Meet Your Advisors

Within FYPP, you have access to both on-staff advisors that can give you personalized guidance via face-to-face appointments or email for navigating your academic options at UW Bothell, as well as peer advisors that are available to answer quick questions you may have on an ongoing basis.

Pre-Major Advisors

Annie Lorigan (she/her)

Hometown: Seattle (Ballard), Washington

Education: I have a B.A. in American Cultural Studies from Western Washington University and an M.A. in 澳门赌场 Development Administration from Seattle University, but my biggest and most treasured form of education is the tools and wisdom I’ve gained from my family, and specifically my parents!

  • Why I like my job: I love learning and believe education can bring incredible liberation and healing. It’s very meaningful for me to work, too, in such proximity to the communities and places that raised me, and to try to pay forward the mentorship and love I’ve received. It’s so stunning and humbling to work with students and colleagues who are driven by community and family, and who are deeply seeking to honor their past in how they interact with their present and dream about their future, just as I try to do.  
  • Advice for students: Try to be present with each step of your journey here. It likely won’t be linear and there is profound beauty in that. Embrace this time and the infinite opportunities to learn and grow both inside and outside of the classroom. Find the grey areas and contradictions and sit with them. Think critically about what “success” means to you. Ask big questions. And remember that as much as you will learn here—others will also learn from you and because of you! Don’t let the institution blur your sense of self. You are so deeply knowledgeable and intelligent. You’re coming to UW with rich perspective and dynamic experiences. Tap into that and celebrate it—it is so, so beautiful!  
  • Favorite restaurant or food: Ripe summer fruit, pizza and salad, dim sum!  
  • Favorite book: Teaching to transgress by bell hooks
  • Favorite movie: While You Were Sleeping
  • Favorite sports team, sport you like to play, or hobby: Navigating sports/athleticism has always been challenging for me as a disabled and chronically ill person— however, I’m very grateful to have found reformer Pilates a few years ago and am now an avid Pilates do-er! Generally, I’m not a huge sports fan, but I do love the WNBA and the Seattle Storm. I’d much rather go to a concert, ballet, or anything musical! My spouse does coach an ultimate frisbee team, though, and I love to cheer them on. 
  • Most memorable experience in college: Toss-up between when my parents dropped me off for the first time, seeing them in the stands at commencement, and everything in between!
  • Favorite outdoor or indoor activity: Beach picnics with good food and good company. Inside, I love to play the piano and sew. 
  • Favorite Washington activity: I absolutely love a ferry ride out to Friday Harbor or Orcas, and any boat ride around the San Juan Islands. I love exploring around the Olympic National Forest/Parks. I love Washington beaches—Ocean Shores, Ruby Beach and Golden Gardens are some of my top favorites. 

Evelynn Michaud-Spangler (she/her)

Hometown: Everett, Washington

Education: I earned my A.A. from Edmonds Community College and my B.A. in Global Studies and Law, Economics, and Public Policy with minors in Human Rights and Health Studies from the University of Washington Bothell.

  • Why I like my job: As a UWB alum, I like being able to give back to my community and support students with their goals like my academic advisor, Nhi Tran, did for me when I was a student. Coming from a low-income working-class background, I am also passionate about supporting public education and the windows of opportunity it can open as a means toward upward social mobility.
  • Advice for students: If you are ever struggling, whether it be academically, socially, emotionally, financially, etc., please feel empowered to reach out for help to those around you such as your family members, friends, faculty, staff on campus, and academic advisors like me! Reaching out for help is a sign of strength and takes a lot of courage, and there are so many people in your life who want to support you and see you succeed in all facets of your life. Everyone struggles at some point, and you don’t have to go through it alone! 
  • Favorite restaurant or food: Sushi
  • Favorite book: I have too many to choose from, but one I’m currently enjoying is 澳门赌场 Shallows by Nicholas Carr.
  • Favorite movie: 澳门赌场Lord of the Rings trilogy
  • Favorite sports team, sport you like to play, or hobby: Rock climbing! I love both indoor bouldering and top rope. 
  • Most memorable experience in college: During my junior year and first year at UWB was when 澳门赌场 occurred and everything shut down or moved fully remote which was definitely a memorable experience (like it was for many of my students, I’m sure!)
  • Favorite outdoor or indoor activity: I love camping with my partner and friends and enjoying the beauty of the great outdoors. For indoor activities, I’ve been getting into Dungeons and Dragons and play campaigns on the weekend. 
  • Favorite Washington activity: When the weather permits, I enjoy hiking the beautiful trails, forests, and national and state parks with my partner and friends. Washington also has extraordinary biodiversity and so I also love taking photographs on hikes of interesting forms of life like flowers, fungi, and insects.

