- Below, you will find profiles of each staff member in our office that you may interact with in your admissions process. You can select a location in the drop down below to view the admissions counselor designated for your area.
Jed Liston
Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Services
jliston@mso.umt.edu
I have been a part of The University of Montana now for 35 years and have loved every minute of it. I’m a fifth-generation Montanan and an obnoxiously proud alumnus of the University. UM change people’s lives and it certainly has changed mine in a profound way.
Hometown: Helena, MT
Degree: BA in Communication Sciences and Disorders, UM ’82; M.Ed. in Educational Leadership, UM ‘99
Favorite restaurant in Missoula: Wow, tough with all of Missoula's choices. Ciao Mambo (Amazing Italian) or the River City Grill (Downhome Montana Food)
Favorite activities/things to do: Anything with my family…hiking, going to Griz Games, playing with my Geek-filled gadgets, Missoula Osprey games, Reading a Zombie Apocalypse genre novel sitting on the shore of Flathead Lake.
Juana Alcala
Director of Marketing and Recruitment
jalcala@mso.umt.edu
I can't imagine having a different career or life anywhere else! The mountains drew me to Montana, and the people and experiences are why I remain. I'm so thankful for having the good fortune of discovering The University of Montana.
Hometown: Quincy, Wa, Mercedes, Tx
Degree: BSW ’96, M.Ed. in Educational Leadership, UM ‘11
Favorite restaurant in Missoula: El Cazador!
Favorite activities/things to do: What's not to love about Missoula and western Montana! I enjoy every season that Missoula and UM have to offer, from farmers markets and concerts, to festivals, First Fridays and community theatre!
Lacey Patterson
Associate Director of Marketing & Recruitment
lacey.patterson@umontana.edu
I was born and raised in Missoula, MT. The University of Montana has been apart of my life for as long as I can remember. As a student at UM, I was active in Greek Life and busy with my student job in Financial Aid, which sparked my career in Student Affairs. Currently, I live in New Orleans, LA and work from a distance.
Hometown: Missoula, MT
Degree: B.A. Communication Studies, UM ’01; M.Ed. in Educational Leadership, UM ‘11
Favorite restaurant in Missoula: The Keep Lounge…I am not sure if the food or the view of Missoula is better!
Favorite activities/things to do: I love to go hiking and fishing, read, watching college football and spend time with family, friends and most of all, my husband Scott and our son Curry. My favorite activities in Missoula are Out to Dinner at Caras Park, the Farmer’s Market, hiking to the “M” and attending University events.
Julie Cahill
Asstistant Director of International Marketing & Recruitment
julie.cahill@mso.umt.edu
Growing up as an Army kid I lived in a lot of different places - Kentucky, Alabama, Hawaii, Texas and Illinois to name a few. I went to a high school in a north suburb of Chicago which naturally led me to a Midwestern college upon graduation. While my time there was a good experience I really wanted to be out west in the mountains. So the summer after my freshman year of college I went to work in Glacier National Park and fell in love with Montana. Transferring to UM was one of the smartest things I’ve ever done and I’ve never looked back!
Hometown: Everywhere and nowhere…I’m an Army kid.
Degree: B.A. Biology/ Secondary Teaching/1996, M.Ed. in Educational Leadership, UM '11
Favorite restaurant in Missoula: The Pearl
Favorite activities/things to do: gardening, backpacking, hiking, trail running, or anything outside.
Karissa Drye
Assistant Director of Marketing & Recruitment
karissa.drye@mso.umt.edu
I had a great experience as an undergrad at UM participating in intramurals, cheering on the Grizzlies, studying abroad in Tokyo for a year, and joining various student groups. I love Missoula: the mountains, the people, the community…I love it all.
Hometown: Arlee, MT
Degree: B.A. Elementary Education, UM '07, M.Ed. in Educational Leadership, UM '09
Favorite restaurant in Missoula: Silk Road (this question is unfair…there are so many that I enjoy…)
Favorite activities/things to do: I love the variety of activities that are available in Missoula: festivals in Caras Park, First Friday art walk, live music at the Wilma, meandering down the river trail or hiking the trails around town-Waterworks is my favorite!
Emily Ferguson-Steger
Assistant Director of Diversity Marketing & Recruitment
emily.steger@mso.umt.edu
I was born in Salem, OR and grew up in Portland, OR and overseas in the Hauge. I attended Grant High School (Portland, OR) and Blackfeet Community College (Blackfeet Reservation, MT).
Hometown: Portland, OR
Degree: B.A. Elementary Education, UM '03, M.Ed. in Educational Leadership, UM ‘11
Favorite restaurant in Missoula: Sawadee's, amazing Thai in Missoula!
Favorite activities/things to do: I love the arts and culture of Missoula. But what I really love is the closeness to the outdoors. I find grounding when I can venture out into the surrounding areas to explore old ghost towns, tube the rivers, swim in the lakes, and just relax.
Chris Lynn
Digital Recruitment Manager
chris.lynn@mso.umt.edu
I grew up in Spokane, WA and came to Montana for school and never left. This is such a beautiful place and has everything I would ever need or want. Amazing people, culture and activities.
Hometown: Mead, WA
Degree: B.S. in Business Administration, UM ‘04
Favorite restaurant in Missoula: Tamarack
Favorite activities/things to do: I am an avid outdoors lover. You'll always find me on one of the beautiful Montana rivers with a fly rod in hand or hiking somewhere on a backcountry camping trip.
