Apartment Life Newsletter July/August 2009

KEEPING
We are a Global Village
inTOUCH
By Christie Mathews, Viviane Ephraimson-Abt,
and Hosam Ahmad
Have you ever wondered what it would be On behalf of all of the Apartment Life staff, staff that helps maintain our buildings and
like if the entire world were shrunk down into a we are pleased to welcome you to the new aca- grounds.
small village? Now, imagine if you had the op- demic 2008-2009 year. For those of you who This newsletter will help you connect with
portunity to live in this blend of cultures, lan- are new residents, we extend a warm welcome staff members in your area, as well as staff that
guages, and personalities that would provide a to you. We hope that you will benefit from our share your cultural background or interests.
stimulating learning experience. Of course, you wonderful intercultural and intergenerational We encourage you to contact staff members
would also want a village you could call home community and that this place will become one with any questions, concerns, or ideas you may
for a while, a place where you are welcomed, of your favorite homes. The entire Apartment have. We want to hear from you and know
can become involved, and feel supported; a Life staff is deeply committed to each you! Once again, on behalf of the entire staff of
place that helps you succeed in academic and resident’s positive experience. Each apartment Apartment Life, we welcome you and wish you
personal goals. Colorado State University’s area has an office every success in the coming year.
Apartment Life is that place. The residents manager, two area managers, and a
and staff of Apartment Life are a global and manager’s assistant. We
multicultural community of individuals and have extensive office
families. We are a diverse blend of racial, eth- coverage as well as
nic, and class backgrounds, and we represent someone on duty 24
a wide variety of national origins and sexual hours a day to help
orientations. Our views encompass a broad you. We have
spectrum of religious and political beliefs. The community
Apartment Life community is unique in that coordinators,
we strive to work and live together, and in the youth
process, learn from one another in an atmo- programmers,
sphere of positive contact and mutual respect. intercultural
Apartment Life strongly believes that residents connection
will have a more productive experience at the community
University if they feel at home in their living staff,
environment. In order to encourage and support community
our diverse population, Apartment Life works pride
with residents and staff to develop social, cul- coordinators,
tural, and educational events. These programs and a spouse
provide opportunity for personal growth. and partner
Many Apartment Life residents gain a deeper coordinator. In
awareness of how to connect with people from addition, we
different cultures, age groups, and life situa- have central staff
tions. The world is becoming globally inclusive to assist us with a
through advanced technology, transportation, newsletter, assign-
and communication. Employment opportunities ments, billing, social
will be greater for those individuals who have programming, and
developed the ability to relate to and work with administrative needs.
a diverse population. Finally, we have a custodial

What’s Inside...
Page 2 - 3 Page 4 - 5 Page 6 - 7 Page 8 - 9 Page 10 - 11 Page 12
Palmer Center University University Aggie Village International Graduating?
Central Programs Village Village Continued House/Lory
Aggie Village Apartments
 Palmer Center

Christie Mathews Viviane Ephraimson-Abt Hosam Ahmad

Director
Christie is from Fort Collins, Colorado
and has been director for almost three
years. She loves her job and the staff
she works with, and is also taking some
classes at CSU. She knows French and a
little Spanish. She likes to float on a calm
river on a sunny day, be with her son, and
read a good mystery in her free time.
Assistant Director
Viviane has been working with Apartment
Life for ten years and is from the East
Coast of the USA. She knows German,
a little French and Japanese. She likes to
learn new things, do yoga, meditate, stay
connected with friends and spend time
with her husband and dogs.
Assistant Director
University Village Manager
Hosam has been with Apartment Life for
over 20 years. He came from Iraq in 1986
to pursue a PhD in Mechanical Engineer-
ing. He speaks Arabic, and in his free
time he enjoys playing tennis, juggling,
and watching TV.

