material consumption include my deep love for flowers, dancing, tattoos, cooking, hiking, staying hydrated, heavy metal, and hip-hop. My favorite thing in the universe is when members of humanity treat one another with genuine kindness, attention, and compassion so hopefully you can join me in spreading these values far and wide! I aspire to empower those who feel that they’ve been excluded from our communities and cast into the margins of society.
Connor Dougan
Undergrad: The University of Kansas
Major: Global and International Studies & Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Hometown: Topeka, KS
Assistantship: Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life
Bio: Hi-Low! My name is Connor A. Dougan and I was born and raised in good ol’ Topeka, Kansas. I “Rock Chalk(ed)” during my undergraduate experience at The University of Kansas (KU) where I studied Global and International Studies, Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, & History. Upon the completion of my degrees I received a certificate in applied research experience by completing work on both menstrual equity at KU and the representations of masculinity in host club photo advertisements within Japan’s red-light district.
While at KU, I served with the student programming board, board of class officers, headed KU’s largest day of service opportunity, worked with undergraduate advising, and union event services. During the summer leading into my third year, I learned all of these experiences, peer mentoring, and student development outcomes, were part of a graduate degree known as Higher Education and Student Affairs. I was hooked on the idea that I could study and do what I loved for the rest of my life. Finding a passion in people, more specifically students and how they both develop and navigate the world and experiences around them, has helped me to realize a fascination in both theory and applied knowledge. Aptly named the Sunflower and Basketball State, KU, Kansas, and the Midwest, have sparked additional passions within me including photography (landscape, industrial, and people), binge watching any TV show, and making ~the best~ ice cream from a can you could imagine. The excitement I feel to be joining the HESA program and UConn community is unmatched and I can not wait to serve students, staff, faculty, and community to the best of my abilities, in and outside of the office/ classroom.
Austin Gane
Undergrad: University of California- Los Angeles
Major: Psychobiology
Hometown: Upland, CA
Assistantship: Residential Life- Educational Initiatives
Bio: Hello! My name is Austin Gane, and I was born and raised in the suburbs of Los Angeles. I graduated from UCLA in 2017 with a major in Psychobiology and a minor in Anthropology. During my undergraduate career, I was involved in mental health advocacy, research about chimpanzee behavior, and a variety of roles in Residential Life.
I began my path in Student Affairs as a government representative for my building. My mentors and peers cultivated an environment of inclusion, care, and growth unlike any I had seen before, and I was instantly hooked. I spent the following three years as a Resident Assistant and learned to put an emphasize on self-care and self-improvement that I still carry with me today. After graduation, I began working as an Assistant Resident Director at UCLA. This position opened me up to the joys of supervision and confirmed Student Affairs was the career for me. After two years as an Assistant Resident Director, I decided to seek out a Master’s degree. When looking into programs, I prioritized two things: an emphasis on social justice and a new and different location that would offer a wealth of new and different opportunities. I know I have found that here in the UConn HESA program. Some of the passions I hope to bring into my work include mental health advocacy, civic engagement, and access to higher education. Outside of the professional realm, I am also massively into rock climbing and nature and can be found outside on almost any given weekend. I am incredibly excited and honored to be part of this cohort and cannot wait to see all that we can achieve. Go Huskies!
Alquan Higgs
Undergrad: College of Saint Rose
Major: Psychology
Hometown: Poughkeepsie, NY
Assistantship: Student Activities: Trustee Student Orgs. Support
Bio: Hi everyone! My name is Alquan Higgs and I was born and raised in Poughkeepsie, NY. Arriving at my senior year in college I had no idea what career I wanted to pursue after earning my Psychology degree. I was sure it had something to do with helping and mentoring others, but I didn’t know in what capacity I wanted to do this in. After much thought and consideration about the things I was most passionate about while attending The College of Saint Rose I came to an easy conclusion that higher education and student affairs was the career path for me; due to my involvement and passion with student leadership and student advocacy.
Being a student leader was the highlight of my undergraduate years. I became involved with the Office of Intercultural Leadership, mentoring and supporting incoming freshmen. The impact of this experience encouraged me to be more of an advocate for my peers, so I joined the ALANA Student Union. While apart of the Student Union I served as Public Relations Officer and Vice President. These positions helped me to realize the importance of advocacy and leadership development especially for students of color.