Curran Johnson
Admissions Counselor
curran.johnson@mso.umt.edu
I feel fortunate to be able to call Missoula home. I have had the opportunity to travel all around the United States and there are not many places that can compete with Missoula. There is such a variety of activities and events to choose from you can always find something to do here. Some of my favorite activities are: Attending Griz games, especially Griz Basketball, Going to live concerts, Missoula’s live music scene rivals larger areas such as Seattle and Portland, Skiing, Golfing, and Exploring downtown Missoula.
Hometown: Kalispell, MT
Degree: B.A. in History, UM '04
Favorite restaurant in Missoula: Lots of good food options. I like the wings at Tamarack, The pizza at Biga, and the burgers at The Old Post.
Devin Carpenter
Admissions Counselor
devin.carpenter@mso.umt.edu
I have spent a majority of my life split between central coast California and Colorado Springs, Colorado, but once I started school in Missoula I just couldn’t help but stay. As a student I became quite involved in diversity education and activism which led me to a wonderful network of people throughout Montana that remains unmatched by any other place I have been.
Hometown: Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA
Degree: B.A. in Anthropology, UM ‘12
Favorite restaurant in Missoula: Red Bird – nothing makes me feel classier than expensive wine and a menu that always changes
Favorite activities/things to do: I am definitely a night owl and find myself at home dancing at the Wilma or the Palace with my closest friends. If I’m not at a concert or a festival or out dancing with my friends, I am probably fine dining at one of Missoula’s many local restaurants. I also love to play tennis, go floating and go snowboarding in the winter.
Kyle Pucko
Marketing & Recruitment Coordinator - Missoula College
kyle.pucko@mso.umt.edu
Working on the admission team at Missoula College UM has provided me the opportunity to meet fascinating people from towns across the great state of Montana. From recent mothers to recent graduates, everyone has a different goal in higher education; it’s been great helping students access college.
Hometown: Rochester, NY
Degree: B.A. in English Education, State University of New York at Geneseo
Favorite restaurant in Missoula: El Diablo; specifically the chicken burrito with jalapeno and gorgonzola.
Favorite activities/things to do: Missoula is a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts and I try to keep up by skiing, biking, and hiking.
Kathy Reeves
Administrative Associate
kathy.reeves@mso.umt.edu
I moved here 12 years ago from the great state of New Jersey. It is definitely different, and what we call mountains in New Jersey are actually hills. Even though I am not a UM graduate I still love the campus, the endless sky and the Grizzlies Football Team. Go Griz!
Hometown: Garden City, LI, New York
Degree: A.A. in Pre-School Education, '72
Favorite restaurant in Missoula: Noodle Express – my favorite is the Chicken Osaka Wrap.
Favorite activities/things to do: My husband and I own a Harley Davidson motorcycle and ride all around Montana. During the winter I spend time home watching movies on our big screen TV and surround sound that vibrates the walls. Who needs to go to the movie theatre!
Becky Hawkins
Admissions Evaluator
becky.hawkins@mso.umt.edu
I grew up in the middle of Montana and found myself in Missoula for what was supposed to be a short stop on my journey to a metropolitan city & life. This short stop keeps growing longer and longer. During my time here I have met the love of my life as well as some of the best people a girl could know.
Hometown: Judith Gap, MT
Favorite restaurant in Missoula: Currently I really enjoy Tamarack Brewery for a great atmosphere and place to hang out or The Mercantile Deli for a delicious Panini!
Favorite activities/things to do: I enjoy finding things to do near and far. In the summer I like to visit Glacier Park and play with the marmots, drive to Phillipsburg and go to the Sweet Palace, mine for sapphires, and visit the ghost towns, catch a festival in Butte, or a festival in Missoula at Caras Park. I also like to visit Canada and go to Fernie, Edmonton, or Calgary. In the fall I like to visit Walla Walla, WA and take in all the harvest/crush activities and taste wine. My husband and I enjoy seeing all the plays put on each year by our own UM Theatre Department, The Rep, and Missoula Community Theatre.
Lorraine Thunstrom
Admissions Evaluator
lorraine.thunstrom@umontana.edu
Hometown: Westminster, CA
Degree: B.A. in Sociology, UW, Seattle
Favorite restaurant in Missoula: Red Bird and Nara
Favorite activities/things to do: I love hiking in Yellowstone and Glacier NPs, river camping trips, boating, skiing, snorkeling and body surfing in tropical locations whenever possible, gardening, reading, going to the Farmer’s Market, watching sports and spending time with my husband and son.
Violet Hopkins
Admissions Evaluator
violet.hopkins@mso.umt.edu
Hometown: Missoula, MT
Degree: B.A. in Secondary Education/English, UM '03; M.F.A. in Creative Writing, University of Arizona class of '07
Favorite restaurant in Missoula: Vietnam Noodle. Or #1 Gyro. But mostly Vietnam Noodle. No- #1 Gyros, definitely. I think.
Favorite activities/things to do: I enjoy gardening, volunteering, hiking and biking all the great Missoula spots, going to the lake, and renovating my turn-of-the-century home with my husband, pre-teen son, and our two dogs- Ginger and Miles. They’re not very helpful with power tools, though.
