We’d like to introduce the Roompact Blogging Cohorts for the upcoming year! Yes, that’s plural! Two!
Roompact hires bloggers to further increase our contributions to the field through the free dissemination of ideas and knowledge. Every year we refresh our blog cohort with new writers. Earlier this spring, we did a search for part-time bloggers, professionals who liked to write and who were looking for a little side hustle. We also expanded our efforts and hired two cohorts: one focused on graduate students and professionals as an audience and one focused on RAs and student staff as an audience. Below you can learn a little more about the writers that will be sharing their talents with you in the coming year. We’ve already got some really interesting and exciting pieces planned.
If you’d like to join the Roompact Blog Cohort, be on the look out for an announcement in January 2026. We’ll likely run a very similar process to the one we ran this year.
Professional/Grad Audience Cohort
Abby Groth (she/her/hers) hails from the Great Plains where she serves as Associate Director of Residence Life for Learning Experience at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Her professional interests include residential curriculum, supervision and teambuilding, and academic initiatives. Before she joined the world of Residence Life and Housing in 2019, Abby worked as an art museum educator. These days, she spends her free time corralling her family, cheering on the Huskers, and trying to sneak in a few minutes here and there with a good book.
Andrew Skelly (he/him/his) is a Residence Life professional who started in the field as a Resident Advisor in 2014. Andrew earned his Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics at Allegheny College and his Master’s degree in Higher Education at Boston College before starting his professional career as a Resident Director in 2019. His professional passions include large-scale programming, supporting professional development, and teaching. Beyond work, Andrew enjoys spending time with family and friends, making playlists, collecting VHS tapes and records, and traveling (one of his proudest accomplishments is visiting all 50 states before turning 30).
Ashley Unmacht (she/her/hers) is an Assistant Director of Residence Life at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Following grad school in Kansas and several years in Arizona working with students in the fine arts, Ashley returned to her home state, where she continues to be impassioned by supervision, creative expression, and advocacy. Ashley enjoys spending her free time reading, planning concerts & trips, and deepening her understanding of astrology.
Katie Steele (she/her/hers) is currently the Associate Director for Community Engagement and Learning Initiatives at Seattle University. Having served professionally in various positions within Residence Life over the past 12 years, she is most passionate about professional staff recruitment, formation, development, and supervision, and the curation and development of co-curricular education models within Residence Life. Typical of most Pacific Northwesterners, when not at work, she enjoys spending time outside hiking or on the water with her dog, Sawyer.
Sean Watson (he/they) has been supporting residential communities as a full time professional since 2012, and currently works at the University of Rochester as an Associate Director in Residential Life and Housing Services. Sean completed their MS in Student Affairs from the University of Rochester in 2012, received their MS in Human Resource Development from Rochester Institute of Technology, and is currently pursuing their PhD in Higher Education at the University of Rochester. Additionally, Sean supports the interfaith community at the University of Rochester by serving as the pagan chaplain. When they aren’t running around at work, they enjoy spending time volunteering in their communities with various nonprofits, hanging out with their family and cats, drinking coffee, and going on bike rides.
Student Staff Audience Cohort
Alexis Karakas (she/her/hers) is a Residential Living Coordinator at University of California, Irvine’s (UCI) Undergraduate Student Housing department. She holds a B.A. in History from UCI, and an M.Ed. in Postsecondary Administration & Student Affairs from the University of Southern California. Alexis is dedicated to fostering inclusive practices through training and development. Outside of work, she enjoys writing food and restaurant reviews, experimenting with new recipes, and exploring diverse culinary experiences.
Katie Munshaw (she/her/hers) is a student affairs professional who got her start by working in Residence Life all four years of her undergrad. Realizing a growing passion, she immediately went to graduate school for her MS in College Counseling and Student Development. Katie is now the Residence Hall Director at Roosevelt University where she strives to create a space where students feel heard, supported, and celebrated. When she’s not working, Katie is likely playing video or board games, reading, traveling, or bothering her cat.
Madison Vasich (she/her) is currently in her senior year at The University of Illinois Springfield and serves as an Assistant Resident Director. She is currently pursuing a B.A. in English Studies and a minor in Music. When not in class she can be found performing with the Camerata music ensemble or doing homework at the campus Starbucks.
Tamarah Humphreys (she/her/hers) has lived in residence halls since 2014. After earning her Masters’ in Counseling Student Personnel: College Student Affairs at Minnesota State University, Mankato, Tamarah’s career journey has led her to serving in Community Director roles in 3 states: Colorado, California, and Minnesota. She enjoys building community amongst others, helping students learn how to be adults, and making the transition to college smoother for students. In her free time, she’s reading fiction, exploring new places, or going on walks around campus.
