Meet Your Counselor

Bre Johnson, Admissions Counselor

B.S. in Business Management, Green River College, 2024

Hometown: Tacoma, WA

Favorite place/thing to do in Tacoma: It’s hard to pick just one! Grit City Books, Buddy’s Chicken & Waffles and Da Tiki Hut are always at the top of my list when I’m recommending places to out-of-towners. They are locally owned, and the vibes are immaculate.

Favorite class in college: I really enjoyed taking DEI in the Workplace at Green River College, mostly due to an exceptional adjunct professor who brought deep expertise and real-world experience to the classroom. The course encouraged me to reflect upon my own intersecting identities; while also fostering healthy discussions around pay disparity, unconscious bias and strategies for promoting equity in professional settings. The lessons I learned in that course continue to influence the way I approach my work today. 

What makes UW Tacoma special? The campus resources UWT offers for non-traditional students are truly unmatched. As a first-generation college graduate, I know how overwhelming it can feel to navigate the education system with little to no guidance. UWT goes above and beyond to ensure that students of all backgrounds are supported throughout their academic journey. Additionally, as a Black woman, representation means so much to me. I appreciate how at UWT, diversity is not only reflected in the student body, but in the staff too. That’s something you don’t see at every institution.

Bre works primarily with transfer students. Schedule an appointment with her by following the link below!

Izabelle Rosales, Admissions Counselor

B.A. in Psychology, Central Washington University, 2019

Hometown: Maple Valley, WA

Favorite place/thing to do in Tacoma: Walk my dog on Ruston Way waterfront. I love the views of the water, the cute buildings like Harbor Lights, and resting at Cummings Park.

Favorite class in college: Astronomy! My favorite thing to do at night is to look up at the starts and the moon. Learning about each constellation, moon phase, and how to identify them are so interesting to me. The assignment

What makes UW Tacoma special? The community! I love the smaller urban setting; I feel UW Tacoma really allows you to connect with those around you. Plus, you have a great view of Mount Rainier on a clear day!

Izabelle works primarily with first-year students. Schedule an appointment with her by following the link below!

Sarah Anderson, Admissions Counselor

B.A. in Sociology, University of Washington Seattle, 2017

M.A. in Education, Western Governor's University, 2024

Hometown: Sequim, WA

Favorite place/thing to do in Tacoma: One of my favorite things to do is go for a walk on a sunny day with a fun drink from one of Tacoma’s many cafés and coffee spots. Some of my favorites include Curran Coffee, Lander Coffee, and Jin Jin Matcha. I especially love walking around the North End to spot the neighborhood cats that roam outside on nice days or walking Wright Park. The Ruston waterfront is another favorite, with its trails along the bay and the chance to see sea life if you're lucky. 

Favorite class in college: I earned a minor in music while at UW, so my favorite class was always Marching Band. We had the opportunity to cheer on the Huskies and serve as a staple at both sporting and campus events. I was fortunate to travel frequently with the band to away games and even to Ireland. Although it required a lot of work and daily practice to learn new music and new marching shows, it was always incredibly rewarding and fun. 

What makes UW Tacoma special? I think UW Tacoma is special because it offers the resources of a large university in a smaller, more accessible setting. Our smaller campus and class sizes allow students to build meaningful connections with classmates, professors, faculty, and staff. There are so many resources available to make sure all students succeed. Although it is a smaller school, there are still many places to explore around campus. 

Sarah works primarily with first-year students. Schedule an appointment with her by following the link below!

Isaias Nuñez, Pierce College-to-UWT Transfer Admissions Counselor

B.A. Criminal Justice,  2013

Hometown: Fairfield, CA

Favorite place/thing to do in Tacoma: My favorite activity in Tacoma is spending time at Point Defiance Park, particularly visiting the Japanese Garden. With its Azaleas, Rhododendrons, Japanese Cherry Trees, and Crab Apples, the garden exudes a quiet and peaceful atmosphere. 

What was your favorite class in college: While in my undergrad at Gonzaga University, I really enjoyed Research Methods!  In this course I learned how to conduct social research, I learned how to Design, Conduct, and Analyze projects using surveys, interviews, and observation.

What do you think makes UW Tacoma special? Small class sizes and a low student-to-faculty ratio enables students to build strong relationships with their teachers and provide opportunities for undergraduate research.

Isaias works with transfer, international and Running Start students who attend Pierce College. 

Allison Blackwelder, South Puget Sound CC-to-UWT Transfer Advisor

B.S. in Business Administration/International Business & Marketing, University of South Carolina, 2016

Hometown: Rock Hill, South Carolina

Favorite place/thing to do in Tacoma:  My favorite thing to do in Tacoma is checking out various community events throughout the year – Porch Fest, the Thursday farmers market, Arts & Culture festival, Tacoma Pride, etc. I’ve loved getting to know Tacoma through these events and spaces and experiencing just how community-centered, eclectic, and vibrant the city truly is.

