Student Life and Leadership

Becky Riopel received a Bachelor’s degree in Communication from New England College and a Master’s degree in Education from Lynchburg College in Virginia. After working in Student Affairs for over 15 years on the east coast at Connecticut College, Roger Williams University and College of the Holy Cross, she decided it was time to move back to her home state of Washington. Previously, Becky was the Events Coordinator at Cascadia, working with internal and external groups to plan their events in classrooms and Mobius Hall.

As the Director of Student Life, Becky co-advises the Events & Advocacy Board, funding for student clubs and coordinates the annual commencement ceremony, as well as working with the rest of the Student Life staff to support all club events and initiatives to provide a diverse and inclusive out of the classroom experience.

Becky's office is in ARC-140 and she would be happy to meet with you about the Events & Advocacy Board and serving on a campus wide committee!

Shandy Stomieroski earned her Associate in Arts degree at Centralia College in 2006 and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies at Eastern Washington University in 2009. Shandy previously worked in student programs at Centralia College for 5 years prior to coming to Cascadia in April 2014. She brings with her a passion for student life and helping students build the path to success during their time in college.

As the Assistant Director, Shandy co-advises the Events & Advocacy Board, coordinates Jumpstart Orientation and coordinates leadership opportunities for students.

Shandy's office is in ARC-140 and she would be happy to meet with you about the Events & Advocacy Board and campus leadership opportunities!

Samantha Penjaraenwatana received a Bachelor’s degree in Community Psychology from the University of Washington Bothell and a Master’s degree in Student Development from Seattle University. Samantha previously worked in Student Affairs at UWB, coordinated first-generation college student initiatives at Seattle U, and worked as an academic advisor at Cascadia. She is dedicated to fostering a welcoming community and supporting students to build their sense of belonging at Cascadia.

As the Student Life Advisor, Samantha advises the Community Engagement Officers, student clubs, and the Phi Theta Kappa honors society.

Samantha’s office is in ARC-140 and she would be happy to meet with you about joining or starting a club and provide any event planning support your club may need!

Samantha Martin received a Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems from the University of California, Davis in 2022 after completing two Associate degrees at American River College in Sacramento. Before joining the Cascadia community, Samantha worked as a sustainability coordinator in the food service industry, in school gardens with a local nonprofit, and collaborated on climate smart agriculture needs in Northern California. She is passionate about food system sustainability and ensuring all students have access to the resources they need to fully enjoy their college experience.

As the Kodiak Cave Program Specialist, Samantha oversees the on-campus food resource center and facilitates food education at Cascadia.

Samantha’s office and the Kodiak Cave are in LB2-006 and she would be happy to meet with you to talk about the variety of food resources on campus!