Introducing the Pacific Opportunity Hub
The Pacific Opportunity Hub is now up and running with a fantastic team coming together. Intended to help students better connect purpose and practicality, find meaning and value in their Pacific education, and feel supported in their journey through Pacific, the Hub will pull together threads of academic advising, career development, experiential learning (including student employment, civic engagement, global engagement, and undergrad internships, practica/field experiences), and community partnerships in a new way. Some existing work will continue, and we will get to design other approaches, programs, and services as we build out the Hub. You can see an org chart with brief descriptions of each role here. Please email opportunity@pacificu.edu with general inquiries.
Pacific Opportunity Hub Team:
Scot Dobberfuhl, Associate Director of Global Engagement
Scot Dobberfuhl is joining the Opportunity Hub as the Associate Director of Global Engagement. He has many years of experience as a teacher for English language learners and international program administrator, most recently with Pacific University’s English Language Institute. His responsibilities have included fostering and maintaining relationships with global partners, advising students on immigration regulations, and mentoring students as they adapt to new academic environments and prepare for demanding academic programs. He has also studied abroad in Norway, taught at universities in western China and central Turkey, and served in various positions at language programs at universities in Wisconsin, Colorado, and Mississippi.
Scot’s current responsibilities include study abroad, short-term travel management; global engagement advising. Strategic projects in the future include joining the ILACA coalition for study abroad and improving our system of short-term faculty led travel courses.
Amy Tracewell, Associate Director of Academic Partnerships, Non-Degree Programs, and Director of Masters of Nonprofit Leadership
Amy has worked in nonprofit leadership, fundraising, and community partnership development for over 25 years, joining Pacific University in 2016. Since stepping into the MNL Director role in 2024, she has led curriculum development, faculty recruitment, and program strategy, while also teaching NL 600, NL 602, and NPO 305. In her role with the Pacific Opportunity Hub, she leads the development of academic and workforce partnerships and non-degree credential programs, including certificates, badges, and micro-credentials, working closely with faculty and community partners to align programs with workforce needs and strategic university priorities, and continues to lead the stackable certificate initiative for the MNL program. Prior to her academic leadership roles, she spent eight years as a Major Gifts Officer in Corporate and Foundation Relations. Before Pacific, she directed the foundation at Cottage Grove Community Hospital, led communications and advancement at the Nonprofit Association of Oregon, and served as Publisher of the Cottage Grove Sentinel. She holds a Master of Nonprofit Leadership from Pacific University and a Bachelor of Science in Anthropology from Oregon State University, and is a Ford Family Foundation Community Fellow and American Leadership Forum of Oregon Senior Fellow. She currently serves as an Oregon Heritage Commissioner and District Learning and Development Chair for Rotary District 5100.
Amy’s current responsibilities include directing the Masters in Nonprofit Leadership, certificate system development, and new partner intake. Strategic projects include building out a strategic partnership management and coordination system and infrastructure for certificates and microcredentials.
Lea Griess, Assistant Director of Undergraduate Academic Advising
Lea Griess (she/her/hers) is now the Assistant Director for Undergraduate Academic Advising at Pacific University. She has been in the advising field since 2014, starting with her graduate advising experience at Oregon State. Since then she has worked with college students from all walks of life at Chemeketa Yamhill Valley Campus, Southern Oregon University and now at Pacific. Prior to this role she has been a part of the Pacific community, both as an alum and as professional staff, serving as the academic success coordinator and academic coach (2022-2026), as well as the interim director of the Academic and Career Advising Center (2024-2026). Her passion lies in supporting students with identities that have been historically excluded from higher education as they discover their purpose and goals while also navigating the tricky systems and processes in college. Her most important role currently, is parenting her two youngsters with her partner, all of whom keep life interesting and joyful.
Lea’s current responsibilities include summer advising, the First Year Advising program, academic advising authorizations, and advisor training and coordination. Strategic projects include improving the advising system and collaborating on coordination of efforts for student success and retention.
Morgan Knapp, Assistant Director of Civic Engagement & Experiential Learning
Morgan has supported Pacific's McCall Center for Civic Engagement since 2019, and held additional roles at Pacific that include Interim Director for the Center for Gender Equity, Academic Support Outreach, and adjunct teaching of civic engagement and college success courses. Morgan is passionate about community development and lifelong civic engagement & her professional background emphasizes programs and organizations that bridge the public-private divide. She is the child of a Pacific alumna, grew up in Japan, Taiwan, Indonesia, and Canada, and loves helping first-time volunteers discover how fun and rewarding service projects can be. Outside of Pacific, she chairs both the Forest Grove City Library Commission and the Forest Grove Community School Board of Directors.
Morgan’s current responsibilities include management of the McCall Center for Civic Engagement, interim management of the Finders Keepers Free Store (AY 26/27 only) and being a liaison between the Hub and clinical programs. Strategic projects include enhancing Pacific University as a site of experiential learning, including improvements to the student employment system, and developing student voice in Hub operations.
Ainsley Wilson, Academic Advisor
Hello! My name is Ainsley Wilson (she/her) and I am excited to be joining the Opportunity Hub team as an Academic Advisor.. I completed my undergraduate degree in Women's Studies at Appalachian State University and my masters in Higher Education and Student Affairs at the University of Iowa. I am joining Pacific University after almost 11 years at Oregon State University, where I currently work in the College of Engineering as an Academic Advisor. I am looking forward to exploring the area with my partner and our 2-year old son, dog, and two cats. In my free time I enjoy watching anime, reading, sewing, crafting, and trying new restaurants!"