After graduating college, I wanted to continue this important work so I accepted a year-long fellowship working for the ALANA Center at Vassar College. During my time at Vassar I served as an Administrative Fellow. In this role I was able to supervise and support various multi-cultural student organizations and coordinate various cultural-centered programming.
I am excited to join the UConn HESA family and I can’t wait to meet and learn from some amazing people on this journey! UConn HESA 2021!
Amanda Higgins
(In Memoriam)
Undergrad: University of Connecticut
Major: Human Development and Family Studies
Hometown: Windsor, CT
Assistantship: Center for Students with Disabilities
Bio: My passion for working with students began when I joined the Student Alumni Association as a freshman at UConn. After joining the E-Board my junior year I had the opportunity to be heavily involved with the Alumni Association’s efforts to connect students and alumni in meaningful ways. This experience also helped me decide to change my major to Human Development and Family Studies. I had the opportunity to explore both the human resources field through summer internships and also student affairs through on campus experiences. One of my most impactful experiences was serving as a First Year Experience mentor for the UConn FYE program. I also served as a Peer Career Advisor for the Department of Career Services. Through these experiences I discovered that I enjoyed being able to counsel and guide students as they navigate their college journeys.
After graduating in 2013 I first worked in a rotational development program for an insurance company in Boston. This experience allowed me to discover my interest in recruiting and helping people find their dream job. After a year in Boston I took a leap of faith and moved to San Francisco (with a 4-month pit stop in Seattle) to start a new role in recruiting for a tech company. I’ve had a great 4 years in San Francisco but I have discovered that my passion lies in working with college students to help prepare them for the next stage in their lives.
In my free time I enjoy traveling (especially to Europe), hiking, trying out new restaurants, and attending shows and musicals. I’m excited to return to UConn this fall!
Nicole Hyman
Undergrad: Furman University
Major: Political Science & Sociology
Hometown: Hartsville, SC
Assistantship: Office of Early College Programs- Pre-College Summer
Bio: Hey y’all! I’m Nicole Hyman, and I hail from the (very) small town of Hartsville, SC. I graduated from Furman University in Greenville, SC in May 2018 with degrees in Political Science and Sociology, and a minor in Poverty Studies. Following graduation I moved to Austin, TX for a year-long term of service as an AmeriCorps member. During my term I served as a College Access Coach at an education non-profit called College Forward. I worked with high school juniors and seniors who will soon be the first in their families to obtain a college degree as they navigated the college application and admissions process.
It was during my term of service that I quickly realized that I not only had a passion for equitable access to higher education, but also for equitable access to opportunities within institutions of higher education as well. Study abroad, internships, academic research, and Greek life (just to name a few!) are enriching, life-changing experiences that all interested and motivated students should have the chance to explore, and it is for this reason that I feel called to pursue a career in student affairs!
Outside of work and school I enjoy playing board games, trying new foods, drinking entirely too much coffee, going to concerts, daydreaming about travel plans, the Enneagram assessment (I’m a Type 7 for any other Enneagram nerds out there) and spending time with my friends and family.
Morgan LaFlamme
Undergrad: Eastern Connecticut State University
Major: English
Hometown: Windham, CT
Assistantship: Off-Campus and Commuter Student Services
Bio: Hello all! My name is Morgan LaFlamme. I am from Windham, Connecticut—just fifteen minutes from the UConn Storrs campus—where I attended Eastern Connecticut State University. As an English Major, I spent my first two years of undergrad believing I would pursue a career in education, specializing in Secondary Ed. English. However, during my junior year a mentor offered me the position of Social Media Intern for the English Department. This role allowed me to make connections with not only my peers within my major, but also faculty and staff, as well as many students outside of the department. This experience encouraged me to branch out and get involved in a wider variety of activities, such as serving as a contributing writer for a campus newsletter, and treasurer for ECSU’s English Honor Society. Through these activities, I developed a student-centered and community based approach to working in the higher education environment. The feelings that arose from contributing to the success of other students and building community within the campus made it clear that I had found my passion.
Due to the belief that my hometown has shaped who I am as an individual, I found it important to stay relatively close to home—with opportunities to give back to my community. With this in mind, I am welcoming the transition from a small liberal arts university to a much larger research university. I look forward to not only learning and growing alongside my cohort, but gaining meaningful experience as the GA for Off-Campus and Commuter Student Services. Husky pride!
