First Year Experience

Meet Our Staff

Jeni Eltink, Director
Office location: 8 SCC
Phone: 218-726-6526
Email: jeltink@d.umn.edu
Jeni oversees the department and its programs. She works on program assessment and learning outcomes in addition to department supervision. Jeni teaches Introduction to College Learning in the summer and fall. She is happy to assist any student or parent with questions about new student transitions.

Megan Perry-Spears, Program Coordinator
Office location: 60 SCC
Phone: 218-726-8524
Email: mpspears@d.umn.edu
Megan coordinates Advisement & Registration, Welcome Week & Bulldog Bash and the FYE Spectrum newsletter. As the Advisement & Registration lead, she supervises the A & R Student Advisors. Megan chairs steering committees for her programs and provides primary support for freshman student outreach. New freshmen are welcome to contact Megan.

John Kowalczyk, Program Coordinator
Office location: 60 SCC
Phone: 218-726-6278
Email: jkowalcz@d.umn.edu
John coordinates our SSP 1000: Introduction to College Learning course, and supervises the Teaching Assistants who work with instructors and students. He is also responsible for the MyFYE freshman web portal and for providing SSP 1000-related information to students who don't take the course. John is a great contact for questions about student learning and for transfer students.

Rose Hallgren
Office location: 66 SCC
Phone: 218-726-8755
Email: rhallgre@d.umn.edu
Rose is in charge of scheduling for our Advisement & Registration program. Contact Rose whenever questions arise about when you are scheduled to attend orientation. Rose also assists with ticketing for Parents & Family Weekend.

Vickie Rindal
Office location: 60 SCC
Phone: 218-726-7152
Email: vrindal@d.umn.edu
Vickie is the first person you see when you walk through our door and helps keep our office running efficiently. She assists in the supervision of our student office staff and provides support for all FYE & SIT programs.