Meet the Team

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.

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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 wellness 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.

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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.

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Samantha Andrus-Henry (she/her) is the student administrator at the Financial Wellness Center at the University of Utah. She brings a deep passion for student success and a strong belief in the power of education to transform lives.

Samantha holds a background in history, English, and athletic coaching from Weber State University. She is currently pursuing a second bachelor's degree in the arts at the University of Utah, reflecting her commitment to lifelong learning and personal growth.

As a single mother raising incredible children, Samantha weaves her academic and life experiences into her work, offering empathetic and holistic support to students on their unique financial journeys. She believes that every step a student takes toward their goals is worth celebrating—and that financial wellness is not just about numbers, but about empowerment, growth, and compassion. Outside of work, Samantha enjoys reading, writing, creating art, and making spiral-bound notebooks. She lives by the philosophy that the true value of life lies in the journey and the shared experience of being human.

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 early 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.

Liam Neu (he/him) is a senior at the University of Utah, majoring in economics and minoring in financial planning. He was born and raised in Park City, Utah. Liam enjoys learning how economic policy impacts his community and teaching others financial literacy, which he believes is a lifelong, invaluable skill. His passion for personal finance started from listening to financial podcasts, reading books, and applying those lessons—ultimately improving his own finances and reducing stress.

He hopes to become a financial planner and is currently preparing for the CFP exam. In his free time, Liam enjoys skiing, hiking, playing basketball, and meeting new people to help them feel confident and empowered in their finances.

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.

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.