
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.
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.
Briann Santos
Black Pack
Hey everyone my name is Briann Jolene Santos (she/her/hers) and my hometown is Dandan Village, Northern Marianas Islands. I'm a junior majoring in biomedical sciences. A fun fact about myself is that I'm originally from the deepest part of the world. I enjoy listening to reggae and oldies from the 50's. I'm also a car enthusiast. My favorite advice I've ever received is to always take things day by day, one step at a time with composure and you'll always come out fine at the end.
Jon Angell
Black Pack
Hey everyone, I’m Jon Angell, and I will be your pack advisor for the 2022/2023 school year. I grew up on the border of Federal Way and Auburn. Moved to my current home in Maple Valley in 2012, if you know where Kent is close by. I am a Junior Computer Science major minoring in Business Administration. I'm so excited to share my experience from what I have learned so far with all of you. Love to cook, I taught myself at a young age and have been doing it ever since. If I’m not in the kitchen you can find me playing video games with the boys. My best advice for you is to never give up. Keep going, keep pushing forward until the end. And just remember we are all in the same boat all trying to get through college. Just talking with others helps you realize you're not alone.
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.
Hannah Shea
Grey Pack
Hey everyone my name is Hannah Shea (she/her/hers) and my hometown is Tampa, Florida. I'm a senior majoring in psychology. I have a dog named Vladimir and I enjoy hiking. My favorite quote is "we can be whatever we have the courage to be" - Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Jake Stroud
Grey Pack
Hey y’all, my name is Jake (He/Him), and I am a senior majoring in psychology. I don’t really have a hometown, as I’ve lived in too many places. Though, I have absolutely loved living in Tacoma, so I usually just claim that. Speaking of living in too many places; fun fact, I have lived in 13 different states and 6 different countries. My favorite quote that came from my favorite book series “Red Rising” is simply “Live for more.” It’s a quote I genuinely use to guide my life.
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.
Brandon Lee
Gold Pack
Hello! My name is Brandon Lee (he/him/his) and I'm a junior majoring in general business administration. I like cars, I love to watch and play sports, and I enjoy photography. A fun fact about myself is that my middle name is Elvis. My favorite quote is from the verse of Ecclesiastes 5:15 that states "We all come to the end of our lives as naked and empty-handed as on the day we were born. We can’t take our riches with us".
Catherine Rawlings
Gold Pack
Hello, my name is Catherine Rawlings (she/her/hers) and I live in Tacoma, Washington. I'm a sophomore majoring in environmental sustainability with a focus in Environmental Policy and Law, and a minor in Global Engagement. I love to cook, sing, play with my dog, hang out with some friends, and travel. My favorite advice to give someone is 'if you can't do it bravely, do it afraid'. I'm very excited to be a part of the 2022-2023 pack advisor team!
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.
Naia Elizarraraz
Purple Pack
Hey everyone, my name is Valomanaia Elizarraraz (she/her) and I'm very excited to return as a Pack Advisor! I'm a Senior majoring in Ethnic, Gender, & Labor Studies and minoring in Law & Policy. I've lived on the small island of American Samoa for 17 years until I moved out here for college in 2019. I love to go on long road trips with friends and try new coffee places. A fun fact about me is that my middle name is Mulan. My favorite advice to give to other people is to live life before it's too late. No one wants to be 50 years old and regret living their life to the fullest.
Fabiola Torres
Purple Pack
Hello everyone! My name is Fabiola Torres and I’ll be one of your pack advisors for the 2022-2023 school year. I’m currently a senior and I’m majoring in Business Management. A fun fact about me is that I absolutely love animals! That's why one of my biggest hobbies include binge watching shows with my dogs. I also really enjoy hiking and just being out and enjoying the beautiful nature. Overall, I’m very excited to be here! And can’t wait to help guide new students. One of my biggest pieces of advice that I can give is to take it one step at a time. A simple but powerful phrase. Don’t overwhelm yourself, take time to yourself, and take care of yourself. Your mental health is most important because that is the base to success and productivity.