Louie is a native Coloradoan Ihsan has been with Apartment

Louie Sanchez
Administrative Assistant
who has lived in three other
states and three countries. He is
the Administrative Assistant in
the Palmer main office, and is an
athletic person. He is an official
for youth and high schools sports
and has coached many sports as
well. He enjoys watching his
kids play competitively in
baseball and soccer.
life for nearly two decades.
He is obtaining his Masters in
Business in addition to be-
ing an office assistant and the
Community Pride and Program
Enhancement Coordinator in
UV with his wife, Nehla. He is
from Baghdad, Iraq and knows
Ihsan Abbud Arabic. In his free time Ihsan
Office Assistant likes to play table tennis and
solve puzzles.

Maria was born and raised in Kristin is a new student

Colorado and is continuing as As-
signments and Billings
Coordinator. She knows Spanish
and a little German and French
and likes to cook, read, watch
movies and spend time with her
family.
Maria Martinez
Assignments/Billings Coordinator
office assistant and is
majoring in Apparel and
Merchandising. She is from
Conifer, Colorado and likes to
relax in her free time.
Kristin Caldwell
Office Assistant

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 Central Programs

Cassidy Edman Asseal Ahmad Amanda Lubow

Central Programs Coordinator Newsletter Coordinator Graphic Design Coordinator
Asseal is the new Newsletter Coordinator Amanda is the new Graphic Designer
Cassidy is in her second year as Cen-
for Apartment life. He is a Business Ad- and is getting her BFA in Graphic
tral Programs Coordinator and is also a
ministration major with a concentration Design. She is from Fort Collins and
student in the Student Affairs in Higher
in Accounting and Computer Information she enjoys backpacking, participating
Education (SAHE) program. She is from
Systems, and a French minor. He knows with her dog in canine agility sports,
Boulder, Colorado and has also lived in
French and Arabic and was born in Den- 4-wheeling in the mountains, cooking,
Alaska and Iowa. She is enjoying meet-
ver and raised in Fort Collins. He enjoys and most importantly, relaxing.
ing new people. In her free time she likes
to be with her partner Matthew, practice playing sports, hanging out with friends,
yoga, be outside as much as possible, and discussing politics in his free time.
and play tennis and racquetball.

Katie is the International Ibrahim Alnaser is returning to Apart-

House and Lory Apartments ment Life, this time as UV Central Pro-
liaison. She is from Sprin- grammer. He is studying for a Ph.D.
field, Illinois and is currently in Agricultural Economics and came
a master’s student in Lit- from Jordan. He knows Arabic and a
erature. In her free time she bit of French and Italian. Ibrahim likes
likes to run and practice yoga. to watch movies, read, shop and play
outdoor sports in his free time.

Katie Huffman Ibrahim Al-Naser

Central Programmer: Central Programmer: University Village
I-House/Lory

Rebecca will be the new

liaison for Aggie Village
in Central Programs and
is obtaining her masters in
Communications Stud-
ies. She moved here from
Flagstaff, Arizona and
knows a little French.
When free, Rebecca likes
Rebecca Propes to sleep, write stories, go
Central Programmer: for walks, bake and go on
day trips.
Aggie Village

The 2009-2010 Central Programs Staff.

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 University Village
PROFILE

Kate Wormus Kristi Carson Nicole Scheer

Associate Manager
Kate is returning as Associate Man-
ager and is in her second year of the
Student Affairs in Higher Education
(SAHE) program. She came from
Maine and knows French. In her
free time, she likes to watch movies,
hike, camp, have fun and be silly.
Office Manager
Kristi is the Office Manager at UV, and
she tries to keep all of the funny people
she works with laughing. She was born
in Illinois, raised in the Netherlands and
has lived in Colorado the longest. She
knows eight languages, including Span-
ish, German, Italian, Portuguese, French,
Chinese and Korean, and likes to hug her
cat Tassy and laugh with her dear Pokie.
Intercultural Connections
Community Coordinator
Nicole is the Intercultural Connec-
tions Community (ICC) Program
Coordinator at UV and a graduate
student in the Student Affairs in
Higher Education (SAHE) program.
She came from Washington State and
knows French. She enjoys swim-
ming, reading books from the Poudre
Library, watching movies and being
with her family.

