Meet our Staff
Gabrielle McAllaster, Ph.D., Director
Gabrielle McAllaster, Ph.D. (she, her), is a scholar-practitioner 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.
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.
Elsa Osborne, B.S, AFC Candidate, 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 well on her way to becoming an Accredited Financial Counselor.
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.
Meet our Student Staff
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
education among her peers.