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Meet our Staff

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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 her at: gmcallaster@sa.utah.edu

 

Beth Hunsaker, M.S., AFC®
Associate Director 

Beth (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 her at: bhunsaker@sa.utah.edu

 

Elsa Osborne, H.B.S, AFC®
Program Coordinator 

Elsa (she/her) is the Program Coordinator for the center and graduated from the U with a degree in Health, Society & Policy and a minor in sociology. She is Accredited Financial Counselor and often states, "financial counseling is like therapy but for money."

Elsa believes all areas of our lives cross over into financial wellness and incorporates that perspective into her practice with her clients. Elsa is passionate about the intersection of neurodiversity and personal finance and is advancing the field of research in this area. Elsa loves supporting clients wherever they are on their wellness journeys. 

Outside of work, she enjoys practicing yoga, reading and advocacy.

Contact her at: eosborne@sa.utah.edu

 

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Meet our Student Staff

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Deven Osborne, Graduate Peer Mentor

Deven Osborne (he, him) was born in Ladera Heights, CA & raised in Pasadena, CA. He moved out to St. George, Utah to attend and play football at Utah Tech University in July of 2017 and he has since Graduated from Utah Tech University earning two bachelors' in business management and recreation sports management. He played on the Utah Tech Football team as a Wide Out from 2017 to 2022 and was named to the All State's Good Hands Team in 2021. In Fall of 2021 he started an organization called Team Money Good where the mission is "Our purpose is to teach college athletes how to budget, save, and invest so that we better the financial mindset of college athletes." Team Money Good continues to teach college athletes the importance of managing money and they go out and teach the next generation by running a financial literacy program at Freedom Prep Academy and local High Schools in St.George, Utah! Deven is now pursuing a masters in real estate & development at the University of Utah currently and is also a Wideouts coach at West High School here in Salt Lake City.

 

 

Jade Ramirez, AFC Candidate, Peer Mentor

Jade Ramirez (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. 

 

 

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.

 

 

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 literacy among her peers. 

 

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