Meet our Staff
Gabrielle McAllaster, Ph.D.,AFC®
Director
Gabrielle McAllaster, Ph.D. (she, her), is a scholar-practitioner and an Accredited
Financial Counselor (AFC) from Denver, Colorado. She completed her M.A. in Higher
Education and Student Affairs in Colorado, and her Ph.D. in Education with a specialization
in higher education at Rowan University. Her academic journey is complemented by a
professional background spanning various facets of higher education. As the Director
for The Financial Wellness Center at the University of Utah, Dr. McAllaster brings
a holistic approach to financial education and wellness. With her commitment to supporting
students on their unique financial journeys, she combines her passion for financial
well-being with her expertise in higher education. She strongly holds the belief that
financial well-being is a fundamental component of overall well-being. As such, it
is her commitment to support each of our students on their unique financial journeys,
helping them navigate the path to financial wellness. In her spare time, she enjoys
practicing yoga, exploring the outdoors, and spending time with her family and beloved
dogs.
Contact: gmcallaster@sa.utah.edu
Beth Hunsaker, M.S., AFC®
Associate Director
Beth Hunsaker (she, her) is the Associate Director of the Financial Wellness Center.
Teaching people about financial wellness through small and consistent habits has been
one of Beth's goals since she began teaching personal finance in 2005 for the department
of Family and Consumer Studies at the University of Utah after earning her graduate
degree from the U. Beth has earned her Accredited Financial Counseling (AFC) and
has presented on the topics of financial wellness at state and national conferences.
Beth views financial wellnes as just part of the equation when it comes to overall wellness and believes that all areas of the person are important to consider when making financial decisions.
Beth loves being a mom to three amazing future Utes and one spoiled dog, Jimmy. She loves to read, garden and watch cheesy zombie movies.
Contact: bhunsaker@sa.utah.edu
Elsa Osborne, H.B.S, AFC®
Program Coordinator
Elsa (she/her) is the Program Coordinator at the Financial Wellness Center and an Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC®). She holds a degree in Health, Society & Policy with a minor in Sociology from the University of Utah. Elsa is passionate about providing holistic financial wellness education tailored to the needs of college students, focusing on empowering them to manage their finances in ways that enhance their overall well-being.
With a strong belief in the connection between financial health and personal wellness, Elsa helps students create spending plans, save with high-yield savings accounts (HYSAs), identify their financial values, set goals, and implement intentional behavior changes. Her goal is to promote both individual and community-level well-being through thoughtful financial education and counseling.
In her free time, Elsa enjoys practicing yoga, singing, staying active through climbing and exercise, and always seeks opportunities to learn new things. She is also affiliated with the Association for Financial Counseling & Planning Education® (AFCPE®), the Higher Education Financial Wellness Alliance (HEFWA), and ACPA—College Student Educators International.
Contact: eosborne@sa.utah.edu
Meet our Student Staff
Alex Lewis, AFC Candidate, Peer Mentor
Alex Lewis (he, him) is a fourth-year student at the University of Utah, where he
is pursuing a double major in accounting and financial planning and counseling. Originating
from Ogden, Utah, Alex holds a deep appreciation for outdoor activities, with a special
interest in mountain biking and camping. In his free time, he enjoys playing instruments,
learning spanish, gardening, and growing houseplants. Alex is preparing to become
a Certified Financial Planner and Accredited Financial Counselor. He is involved in
the Financial Planning student club and the Financial Planning Association. For Alex,
learning how to manage money is more than a skill – it's a source of satisfaction
and fulfillment. He is genuinely excited about helping fellow students on their journey
of financial empowerment.
Elisa Gott, Peer Mentor
Elisa Gott (she, her) is an undergraduate student majoring in Human Development and
Family Studies. She was born and raised in Argentina and moved to the U.S. in her
earlies twenties. She believes that knowledge is the biggest resource we have to
improve our lives, and loves sharing principles and experiences that have benefited
her life. She is committed to keep learning and growing her own understanding to
better serve her community. When she is not in school or doing homework, she enjoys
spending time with her family and friends. She believes that the best place to rejuvenate
is outside, on a hike, camping or in your own backyard surrounded by nature.
Evelyn Ezikwelu, Graduate Assistant
Evelyn Ezikwelu (she/her) is a Ph.D. candidate in Education, Culture, and Society at the University of Utah's College of Education. With a background in education, public health, statistics, and project management, she approaches her research from an interdisciplinary perspective. Evelyn specializes in multi-methodology research, utilizing quantitative, mixed-methods, and qualitative techniques to examine the complexities of social relationships and their impact on well-being. Recognizing the critical role that financial wellness plays in overall well-being, her work aligns closely with the mission of the Financial Wellness Center (FWC).
Jade Ramirez-Barraza, AFC Candidate, Peer Mentor
Jade Ramirez-Barraza (she, her) is an undergraduate student double majoring in Economics and Linguistics
with an emphasis in Computational Linguistics. She enjoys learning about economic
models and language learning models in her respective majors and tries to complement
them with her programming skills. Outside of school, Jade likes playing video games,
reading, and traveling. She says her best purchase of the summer was her Nintendo
switch. She got into personal finance through her parents who she watched navigate
their own finances through the help of self-help books, and in her own transition
to adulthood she continues to educate herself on the topic. After volunteering to
prepare taxes for lower income communities Jade realized the power of financial education,
and guiding others to the resources available to them. She sees financial wellness
as a skill people develop and refine, and also believes it’s important to examine
finances in the context of a person’s values and community.
Keagan Karstens, Peer Mentor
Keagan Karstens (he, him) is a senior at the University of Utah pursuing a degree
in finance. He has a passion for personal finance and loves to teach others how to
manage their wealth. He believes that financial literacy is one of the most invaluable
skills an individual can have, as it is not only good for the wallet, but the mind
too. His favorite part of it is creating a sense of mindfulness, so that we can put
more energy into other aspects of our lives. For him those are hobbies such as skiing,
fishing, and cooking. Born in Chicago, he moved to Salt Lake City to pursue freestyle
skiing. He is a dedicated skier, and loves to spend time on the mountain riding and
filming with his friends. He understands how important a healthy life balance is and
has ventured into the world of financial wellness, believing that it is the source
of freedom, and is passionate in helping others get there.
Lucy Christensen, Student Advocate
Lucy Christensen (she, her) is a second-year student at the U and is studying international
studies with a minor in business. Following much introspection, she has decided to
continue her educational journey by going to law school. She plans to pursue a career
through the mediation of foreign affairs. She has traveled to 27 countries and hopes
to study abroad during her college experience. With a background in nonprofit marketing,
Lucy serves as the student advocate and marketing student at the Financial Wellness
Center. She loves using tools like Canva Pro for projects and promoting financial
education among her peers.