In your first year, you will be assigned to one of four packs (Purple, Gold, Black or Gray). Your pack will help you get to know other students, participate in activities and be provided with helpful resources. You can read more about your Pack Advisors below.
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Meet the Pack Advisors
Black Pack
Black stands for Perseverance & Dignity
Perseverance means determination in the face of adversity. We motivate ourselves and each other to do our best. We extend grace when we miss our mark and learn from our mistakes. It’s important to hold a common respect for ourselves and our work.
Abi Ayele
Black Pack
Hello to all the new UW Tacoma students. My name is Abi Ayele, and I will be one of your Pack Advisors this year. I was born in Ethiopia, but moved to Seattle when I was a baby. I now live in Seatac, and Puget Sound has been my home longer than I can remember. I am a senior majoring in Communications with a minor in Technical Communication. Some of my hobbies include watching movies, exercising (such as playing basketball, soccer, yoga, and running), and listening to music, as well as hanging out with friends, which I am very eager to get back to doing this summer. A fun fact about me is my favorite athlete is Russell Wilson. My favorite quote is from Russell, which is simply this: “Why not us?”
Derek Laudino
Black Pack
Hello everyone, I am Derek Laudino, and I will be your pack advisor for 2021/2022 school year. My hometown is Sao Paulo (Brazil), and I came to US 4 years ago. I grow up in Brazil, and my whole family and friends live there. I am a senior Computer Engineering major, and I am excited to share my experiences from what I have learned so far with all of you. I love sports, and I love being in community. Doing these two things help my mind and my body health. My advice for you is to never give up, even when it seems to be over because I believe there is someone above us that loves you and takes care of you every day. Go Dawgs!
GREY Pack
Grey stands for Integrity & Compassion
Integrity means doing the right thing, even when no one is looking. We aim to have complete transparency in order to foster trust. It’s important to treat each other as equals and show everyone the same degree of empathy and compassion. Part of showing that we care is being present in your journey, wherever that may be.
Jada Simpson
Grey Pack
Jada Simpson (She/Her/Hers) Tacoma made but sometimes I feel like I could be from somewhere in California haha. I am a freshman and my major is Business administration I enjoy doing artistic activities, playing sports, traveling and trying new foods. Some interests of mine would be social causes, foreign languages and enjoying nature. A fun fact about me would be I enjoy looking at the architecture of buildings and I am not sure what type of architecture is my favorite yet Favorite advice: The reason a lot of people sometimes don’t know what to do with their life is because they were trying to walk down other peoples paths and made no marks in their own.
Michelle Nguyen
Grey Pack
Hello! My name is Michelle (she/her). My hometown is Tacoma, and I am a senior majoring in Biomedical Sciences. My favorite hobby is learning about skincare and looking out for great products that can work for acne-prone, sensitive, and dry skin. I am trying out and learning about watercolor as well. I am aiming to become a healthcare professional and I would be happy to answer any questions regarding healthcare academically. One of my best advice is to find an upperclassman who is in your intended major. They are often a big source of help and information that new students can learn from. I am very excited to meet all of you and I will try my best to support everybody!
GOLD Pack
Gold stands for Community & Inclusion
Our family, friends, staff, and faculty form our community, and together we support each other and our collective success. We all come from different places and bring different strengths. It’s important to stand together in these differences. We strive to make everyone feel safe and heard in this space.
Monica Salazar
Gold Pack
Hi there! My name is Monica Salazar and I use she/her or they/them pronouns. I am originally from San Diego, California but transferred from Santa Monica Community College. I am a junior studying in the school of Urban Studies, majoring in Sustainable Urban Development. I love enjoying a comfortable campus environment through a friendly web of connections so don’t hesitate to ask me anything! Arts, exercise and environmental health are my grooves and I’m always down to compare notes. Wishing you good luck on your UW journey!
Exita Lealofi
Gold Pack
Hello everyone!! My name is Exita Lealofi and I use she, her, and hers pronouns. I am a sophomore majoring in Ethnic, Gender, and Labor Studies with an emphasis in Global Engagement. Please don't hesitate to say hello if you see me on campus because I am a valuable resource who is always happy to help. I am super excited to be your 2021 Pack Advisor so please feel free to connect and reach out for any academic or school related issues or concerns. Be Bold, Be Boundless, and Go Dawgs!!!
PURPLE Pack
Purple stands for Pride
One of the main goals of the Pack Advisors is to foster campus pride. You belong here, in college, and at the UDub. The UW Tacoma experience is unique. What you do has meaning, and we value you as both a student and a member of the community. We want to recognize where you are coming from, and support you in where you are going. You deserve to feel proud of yourself and your community.
Leticia Barreto
Purple Pack
Hey there! My name is Leticia Barreto (she/ her), I am from Sao Paulo, Brazil, but I have been living in Washington for over 5 years. I am a senior majoring in Urban Studies focusing on Global Urbanism, and I will be a Pack Advisor this school year. I am obsessed with everything Harry Potter (Hufflepuff Muggle here!), and I love doing arts & crafts with my Cricut machine! I know college can be stressful sometimes, but we, Pack Advisors, are here to help smooth this process out for you, so please reach out whenever is needed! My advice is to do things that force you out of your comfort zone; that way, things that scare you will seem less and less frightening. Go Dawgs!
Naia Elizarraraz
Purple Pack
Hello! My name is Valomanaia Elizarraraz (she/her) and I'm very excited to be your Pack Advisor! I am a sophomore majoring in Ethnic, Gender, & Labor Studies while also minoring in Law & Policy. It may sound hard but it is very interesting! I have lived on a small island called American Samoa throughout my entire life so I understand the difficulties college students have to face when adapting to a new environment. I love to go on long road trips with friends and try new coffee places! My favorite advice to give other people is to always live life before it's too late.