Leaders of the pack

Every year, about a month before the first day of fall semester, groups of freshmen students can be seen wandering campus from the ConocoPhillips Integrated Science Building to Rasmuson Hall. Group leaders shuffle students along, guiding them through UAA's buildings and walkways and answering questions like, "What are the best clubs to join?" The group leaders are known as the "Wolf Pack," part of UAA's New Student Orientation's (NSO) team that helps students seamlessly transition from high school to college.

The Wolf Pack team spends the summer memorizing various campus facts, from learning the details of each building and the resources housed in each of them, to changes that may have occurred since the previous school year. They also call new students who've applied to the university, welcome them and extend an invitation to Howl Days - a day of presentations from various student groups and clubs, campus departments and community organizations. The team packs in a full day of all things UAA so students are confident and ready to start the year.

Once the semester begins, the Wolf Pack's job is not over - they continue to check in with students, offering them advice, resources and just a friendly face on campus. It's a big job. We chatted with a few members of NSO's Wolf Pack team to learn more about the tips and tricks they have to offer to get new students through their first year at UAA.

Name: Jennifer Spencer, senior Major: Social Work From: Anchorage

During her second year at UAA, Jennifer joined the NSO team. That was four years ago. The social work major is one of the Wolf Pack's more experienced NSO leaders and says that every year is different, which keeps the job exciting.

"We have to know everything about the university," Jennifer said. "We do our best to not only point out where the buildings are, but also highlight the resources inside of them. We also let students know something they might not know - like that most of their general education requirement classes will be on the west side of campus."

It's tips like these that only someone who's been at the university for a while would know, which Jennifer is happy to pass on to her NSO team members, as well as new students during an orientation.

"After a day in orientation, we want to leave them with something, that not only do they know where their classes are, but also how to get engaged and involved on campus," said Jennifer.

Her best advice for incoming freshmen is to slow down and try to relax, get to know campus and ask lots of questions

Name: Nathan Koech, senior Major: Nursing From: Kenya

Nathan is pretty far from home these days. He's from Kenya and came to the university on a cross-country running scholarship. He empathizes with freshmen feeling homesick or just being out of their element.

"Our job is like a bridge to link students to the resources at UAA," Nathan said. "We let students know things like how to pay for college, where to get your Wolf Card, how to ride the shuttle - we offer the tips and tricks that we used as students at UAA."

Nathan's been at the university for four years and was recently accepted into the nursing program. He's learned the ins and outs of UAA over the years and has fielded a lot of questions, but said the most popular questions tend to be related to signing up for classes and student life.

"Students also ask a lot about what kind of fun there is on campus, so we try to market the clubs." He said he tries to promote NSO's UAA FUSION (For Unity and Service In Our Neighborhoods) - an NSO program launched in 2017 to connect UAA students with volunteer opportunities in the community. It's another great way for new students to connect with other students, the university and the community.

Name: Allena Graciani, sophomore Major: Business Management From: Anchorage

"It's a challenge, but it's good to have a challenge and enjoy what you're doing," said Allenna, who recently joined the Wolf Pack team this summer. She learned about Howl Days and NSO through her Wolf Pack mentor when she started at UAA two years ago and has now come back to help new students transition through the program that helped her.

"This reminded me a lot of what I did in high school," said Allena. She held a similar job at East High School, where she helped freshmen and newcomers acclimate to their new environment. "When I heard they were hiring, I crossed my fingers and hoped I would get this job, and I did."

She's still under the wing of the more experienced Wolf Pack leaders, but is in the queue to lead an orientation later in the month.

"I feel like if you're not nervous then you're not doing it right," she said.

Her goal as a Wolf Pack leader is to dispel the misconception that as a college student you have to do everything yourself. She admits that, yes, you do have to take charge and take initiative in your education, but you certainly don't have to struggle alone.

"My freshman year, I just wanted someone to tell me it is okay to ask questions and that you might need help and that there's a place where you can get it," Allena said. She was glad she could reach out to her mentor and ask questions, which is why she thinks it's so great that she and her team members continue to check in periodically with the students they lead through orientation. "It's your education, you're here for you, take a hold of it and do what you gotta do."

Name: Yessenia (Dulce) Camacho, senior Major: Psychology From: Anchorage

"The first year I came to UAA, I kind of went blind; I didn't know who to ask for help," said Yessenia. "I met other people later in the year who worked at the university, like Jennifer (Spencer) who really helped me, and I want to help other students whenever I can, so they don't feel the same way I did."

She stressed that the university provides a lot of campus resources to help all students - not just freshmen - get through the year. But for new students, it's important to reach out. That's where she and the Wolf Pack team come in.

"Not only do we know a lot of information, I think it's easier for students to ask us," Yessenia said. "We seem less intimidating because we're students, and I think that's one of the main reasons why our job is so important."

The Wolf Pack's job doesn't end when NSO and Howl Days are over; they continue to check in with new students over the course of the year to see how they're handling school and all the emotional stress that can come with it.

"We just try to connect with the students to let them know we care about them," she said. "It's Alaska - it gets dark and you need to let stress out - I think a lot of issues can be resolved by getting out and talking to other students."

Written by Catalina Myers, UAA Office of University Advancement