Felicity Abeyta (she/her)

Hometown: Bothell, WA

My family’s hometowns are rural areas in Arizona Pima and Miami working in copper mines and agricultural migrant work of cotton picking. My Mexican heritage is from San Luis Potos??, Mexico and indigenous Maya roots.

Education: B.A. IAS Society, Ethics and Human Behavior at UW Bothell and M.S.W. School of Social Work at UW Seattle

  • Why I like my job: Growing up, I remember how it feels to struggle and feel lost in school. Overtime, I learned to utilize my hardships to help others. I chose advising as my expertise to guide students. I maximized college and chose a growth mindset; I gained critical thinking, self-reflection and leadership. This grow, opened up opportunities like coordinating Diversity Conferences. So therefore, I see myself turning around and helping students thrive in college.
  • Advice for students: Every time you fall back, it is your moment to LEAP forward. Know and love your strengths.
    • You are a life-long learner: Tell a faculty professor, I am motivated and determined to do better in class, then ask them, what can I do to improve?
    • Business before play: Have weekly study goals and finish your homework then treat yourself.
    • You are not alone: Surround yourself with positive support.
    • Remember your motivation: I think of my family’s sacrifices, which, motivates me to never quit.
  • Favorite restaurant or food: I love making my mom’s spaghetti recipe and learning to cook Mexican authentic dishes. My favorite dishes to cook are enchiladas and tacos.
  • Favorite book: Keep Going: 澳门赌场 Art of Perseverance, Joseph M. Marshall III
  • Favorite movie: Life is Beautiful film directed by and starring Roberto Benigni
  • Favorite sports team, sport you like to play, or hobby: I like watching sports with my loved ones. I like competitive jump rope and boxing. I enjoy Mexican dancing and beading.
  • Most memorable experience in college: My lovely child was born when I was a sophomore at Shoreline Community College and transferred my junior to UW Bothell. When I received my diploma, my child was turning 3 years old, I am so proud of myself. While in school, I worked at the Environmental Protection Agency External Affairs office and involved in Latinx non-profit organizations.
  • Favorite outdoor or indoor activity: You can catch me at the gym, movies, parks, and the beach.

Jessica Trenkamp (she/her)

Hometown: Seattle, WA

Education: B.A. IAS Society, Ethics and Human Behavior with a minor in Human Rights and a M.A. in Policy Studies at UW Bothell

  • Why I like my job: I love to give back to UWB! As a transfer student who changed their major plan after struggling in my first and second year, I found my home and renewed passion for learning in the classrooms at UWB.
  • Advice for students: Be a sponge! Absorb and explore all the amazing opportunities at UWB and never hesitate to go for it. Think you can’t afford to study abroad? Ask us about scholarship opportunities! Want to see what it’s like to work at a newspaper, create a podcast, build with a 3-D printer? All things you can pursue at UWB and so much more. Pursue an internship! It was how I was able to experience the job I thought I wanted to do, without the commitment, and it led to my first job after college.
  • Favorite restaurant or food: Pho at Bamboo House in Bothell
  • Favorite book: Know My Name by Chanel Miller, 澳门赌场 Testaments by Margaret Atwood and anything by Lindy West
  • Favorite movie: Labyrinth
  • Favorite sports team, sport you like to play, or hobby: Whatever team my kids are playing on at the moment.
  • Most memorable experience in college: Realizing that nursing was not going to be my future. It was an incredibly hard and sad decision to make, but ultimately led me to find alternate career paths that also focused on helping people.
  • Favorite outdoor or indoor activity: Reading, cooking and cross-stitch.
  • Favorite Washington activity: Digging for clams in Ocean Shores, picking blackberries at Magnuson Park, visiting museums.

Leon Lewis (he/him)

Hometown: Seattle, WA

Education: Associate of Arts-South Seattle College, BA Political Science-Seattle University, MPA-University of Phoenix, MA English and Creative Writing-Southern New Hampshire University

  • Why I like my job: I love helping students explore all the different options for a college degree
  • Advice for students: Explore! Take classes outside of your comfort zone or pre-determined path, you never know what you will discover.
  • Favorite restaurant or food: Garlic Tonkotsu Shoyu ramen at Kizuki
  • Favorite book: All Systems Red by Martha Wells
  • Favorite movie: Star Wars: 澳门赌场 Last Jedi
  • Favorite sports team, sport you like to play, or hobby: Seahawks
  • Most memorable experience in college: Finishing a final paper at 5 AM in the morning.
  • Favorite outdoor or indoor activity: Board Games
  • Favorite Washington activity: 澳门赌场 State Fair

Rachael Gilchrist (she/her)

