Student Life Staff

Dr. Jennifer Skaggs

Vice President for Student Life

Jennifer Skaggs brings three decades of experience in residence life, career services, experiential learning, accreditation, and curriculum design, including faculty and senior administrative roles. She earned her Ph.D. at the University of Kentucky, an M.S. in student affairs and higher education from Miami University in Ohio, and an undergraduate degree from Taylor University. She has served as president of Infinite Ping, Inc., focusing on coaching and training on cultural and diversity issues as well as leadership development and organizational change. She has authored two books on international higher education and the globalization of education. Before returning to the U.S. in 2020, she spent eight years at the American University in Cairo where she was dean of students and associate vice president for student life as well as an assistant professor in the Graduate School of Education and the Office of Undergraduate Studies. Jennifer has a unique understanding from a faith perspective of the intersections between the academic (“learning”) and the co-curricular (“living”) components that collectively comprise the Gordon experience.

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Terry Charek

Dean of Student Life

Terry L. Charek, Dean of Student Life, has served the students of Gordon College for over 30 years in various capacities. Campus residence life was his true love and focus for many years, but he also works with students with disabilities, commuter student advising, the health and counseling centers, recreation, intramurals and health education, directs the student disciplinary process, and founded the Early Response Initiative to identify and support struggling students. Terry lives in Wenham with his lovely wife Patricia and daughter Charlotte. He loves to hike, garden and eat raw eggs.

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Jeff Carpenter

Assistant Dean of Student Life

Jeff is a graduate of Geneva College, where he received his B.A. and his Masters degree in Higher Education. He serves as the Assistant Dean of Student Life and as the Resident Director for the Village. Jeff is committed to mentoring students, helping them grow as leaders and as followers of Christ. 

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Rev. Bob Whittet

Chaplain

Rev. Bob Whittet is a graduate of Gordon College (B.A.) and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (M.Div). He is a professor in the Christian Ministries department and serves as the Director of Church Relations. Bob has nearly three decades of youth ministry experience in his background, much of it in New England, and serves as an advisor and board member for a number of national and regional ministries. Bob is committed to the life-changing effect that cross-cultural youth ministry has on young people, and is committed to helping students discover their leadership potential through the Center for Student Leadership.

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Yicaury Melo Jimenez

Director of Multicultural Initiatives and the Clarendon Scholars Program

Yicaury Melo graduated from Gordon with a BA in Communications Arts. As a Clarendon Scholar, she was an active member of the Gordon community by serving in multiple leadership roles in student clubs and ministries, including ALANA and World Focus. Upon graduation, she returned to her home city of Lawrence, MA and worked with various community engagement organizations. Yicaury’s passion is to provide learning and enrichment opportunities to inner-city youth. She worked with the YWCA to cultivate middle school girls into strong confident young ladies through career exploration, nurturing a strong self-esteem and the arts. She returned to Gordon in the fall of 2013 as the Multicultural Admissions Counselor and then joined Student Life as the Multicultural Student Service Coordinator in the fall of 2014. Since then, she has worked to develop and implement the Multicultural Initiatives Office Ambassadors program and foster a welcoming and inviting multicultural community at Gordon.

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Jacqueline Broberg

Director of Student Activities

Jacqueline Broberg loves to disciple students into future leaders and followers of Christ. As a the Director of Student Activities, she oversees the Gordon College Student Association (GCSA), the Campus Events Council (CEC), the Mascot Program and the Director of Orientation, mentoring students as they learn how to lead some of Gordon's major student programs. She is a graduate of Gordon College (B.A) and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (M.A. in Theology). Jacqueline lives with her husband and puppy in Hamilton and loves to travel, knit, read and watch Parks & Rec. 

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Ingrid Orellana Rivera

International Student Office Manager

Ingrid came to Gordon College as an international student from El Salvador. She graduated in the spring of 2015 with a degree in Business Administration. While a student, Ingrid served as the Student Director of the International Student Organization (ISO) in which she had the chance to help develop and create ISO events as well as help lead the International Student Orientation.

Before becoming a Gordon staff member, Ingrid worked at Compassion International as a translator and event coordinator and was a member of Habitat for Humanity and the International Global Citizen Initiative back in her country. She is energetic, enthusiastic and brings a creative approach to our programming for international students. Ingrid now serves as the central resource for undergraduate international students (including visa and patriot students), she develops and facilities services in collaboration and partnership with campus departments, including residence life, counseling center, student development, and global education. and is trained in basic SEVIS regulations and procedures.

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Ethan Mignard

Director of Housing

Ethan Mignard serves as Gordon’s director of housing as well as the resident director of Tavilla Hall. Raised in Andover, Minn., he attended Oklahoma Baptist University, where he earned a B.A. in News and Information in 2011. Mignard received his M.A. in Strategic Leadership from Bethel University in May of 2017. In his free time, Mignard enjoys traveling, photography, participating in sports and keeping up with current events.

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Abigail Stroven

Executive Director of La Vida Center for Outdoor Education and Leadership

Abby has been shaped by her experiences in Ecuador, South America where she spent seven years working with an adventure education retreat center called El Refugio located near the capital city of Quito. Her experiences leading wilderness trips, ministering to local Ecuadorians, and living in a different culture have fueled her passion for facilitating similar experiences with La Vida participants and staff. She is excited to be leading the La Vida Center here at Gordon College. Abby has a B.S. from Cedarville University. She is certified as a WMA Wilderness First Responder as well as being trained in Challenge Course management and Advanced Skills and Standards courses at Project Adventure.

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Deana Trefry

Dean of Student Care

In her role as Dean of Student Care, Deanna oversees the Center for Student Counseling and Wellness. Deana has also been an adjunct professor at Gordon in the Sociology and Social Work Departments. Prior to coming to Gordon, Deana worked in the public schools, as well as for the SEEM Collaborative, as a school adjustment counselor, school psychologist and special education administrator. At SEEM Collaborative, Deana was the founder and Director of the SEEM Assessment and Intervention Center. Prior to her work in public schools, Deana worked as an outpatient therapist at Health & Education Services working with all ages. Deana is married and has three children.

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