ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ

Student Life Fellows Program 2025-2026

Allie Adler
Special Events Coordinator
Marketing and Communications

A northeast Ohio native, Allie is from Youngstown, OH, and still lives there! She attended Youngstown State University (YSU) for both her Bachelor of Arts and her master’s in science in Education in Counseling. After graduate school, she worked at The University of Akron as Coordinator, Student Programs – supervising the Zips Programming Network (similar to FAB) and overseeing operations for Homecoming, Welcome Week, and various other University programs. Afterwards, Allie returned to YSU to work in the Office of the Dean of Students as a Case Manager, assisting students going through extenuating circumstances such as food/housing insecurity, mental health challenges, and overall providing support to the student body. Allie's passion for marketing and event planning led her to ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ State, where she serves as the Special Events Coordinator for MarCom in the Division of Student Life. On a personal level, Allie is a huge Cleveland sports fan and WWE fan. Allie is currently in the home stretch of wedding planning and spends most of her free time working on her home with her fiancé, dog, and 2 cats.

Stephanie Baker (she/her) is a two-time graduate of Youngstown State University, earning her Bachelor of Science in General Studies in 2015 and her Master of Science in Education in Student Affairs and College Counseling in 2018. After graduating in 2018, Stephanie took a role at Youngstown State University as a Housing Coordinator in the Office of Housing & Residence Life, overseeing 3 out of the 5 residence halls on campus. In 2022, Stephanie became a Case Manager in the Office of the Dean of Students at YSU, helping students who were experiencing crisis or distress that impacted their social, personal, and/or academic stability on campus. She also helped in managing the Penguin Pantry and Clothing Closet.

During Stephanie’s time at YSU, she also served on the Spirit and Tradition committee and contributed to campus-wide programming collateral, planning large-scale campus events such as Penguin Nights, Homecoming events, Family Day, and Midnight Breakfast. Stephanie was also an advisor for Penguin Productions, a student programming board that held large-scale concerts and festivals for both the campus and the greater Youngstown community. Stephanie was also the secretary for NEOHO (Northeast Ohio Housing Officers).

In her current role at ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ, Stephanie serves as the Assistant Director of Service and Housing Operations in University Housing. Stephanie oversees all area desk operations, from the hiring and training of student staff to the daily operations of each desk. Stephanie also leads several departmental processes, such as the mandatory housing exemption policy, room changes, and room check-ins/checkouts. Stephanie helps with the residence hall re-construction efforts and the yearly assignments process. Stephanie also manages the one Greek-affiliated house that University Housing owns and assists with the Fraternity and Sorority exemption and contract release process.

In her free time, Stephanie enjoys golfing, gardening, crafting, and hanging out with her dog, Jack.

Craig serves as the Associate Director for Civic and Community Engagement in the Center for Student Involvement. In his role, Craig oversees service and volunteering opportunities, community-based student leadership experiences, and co-chairs the ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ State Votes coalition to support students’ participation in the voting process. Craig works locally, regionally, and nationally to empower and equip college students to shape their communities. Craig graduated from Allegheny College with a bachelor’s degree in political science and earned his master’s degree in student Affairs in Higher Education at Miami University. Craig is originally from Salem, Ohio, and lives in ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ with his wife and son.

Samantha Broaddus was raised in ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ, Ohio, and is a proud graduate of Theodore Roosevelt High School, where she was in the audition choir, played basketball, and was a decorated track and field athlete. Samantha double majored in English and Pan-African Studies and received her Master of Education in Cultural Foundations from ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ. While she was a student, she briefly ran track, served on the BUS and NAACP executive boards, and wrote/produced movies through the Pan-African Studies Department, and was very active student on campus. She has worked as a Higher Education professional for over a decade, in admissions, student success programming, TRIO programs, student activities, FSL, and is now serving as the Assistant Director for Residential Communities here at KSU. She loves listening to music, watching sports, fashion, comic books/movies, being an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, and most of all spending time with her loved ones! 

Brie (They/She) is the operations coordinator for the ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ Student Center. A proud member of the ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ State class of 2021, Brie is a former journalist and a dedicated advocate for their student team at the KSC. They are currently pursuing a master's degree in Higher Education and Administration. Brie is passionate about solutions-driven communication and relationship building, the lifelong pursuit of knowledge, and developing collaborative and effective solutions to complex problems.

Tim is the Special Assistant for ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ State’s University Culinary Services department, and he began my journey with ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ State in July, 2024, bringing with him a wealth of experience from the retail, manufacturing, and banking industries.

Prior to joining the Culinary Services team, Tim executed the duties of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Assistant at JOANN Stores, which was a leading retailer in the fabric and crafts arena. His team’s work was highly recognized by Newsweek and Plant-A Insights, with JOANN being named as one of America’s Greatest Workplaces for Diversity, Women, LGBTQ+, and Job Starters in 2023.

Before his 13-year tenure with JOANN Stores, Tim held various roles at MACtac, an industry leader in pressure-sensitive adhesive solutions, and Summit Federal Credit Union, a member-owned financial cooperative founded by local teachers.

Tim earned his Associate Degree in Business Management Technology from The University of Akron. When he is away from work, Tim relishes his time spent hiking, curating music playlists, experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen, and traveling to new and favorite destinations.

Tim Coyne is the Senior Business Manager for the Division of Student Life. He began his career at ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ as a Compensation Analyst in the Division of Human Resources in January 2014, and joined the Division of Student Affairs in June 2018. Tim holds a Bachelor of Arts in Management and a Master of Business Administration from Walsh University, as well as a Bachelor of Music in Instrumental Performance (Trumpet) from ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ. In addition to his formal degrees, he completed ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ State’s Institute for Excellence in 2016. Tim is an active musician in the Northeast Ohio area, and enjoys spending his free time with his wife, Peggy, hiking in local parks, and riding his motorcycle.