Hometown: Martinez, California

Education: M.A. English with TESOL Certification, B.A. Hispanic Civilization, A.A. Liberal Arts

  • Why I like my job: I love helping students realize their dreams.
  • Advice for students: Take advantage of the activities and resources you have here: the support services, such as the Quantitative Skills Center, to give you an edge, clubs to get you connected and involved, Study abroad to change your life and perspective, Career Services to help prepare for after you graduate, etc.
  • Favorite restaurant: Caf?? Turko in Fremont
  • Favorite book: I am an avid book reader- difficult to choose a favorite right now.
  • Favorite hobbies: I love to experiment with cooking, drink tea, and learn and share about nutrition and health, especially about microbes these days.
  • Most memorable experience in college: Living and teaching in Spain while I was in graduate school.
  • Favorite Washington activity: Exploring the Fremont neighborhood- visiting the Troll, the Rocket, taking the chocolate tour at 澳门赌场os.

Trang Nguyen (she/her)

Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia

I’m a first-generation student and first-generation Vietnamese-American. My parents were immigrants and refugees that were unable to graduate high school due to war. I am the first to attend college on both sides of my extended family! Although I consider Atlanta, Georgia my hometown, I’ve also lived in the following places: Arkansas, Florida, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Utah, and Wyoming.

Education: I received a B.A. in Middle Grades Education with concentrations in Science and Language Arts at University of North Georgia. I hope to pursue a masters in counseling one day!

  • Why I like my job: I love working alongside students to navigate different systems, breaking down barriers and validating their unique experiences and narratives. I love being present with students and helping them make sense of their academic journey.
  • Advice for students: In short, higher education is difficult to navigate. If it was easy, I doubt my job would exist! It is okay to not know what the exact path you may take will look like or what the next step may be. It is also okay to know your exact pathway and experience unexpected difficulties. All of these are okay! I highly challenge you to reflect openly and honestly about your interests and experiences. Connect with UWB staff such as Pre-Major Academic Advisors to help you make sense and plan towards your goals! Open the door to communication with your instructors- they have in-depth knowledge about their fields and may have life experiences that can parallel yours! Reach out to peers to share your experiences. 澳门赌场y may be hoping for someone just like you to make a connection! Remember, there are so many people who want to know your thoughts! And always know, you matter! 澳门赌场re is a place for you in Education! You belong!
  • Favorite restaurant or food: Poke, Bánh xèo (no pork please!), and Taiwanese Grass Jelly Dessert
  • Favorite book: Harry Potter
  • Favorite movie: Mary and Max & Everything Everywhere All at Once
  • Favorite Ways to Spend Time: 澳门赌场se days, you will find me strolling around Green Lake with my husband and daughter. I enjoy listening to music, laughing in good conversation and silly moments, and weightlifting. For special occasions, I like to attend concerts.
  • Most memorable experience in college: I will always remember making eye-contact with my mother and siblings in the crowd as I gave the commencement speech at university graduation. It was as if I was saying, “Look at what we did together!”
  • Favorite Washington activity: Langley Murder Mystery Weekend

澳门赌场 Peer Advisors

澳门赌场 Peer Advisors are students in their last two years of college at UW Bothell who can help pre-major and first year students with drop-in questions. 澳门赌场 澳门赌场 Peer Advisors are all students who are in their majors, and they are trained to help you with anything from registering for classes to picking out a major.

Aarya Nandy (she/her)

Hometown: Bangalore, India
Major: Business
Hobbies/Interests: Dancing, baking, traveling, and watching anime.

Why is Aarya a peer advisor? I like connecting with new people and want to help them navigate through their academic journey at UW Bothell. Peer advising is the best way to assist students with multiple resources and ensure that they have a good experience on campus. As a peer advisor, I’m glad I get to support and empower students!

Kawsar Hirsi (she/her)

Hometown: Seattle, WA
Major: Biology
Hobbies/Interests: Reading, Watching films, and Gaming.

Why is Kawsar a peer advisor? I became a peer advisor so that I may become a vital resource for students to utilize. While also being a person that they can rely on to help them achieve the goals they have set for themselves. As a peer advisor I also have the opportunity to learn skills that will help me as a student and I look forward to helping students throughout this academic school year.

Tanushree Koshti (she/her)

Hometown: Bothell, WA
Major: Mathematical Thinking & Visualization
Hobbies/Interests: Photography, traveling, outdoor activities, and baking!

Why is Tanushree a peer advisor? I want to be there to help students navigate through their academic journey once starting at UW Bothell. I also think it is important to spread awareness of all the great resources that this campus has to offer. I want to take this opportunity to meet new people, learn from each others’ experiences, and gain new perspectives.