Lupita Paniagua
Undergrad: Sonoma State University
Major: Liberal Studies with Minor in Women and Gender Studies
Hometown: Stockton,CA
Assistantship: Dean of Students Office
Bio: Hi, Everyone! My name is Lupita Paniagua (She/Her/Hers/Ella)! I grew up in Linden, CA (or the outskirts of Stockton, CA) and graduated with honors and departmental distinction from Sonoma State University with my B.A. in Hutchins Liberal Studies and a minor in Women and Gender Studies! As a first-generation student, I thought that my time at Sonoma State would be brief, and focused solely on my desire to graduate with my degree! To my surprise, academics were not the only thing higher education had to offer me, and getting involved was the best decision I ever made.
In my time at Sonoma State, I was an Orientation Leader, a Resident Advisor, an Intern for the Student Involvement office, a Peer Mentor, and a TA for our Foundation of Leadership course. Around the end of my second year, I was approached by one of my mentors who introduced me to the world of Student Affairs, and soon after, I began my search for a graduate program that fits me. I was and am so fortunate to have found a field that I feel allows me to blend my passions for social justice and the student experience.
In my free time, I love to explore new places (can’t wait to explore the east coast), online shop, read, get my nails done, watch Netflix, and facetime my family members! I am equally excited as I am in shock to be starting my journey at UCONN, and am proud to be a part of such a great program! GO HUSKIES!!
Irvine Peck’s-Agaya
Undergrad: Wesleyan University
Major: Government and Religion
Hometown: Boynton Beach, FL
Assistantship: Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life
Bio: I was born in Limoges, France from a Gabonese mother and a Haitian father. I lived in two different African countries (Gabon and Benin) before moving to Florida. As an undergraduate at Wesleyan University I double majored in Government and Religion in the hope of working as a consultant for the UN.
It was after co-founding and working at TRAP House - a business incubator that refined hustlers’ entrepreneurial talent and redirected it to the formal market that - that I understood the importance of higher education professionals devoted to providing resources and programs that provided support, accountability, and personal & career development to students from under-represented backgrounds. Many of our clients at TRAP House dropped out of college and joined the drug trade due to financial strains on them and/or their family. My clients and I had a similar background, but I was able to successfully complete my undergraduate career due to mentors who helped me access university resources that advanced my personal development, offered me on-campus employment, and encouraged me to strive academically. I decided to join higher education to work with and support students from underserved background.
I am really excited to learn from professors and my peers here at HESA!
Alexis Roach
Undergrad: Arcadia University
Major: Education Studies
Hometown: Hiawassee, GA
Assistantship: Student Activities- Leadership Programs
Bio: Hi there! I'm Alexis (she/her/hers). I am originally from Northeast Georgia, but I have spent the last 4 years studying at Arcadia University in Glenside, Pennsylvania (near Philly). During my first year of college, I made an important decision to push myself out of my comfort zone and get involved with anything and everything on campus including Student Government, orientation, residence life, and other leadership roles. I quickly discovered my love for student affairs and decided to change my major from Biology to Education. Since then, I have had the opportunity to build relationships with incredible student affairs mentors, train a team of orientation leaders, and facilitate leadership workshops for students on my campus. I have also completed three research projects related to higher education (and I hope to pursue more research opportunities while studying at UConn and beyond!). These types of experiences have fueled my love for the field and helped me decide to pursue a Master’s in Higher Education and Student Affairs, so I can give back to a field that has had such a positive impact on me.
I am passionate about student leadership development and experiential learning opportunities (especially study abroad) along with any other experiences that inspire students to find their voice and become active members of their communities.
In my free time I enjoy running, hiking, exploring new places, petting dogs, and baking! I am extremely grateful and excited to begin my journey at UConn. Go Huskies!
Kiara Ruesta
Undergrad: University of Connecticut
Major: Sociology
Hometown: Vernon, CT
Assistantship: Office for Diversity and Inclusion
Bio: Hello, I’m Kiara Ruesta. I was born and raised in Lima, Peru and currently live in Vernon, CT. I started my undergrad career at Manchester Community College, where I was taking courses to fulfill my general education requirements before I headed to UConn to finish my studies. At the time, my goal was to become a pediatrician since the medical field had always interested me.