Jennifer Fedor
Senior Secretary
CARES Center

Jennifer serves as the Senior Secretary in the CARES Center and is a proud graduate of Cleveland State University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in communication in 2002. With a diverse professional background, Jennifer has worked in various settings and has experience supporting high school students through the Upward Bound Program. Her true passion lies in helping others and being a source of support during difficult times.

Jennifer values the strong relationships she shares with her incredible CARES Center team and takes pride in working alongside such a dedicated group of individuals.

Outside of work, Jennifer is a devoted wife to her husband Joe and a proud mom to four children—three sons: Joey, Jayce, and Jaxson, and one daughter, Julianna—as well as our beloved dog, Cookie. My family stays active with football, wrestling, cheer, and dance. In my free time, we enjoy family vacations at the beach and a little shopping when time allows.

Mike currently works as a Case Manager in the CARES Center. He is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor-Supervisor and a two-time ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ alumnus. Mike has dedicated his career to keeping others safe, aiding them in personal growth, and encouraging and empowering others to reach their full potential. Prior to joining the CARES Center, Mike was a mental health therapist and has also worked as a law enforcement officer and cybersecurity professional. When not working, Mike enjoys writing short fiction and poetry, spending time in nature, and spending time with his wife, daughter, and close friends.

Ben Hunsicker's (he, him, his) 5th year at ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ and his second year as a full-time Residence Hall Director. In his previous career, Ben worked as a Program Director at the YMCA in both outdoor recreation and aquatics respectively. Ben completed his first master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling here at ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ State and is well on his way to completing his second in Peace and Conflict Studies. In his time spent not working at ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ State, Ben maintains a small caseload at Alternative Therapeutics in Cuyahoga Falls, where he specializes in trauma, group/family therapy, nature-based therapy, and neurofeedback. On a rare free day, one might find Ben on local hiking trails, tinkering on electronics, or anywhere near water. 

Catherine received her Bachelor of Business Administration from St. Bonaventure University; a Master of Public Administration from Gannon University. She has over 20 years of experience working in University event logistics and scheduling as well as Academic and Club Advising, and was a 3-year RA at St. Bonaventure. Catherine has been at ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ State since November 2018. She lives in Stow with her husband of 21 years, 2 daughters, 16 and 12, and 1 dog. Loves coffee, reading, lakes, and trees. There is always candy in her office if you need a pick-me-up!

Laura Scarnechia
Case Manager
Counseling & Psychological Services

Laura is a licensed professional clinical counselor with experience in direct client care and administration. Laura earned both her Bachelor of Arts in English and her Master of Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ State. Laura joined CAPS in 2023 as a Clinical Case Manager and provides therapeutic and case management services to students. Prior to her position at CAPS, Laura worked for nine years in residential treatment with a focus on outreach services, admission assessment and intake coordination, and direct client care. She is experienced in supporting clients through individual therapy, psychoeducation, group therapy, and case management. When not working, Laura enjoys the company of cats and horses, storytelling, collecting ephemera, and learning about history.

Kalena Speicher (she/her) is a Program Officer with the CARES Center. In her role, she oversees the strategic direction and daily operations of Flashes Fighting Hunger (FFH), a campus food pantry serving over 150 patrons each week. Her work includes supervising student managers, coordinating events and partnerships, handling communications, and ensuring compliance and effective operations.

Kalena began working with Flashes Fighting Hunger as a student in January of 2023 and went on to serve as an AmeriCorps member with the pantry for two terms (1.5 years). Following her graduation, she was offered a full-time role as an Academic Program Officer in Community-Engaged Learning (CEL), where she managed daily operations of the FFH pantry and coordinated community service opportunities on campus. In June 2025, Flashes Fighting Hunger transitioned from CEL to the CARES Center to streamline food security resources at ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ State. Kalena continued with the program in its new home, embracing opportunities to expand the pantry’s reach and impact.

In addition to her professional role, Kalena is a proud ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ State alumna, graduating in May 2024 with a Bachelor’s degree in political science and minors in peace and conflict studies, psychology, and nonprofit studies. She is now pursuing a Master of Public Administration at ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ State. Her passions include addressing food and housing insecurity, mental health, domestic violence, and education. Outside of her academic and professional commitments, she enjoys watching women’s basketball, thrifting, making jewelry, and spending time with friends and family.

Originally from Vladivostok, Russia, Ulia relocated to Cleveland in 2012 and went on to complete a BA in Urban Studies with a concentration in Public Management and a minor in Dance (2017) and an MA in Global Interactions (2021) at Cleveland State University. She also holds a BA in Political Science from Far Eastern Federal University in Russia. While once aspiring to a career in politics, Ulia discovered her true passion in higher education and student development.

Before joining ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ State, Ulia served as a Community Director and Area Director at Cleveland State, where she gained broad experience not only in Residence Life but also through roles in Student Activities and Involvement, Academic Affairs, and Recreation and Wellness. She is now proud to serve ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ as Assistant Director for Residential Communities in University Housing.

Shakhnoza Yakubova
Residence Hall Director
University Housing

Shakhnoza Yakubova holds two master’s degrees, MA in Linguistics and MA in Higher Education Administration and Student Personnel. Since 2023, she has served as a Residence Hall Director in University Housing, where she is committed to fostering inclusive communities and supporting student success. She actively advocates for students with accessibility needs as well as for international students. Outside of her professional role, she enjoys hiking, traveling, and creating new recipes for tea and coffee.