Meet Your Advisor

Janet De La Cruz Admissions Advisor

B.A. in History and Literature, Pacific Lutheran University, 2016

MPA, Evergreen State College, 2021

Hablo Español

Hometown: Tacoma, Washington

Favorite place in Tacoma: My favorite place in Tacoma is the Grand Cinema. This is a great place to watch independent, foreign, and local films while having the best popcorn in town!

Favorite class in college: The Art of Brevity: Latin American Short Story Narratives

What makes UW Tacoma special? One of my favorite things about UW Tacoma is the community on and off campus. Students, faculty, staff and surrounding community have created an inclusive environment where it is easy to feel welcome and supported.

Lindsey Kealoha Tacoma Community College-to-UW Tacoma Transfer Academic Advisor

B.A. in Communication, University of Washington Tacoma, 2016

M.A in Communication, California Baptist University, 2018

Hometown: Federal Way, WA

Favorite place/thing to do in Tacoma:I love visiting Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium!.

What was your favorite class in college: Art Appreciation. When I travelled to Italy it was amazing to walk into historic buildings and stand in front of famous paintings that I had seen in books or on lecture slides. I was able to absorbed what Italy had to offer from a different perspective.

What do you think makes UW Tacoma special: What makes UW Tacoma special is the history, community, and continuous growth. Once you walk on campus you instantly are surrounded by a community of students, faculty and staff who are ready to support you while you continue your academic journey. The campus is diverse, inclusive and offers students an array of opportunities to further their goals and success.

Territories:
Transfer, international and Running Start students who attend Tacoma Community College. Lindsey is at Tacoma Community College Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and at UW Tacoma on Tuesdays. She is there to help current Tacoma CC students make their way to UW Tacoma.

If you are not a Tacoma Community College student, please make an appointment with another admissions advisor.

John Langston Admissions Advisor/Veterans Liason

B.A. in Sociology/Anthropology, Eastern Oregon University, 2016

M.A. in Communications and Leadership, Gonzaga University, 2019

Hometown: Delray Beach, Florida

Favorite place/thing to do in Tacoma: Camp Colvos Pizza Company. I love a good pizza slice. Campus Colvos has some of the best slices in Tacoma.

What was your favorite class in college: Women, Communication, Leadership

What do you think makes UW Tacoma special: UW Tacoma is continuously growing. You can instantly feel the community and those who are ready to support and help students achieve their goals both academically and professionally. UW Tacoma is diverse and inclusive and offers students opportunities to further their goals and success.

Katrine Viscaya Admissions Advisor

B.A. in Business Administration, University of Washington Tacoma, 2020

Hometown: University Place, WA

Favorite place/thing to do in Tacoma: My favorite thing to do in Tacoma is grabbing a local iced coffee from either Valhalla or Bluebeard Coffee Roasters and then checking out some local shops in the Proctor District! My favorite places in Tacoma are the Narrows Bridge and the Dune Peninsula Park at Point Defiance!

What was your favorite class in college: Definitely Business Law. I had an awesome professor who broadened my perspective on what it means to look completely at both sides of every story.

What do you think makes UW Tacoma special? What makes UW Tacoma special is the community it serves. We are a campus that cares about our students and we have so many different resources that support academics, mental health, relationship building, and so much more. As a UWT graduate, I recommend taking advantage of all the activities, fairs, and resources that aid in your success!

Navia Winderling Assistant Director of Admissions - Marketing & Communications

B.A. in Communication, University of Washington Tacoma, 2014
M.Ed., Higher and Postsecondary Education, Arizona State University, 2017

Hometown: Steilacoom, Washington

Favorite place/thing to do in Tacoma: Nothing beats a Tacoma Rainier’s game at Cheney Stadium! The stadium has a lot of local food options and it’s just a great place to be on a bright, summer day!

What was your favorite class in college: I took News Writing while at UWT and loved it! The class strengthened my writing skills and gave me insight into what a career as a journalist might look like. We got to take a tour of The News Tribune and chat with some of the writing staff. While in the class I wrote an article about UWT’s Pathways to Promise partnership and got the opportunity to interview our former chancellor.

What do you think makes UW Tacoma special? UW Tacoma is special because of its size. It is such a close-knit campus community. As a student you are able to establish meaningful connections not only with peers, but with faculty , staff, and other community members who engage with UWT.

Megan Cooley Associate Director of University Recruitment

B.A. in Social Studies Education, Washington State University, 2005
M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration, Washington State University, 2007

Hometown: Maple Valley, Washington

Favorite place in Tacoma: Tacoma coffee shops! Anthem, Metronome, Valhalla, Blue Beard. . . On warm and cold days, I know the coffee shops of Tacoma can all give me a hug in a cup.

Favorite class in college: History of American Immigration

What makes UW Tacoma special? UW Tacoma is empowering, sassy, and dedicated. We care and give with everything we have. We help our neighbors, we celebrate together, we weep together. UW Tacoma is the definition of “Community.” I love it here.

Megan oversees our admissions advisors and campus visitation team. She works closely with high school counselors and other guidance professionals.