What was your favorite class in college: One of my favorite classes was International Product and Brand Management. We explored case studies from around the world and looked at how brands connect with different cultures. I especially loved the strategic side of understanding how cultural differences shape marketing decisions and how to tailor brand messaging and product design to resonate both within a specific region and globally. 

What do you think makes UW Tacoma special: Among the many things I admire about UW Tacoma, the people and the institution’s commitment to the community stand out most. A sense of belonging is often a deciding factor in students’ higher education journey, and UW Tacoma demonstrates a strong dedication to fostering that belonging by championing equity and access for students, staff, and community members.

Allison works with transfer, international and Running Start students who attend South Puget Sound Community College. 

Peter Vleck, Tacoma Community College-to-UWT Transfer Advisor

B.A. in History, University of Puget Sound, 2013

Hometown: Olympia, WA

Favorite place/thing to do in Tacoma: Rainiers games in the summer and breakfast burritos from Memo's.

What was your favorite class in college: US Foreign Policy

What do you think makes UW Tacoma special: A beautiful campus in the heart of Tacoma, and the fact that it's a diverse, accessible institution that truly serves the people of the South Puget Sound. 

Peter works with transfer, international and Running Start students who attend Tacoma Community College. 

Erynn Littlefield, Assistant Director of Events and Visitation

B.A. in Psychology, Minor in Criminal Justice, University of Washington Tacoma

Hometown: Federal Way, WA

Favorite place in Tacoma: Point Ruston is my favorite place to visit in Tacoma, it is so beautiful and quickly growing. There is so much to do, like renting the bikes and riding down the waterfront, grabbing a quick bite to eat at the many restaurant's over there, or a picnic on the grass.

Favorite class in college: I love psychology and it is hard for me to pick just one class that was my favorite at UW Tacoma. My favorite classes were Biopsychology, where we discovered how our biology plays into who we are and our psyche, Child Development was a favorite of mine because we were able to go and intern at a local daycare and observe the things we were learning in class, in real time. Lastly, Sports Psychology was great because I am a sporty person and it was fun learning and understanding how being active affects the brain.

What makes UW Tacoma special? I think what makes UW Tacoma special is that there is really a place for everyone here. As a person of color it means a great deal to me to see people like me in all types of spaces, especially in leadership roles. It doesn't matter what you look like, it's about who you are inside. I feel like I belong here and I hope you do too. Go Dawgs!

Erynn oversees the Admissions Welcome Center on campus. 

Wyatt George, Assistant Director of Admissions Marketing and Communications

B.A. in Politics, Philosophy and Economics, University of Washington Tacoma, 2018

Hometown: Gig Harbor, WA

Favorite place/thing to do in Tacoma: I love going to Point Defiance - there really is so much to do in that area. You can enjoy a walk through the park, or visit the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium. Owen Beach is a great place to enjoy a summer day, and you can walk to Point Ruston for dinner and a movie to cap it off. As a history buff, Fort Nisqually is also a really cool spot to visit. 

What was your favorite class in college: I enjoyed many of my classes at UW Tacoma, but one of my favorites was The American Presidency. It was a fascinating course - we analyzed and discussed the growth of executive power in federal government, the effects of a president's personality on the position and how they affect the economy. 

What do you think makes UW Tacoma special? UW Tacoma is special for many reasons, but the greatest part about it to me is the wonderful sense of community around campus. The smaller size of most classes means students have a much better opportunity to get to know their peers and professors. As a former transfer student from a larger school, this made a huge difference in finding the support I needed to excel academically. The campus itself is incredible as well. The historic buildings that house many of the classes here root the campus in Tacoma's past while exhibiting a sense of its promising future. These aspects really combine to make UW Tacoma a special place. 

Wyatt oversees admissions marketing and communication efforts.

John Langston, Associate Director of Recruitment and Veterans Liaison

B.A. in Sociology/Anthropology, Eastern Oregon University, 2016

M.A. in Communications and Leadership, Gonzaga University, 2019

Hometown: Delray Beach, Florida

Favorite place/thing to do in Tacoma: Camp Colvos Pizza Company. I love a good pizza slice. Campus Colvos has some of the best slices in Tacoma.

What was your favorite class in college: Women, Communication, Leadership

What do you think makes UW Tacoma special: UW Tacoma is continuously growing. You can instantly feel the community and those who are ready to support and help students achieve their goals both academically and professionally. UW Tacoma is diverse and inclusive and offers students opportunities to further their goals and success.

John oversees our admissions counselors. He works closely with high school counselors and community colleges.