Throughout my educational journey, I have faced many institutional barriers due to the different social identities that play a role in my education. After searching for support on campus, I joined UConn Connects and was able to meet a mentor who took the time to listen to my story and help me through a difficult time in my life. She acted as my sounding board and allowed me to reorganize my thoughts. Through this period of self-discovery, I decided that I wanted to help empower students, like myself, who felt alone and underrepresented in their educational journey. This decision is what motivated me to rejoin Connecticut Students for a Dream as a UndocuPeer trainer, join the CLAS Student Leadership Board, and become a UConn Connects peer-mentor. These experiences encouraged me to pursue a career in Higher Education and apply to UConn’s HESA program. I’m so excited to be part of this program and to start to develop my professional career while still holding social justice close to my heart. I want to help build a higher education system that encourages every student, regardless of their social identity, to reach for their dreams and build a sense of community.
Skylar Sandler
Undergrad: University of Vermont
Major: Psychological Science
Hometown: Branford, CT
Assistantship: Student Activities- Student Union Board of Governors (SUBOG)
Bio: Hello! My name is Skylar Sandler, and I grew up in Branford, CT. I graduated from the University of Vermont in 2019 with a degree in Psychological Science and minors in Behavioral Change Health Studies and Public Communication.
Throughout my time as an undergrad, I was involved in many activities which have ultimately sparked my interest in Student Affairs. I worked in the Career Center, Student Activites, Residential Life, Orientation, and the Student Center. It was through my involvement in these activities that I felt myself develop so much as a student leader, but was also able to facilitate growth in others- so it makes perfect sense that these experiences helped me discover my passion for student affairs!
In my free time, I love being outside, cooking and eating with friends, and watching Law and Order: SVU and Brooklyn 99. I am so excited to start my next chapter at UConn. Go Huskies!
Jasmine Sindico
Undergrad: Saint Mary's College of California
Major: Personality Psychology
Hometown: Eureka, CA
Assistantship: Office of Institutional Equity
Bio: Hi all! My name is Jasmine Sindico. I am from Eureka, California, home to the beautiful Redwood National Parks. For my undergraduate career, I attended Saint Mary’s College of California (SMC) in the San Francisco Bay Area with a major of Personality Psychology. I am very excited to experience life on the east coast after living in California my whole life!
My passion for Higher Education and Student Affairs stemmed from my love of service. From my very first weekend at SMC, I participated in service opportunities and organizations. Throughout undergrad, I was an Orientation Leader; a team leader for the Catholic Institute for Lasallian Social Action, specifically working with a nonprofit family resource center; a Resident Advisor for two years in a first-year residence hall; an intern for the Office of the Registrar; and a Psi Chi Honors Society member. All of these experiences were solidified by amazing mentors and peers alike who challenged my view of the world.
I am a huge fan of attending concerts, photography, painting, embroidering, and finding the best boba places in the world. I am excited and thankful for the opportunity to be at UConn!
Rachel Wada
Undergrad: Colorado State University
Major: Art History with a second field in Chemistry
Hometown: Aurora, CO
Assistantship: Asian American Cultural Center
Bio: Hi all! My name is Rachel Wada (pronouns: she, her, hers)! I grew up in Aurora, Colorado and graduated with honors from Colorado State University (CSU) in May of 2017 with a B.A. in Art History and a second field in Chemistry. While at CSU, I most enjoyed studying art history through a social justice lens and examining how art history is studied and taught. Outside of the classroom, I worked in Housing & Dining as a Resident Assistant, Community Desk Staff Member, and a Community Desk Manager. Through being involved in so many different roles in Housing & Dining at CSU I discovered how much I loved working with students. I also really enjoyed having thoughtful and intentional conversations with folx on campus about identity and social justice topics.
After graduating, I wanted more experience working with students in a full-time capacity. So, I picked up and moved to Duluth, Minnesota to begin a position as a Residence Director at the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) in Housing & Residence Life. While at UMD I was able to develop as a human and as a practitioner and my desire to work with students and in student affairs strengthened. Even though I’ll miss working in Residence Life, I am very much looking forward to gaining new experiences through my assistantship in the Asian American Cultural Center at UConn!
In my free time I love to create art, cook, bake, take walks, work out, be outside, nap, and be in community with people I appreciate and love. I am so thrilled to continue my journey at UConn! Go Huskies!