Ainsley’s current responsibilities include pre-enrollment transfer advising, advising liaison for Pacific Priority, and general undergraduate student advising (including First Year Advising instruction). Strategic projects include Pacific Priority advising improvements and transfer student onboarding.
Salena Garver, Career & Experiential Learning Coach
Salena Garver (she/they) has been with Pacific University as the Community Relations Coordinator since April 2023. She is bringing her experience supporting students with their job searches, coordinating the Community Service Work Study program, hosting career fairs, academic coaching, and collaborating with community partners & local organizations to her new role as a Career and Experiential Learning Coach within the Pacific Opportunity Hub. Salena holds a B.A. from Oregon State University, where she studied Creative Writing with a focus of poetry and minored in Sociology. In her free time, Salena enjoys playing bass, finding crisp creeks and babbling brooks to befriend, growing too many varieties of tomatoes, making art without a plan, and spending time giggling with her husband and their three dogs.
Salena’s current responsibilities include career coaching for grad and undergrad students, First Year Advising instruction, and support for experiential learning. Strategic projects include developing a career support system facilitating more involvement from alumni and partners in career support for students.
Natalie Brown, Career & Experiential Learning Coach
Natalie Brown has been a member of the Pacific University community for the past three years, previously serving on the Campus Living team within Student Affairs. In that role, she loved supporting students as they experienced the exciting and challenging adventures that come with living on campus. Natalie is thrilled to transition into her new role with the Opportunity Hub as a Career & Experiential Learning Coach. She can’t wait to collaborate with students in this new capacity, helping them uncover their passions and supporting them in navigating their academic and professional journeys. Natalie holds a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Portland, where her own experience at a small liberal arts university inspired her career path. Having felt the profound impact of a close-knit campus community firsthand, she was drawn to Pacific University by the prospect of helping support students through this same pivotal and transformative time in their lives. In her free time, Natalie loves taking trips to the Oregon Coast, exploring local coffee shops and thrift stores, and getting lost in a good book.
Natalie’s current responsibilities include career coaching for grad and undergrad students, First Year Advising instruction, and support for experiential learning, particularly practicum support for Public Health and Criminal Justice, Law, and Society. Strategic projects include practicum system improvements.
Andrew Longhofer, Career & Experiential Learning Coach
Andrew has worked on student success, career readiness, co-curricular experiences, and authentic assessment in the School of Pharmacy since 2016. In that time, he oversaw student governance and student organizations within the School, championed the development of the Personal and Professional Development course series, streamlined clinical rotation onboarding and compliance processes, developed the Pharmacy peer mentor program, and implemented a portfolio-based assessment process for transferrable skills. Prior to his time at Pacific, he supported undergraduate internships for academic credit as a graduate assistant at Portland State University. He holds a Master of Fine Arts in poetry and a Graduate Certificate in higher education student affairs from PSU and bachelors degrees in English and French. He is currently working on a PhD in higher education leadership at Colorado State University researching learning outcomes assessment in student life.
Andrew’s current responsibilities include career coaching for grad and undergrad students, First Year Advising instruction, and support for experiential learning, particularly coordinating advising and coaching support for health professions pathways. Strategic projects include internship and pre-professional advising system improvements.
Lynn Zhou, Community Relations Coordinator (start date 8/31/26)
Lynn is joining Pacific University as the Community Relations Coordinator at the Opportunity Hub. She has worked in higher education for about eight years, with experience in career services, employer relations, academic advising, program coordination, etc. Previously, she worked at the University of Michigan and Michigan State University, where she worked with students, employers, faculty, and community partners from a variety of backgrounds. She is excited to get to know the Pacific community, connect students with meaningful work and experiential learning opportunities, and build new partnerships with employers and community organizations. Outside of work, Lynn enjoys hiking, tennis, and pickleball.
Lynn’s current responsibilities include helping current students find a job, coordinating recruitment events, and managing the Community Service Work Study program. Strategic projects include communication systems to get the right opportunity in front of the right student.
Rosa Maria GIlbert, Resource & Office Coordinator
Rosa Maria Gilbert is joining Pacific University’s Opportunity Hub as the Resource & Office Coordinator. She brings experience in nonprofit leadership, community-centered program coordination, bilingual communication, and supporting students and families through times of transition. A recent graduate of Pacific’s Master of Nonprofit Leadership program, Rosa Maria is excited to continue being part of the Pacific community in this new role and support the work of the Opportunity Hub.
Rosa Maria’s current responsibilities include Hub budget management (including short-term travel, study abroad, MCCE, and advising budgets), office support, and student navigation. Strategic projects include operational efficiencies and enhanced navigation support for students.
Stephanie Stokamer, Executive Director of Career & Experiential Learning
Stephanie has been at Pacific since 2011, and has been most involved with the McCall Center for Civic Engagement, Academic & Career Advising, community partnerships, and applied and experiential learning with undergraduates during that time. Stephanie has taught in and administered community-based learning courses in both undergraduate and graduate programs since 2005. She has a doctorate in Educational Leadership from Portland State University, and her areas of scholarship include service-learning, civic engagement, and education for democracy, particularly with respect to pedagogical practices, faculty development, and community partnerships. When not at work, Stephanie enjoys being a mediocre gardener, hanging out with her two kids and two kittens, and helping out at her husband's food truck.
Stephanie’s current responsibilities include overall Hub management and staff supervision, visioning, assessment and accreditation issues for the Hub, and merger-related issues. Strategic projects include advancing the Hub for long-term success.