Student Life
Office of the Vice President of Student Life Staff
Name: Jessica Sweeney, Program Director and Executive Assistant to the VP of Student Life
Hometown: Eugene, Oregon
Why you chose Lewis & Clark: Lewis & Clark College is nationally recognized as an exceptional place to learn, grow, and thrive. I admire the dedication of staff who support the student experience; the professors who inspire and educate our students; the students themselves, who are talented, bright, and motivated; the beauty of the campus; and LC’s prime location in the Pacific Northwest with its close proximity to mountains, the coast, and the flourishing city of Portland. What’s not to love?!
Hobbies: Spending time with my family, hiking, backpacking, yoga, running, writing, and skiing.
Hype song: Everything’s Coming Our Way - Santana
Name: Dennis Kamakana - Graduate Assistant
Hometown: Magna, Utah
Major(s)/Minor(s): Graduate School - Student Affairs Administration Master’s Program
Why you chose Lewis & Clark: I chose LC because of the academic opportunities, as well as to play football, and live in a state I have never been to.
Hobbies: Listening to music, Photography, Chillin like a Villain
Hype song: Welcome to Jamrock - Damian Marley
Name: Kelly Boyer, Graduate Student Worker
Hometown: Originally Rockville MD, now Portland OR
Major(s)/Minor(s): Graduate School - Student Affairs and Administration
Why you chose Lewis & Clark: I choose Lewis and Clark because of the warm community
Hobbies: Drawing, Music, Baking, and Video games
Hype song: Caravan Palace - Lone Digger
Name: Liz Brandel - Student Assistant
Hometown: Centennial, Colorado
Major(s)/Minor(s): Chemistry major and Math minor
Why you chose Lewis & Clark: I chose Lewis & Clark because I loved the small class sizes and how easy it was to get involved in something you’ve tried before
Hobbies: I love to cook, bake, garden, and play the violin
Hype song: Jolene by Dolly Parton
Name: Amy Alvarado, Student Assistant
Hometown: Portland, Oregon
Major(s)/Minor(s) : SOAN major
Why you chose Lewis & Clark: I chose LC because of the location and the opportunities it offered for me to better myself
Hobbies: I like to sleep, go on hikes, and walk my puppy
Hype song: CHINA- Anuel AA, Daddy Yankee
Name: Xavier Tharpe, Student Assistant
Hometown: San Francisco, California
Major(s)/Minor(s): Rhetoric and Media Studies
Why you chose Lewis & Clark: I chose Lewis and Clark to continue playing football while also challenging myself in the classroom.
Hobbies: Sleeping and music
Hype song: 4 The Record- Buddy
Name: Violet Betters - Student Employee
Hometown: Santa Barbara, California
Major(s)/Minor(s) : English major
Why you chose Lewis & Clark: I chose Lewis & Clark because of the beautiful campus, small class size, and fantastic faculty.
Hobbies: Reading, cooking, taking long walks around campus and writing letters to my friends.
Hype song: Anything by ABBA
Name: Emma Pell
Hometown: Bend, Oregon
Major(s)/Minor(s): History Major and Latin American Studies Minor
Why you chose Lewis & Clark: I chose Lewis and Clark for their incredible abroad programs and their class sizes!
Hobbies: I love to read, ski, play guitar, and write thank you notes!
Hype song: Right now, my hype song would have to be Choirs by Ashe.