Matt and Michelle are both from
Colorado; Matt from Antonito
and Michelle a Loveland native.
They are part of the Intercultural
Connections Community pro-
gram at UV. Matt is getting his
degree in English Literature and
enjoys sports, board games and
theater. Michelle likes to bike,
draw, and play volleyball, and
she knows French.
Matthew & Michelle Stalker
Intercultural Connections Community
Lindsay is the
environmental services
supervisor for UV. She
is from Fort Collins and
enjoys playing outdoor
sports, camping, hiking,
biking, making scrapbooks
Lindsay Johnson-Athey and holding spas in her free
University Village time.
Environmental Services Supervisor
Maryam is a part of the Intercultural
Connections Community staff and is
also pursuing her PhD in Community
Nutrition and Nutritional Science.
She came from Iran, knows Persian
and she likes to hike, watch movies,
write, and hang out with friends in
her free time.
Maryam Dadkhah
Intercultural Connections Community
Tony is a new member of the Inter-
cultural Connections Community
staff and is a junior
Psychology major at CSU. He came
from Denver and knows Vietnamese.
In his free time he reads, exercises
and meditates.
Tony Ho
Intercultural Connections Community

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 University Village (cont.)
Simenah is the new YPC for children Nehla serves as the Community
1-11 at UV and is studying Psychol- Pride Coordinator with her hus-
ogy and Biology at CSU. She came band, Ihsan Abbud, and an Office
from Liberia, speaks Kisi, and enjoys Assistant at UV. She is from
reading, relaxing, movies and being Baghdad, Iraq and likes to watch
with friends in her free time. TV, read magazines, and garden.
She knows Arabic as well.

Simenah Menso Nehla Kassim

Youth Programs Coordinator Community Pride Coordinator
Carrie is a new CC at UV this year.
Alyssa is the new CC for
Her husband is a PhD student in
buildings 16-20 at University
Atmospheric Science and she is a
Village, and an undergraduate
stay-at-home mom to her two-year-
student studying Sociology
old daughter. She is originally from
and Spanish. She likes to
Columbia, Missouri and moved here
play with her daughter in her
from San Jose, California. In her
free time.
free time she likes to hike camp, run,
rock climb and read.
Carrie Guy
Alyssa Dawson
Community Coordinator
Community Coordinator

Arnaud is in his second year with

Jessica is the CC for buildings 1-3
UV as CC for buildings 26-29. He
and 15 this year. She was born in
is obtaining his educator teaching li-
Estes Park, Colorado and is a cur-
cense and came from Gennevilliers,
rently getting her second bachelors
France. He knows French and likes
degree in Philosophy. She knows
to play soccer, videogames, draw,
conversational Spanish and likes to
make music, and above all play with
read, write, and play with her daugh-
his two children.
ter at the park.

Arnaud Garcia Jessica McGee

Community Coordinator Community Coordinator

Katelyn was born in Boston, Mas- Ayman came from Palestine

sachusetts, was raised in Vermont, and is working on his Civil
and spent some time in Virginia Engineering degree at CSU.
Beach. She is currently the CC from He is the CC for buildings
1500 buildings 10-14 and is study- 4-8 and 15 this year and
ing biology at CSU. In her free time knows Arabic. In his free
she likes to watch movies, relax and time he likes to read and play
hang out with her boyfriend, Mike. volleyball.

Katelyn Cefalo Ayman Alzraiee

Community Coordinator Community Coordinator

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 University Village (cont.)
Patience & Sule Amadu
Community Coordinators
Robert Ortiz & Leyda Leon
Community Coordinators
Valerie Wood
Manager’s Assistant
Valerie is the Manager’s Assistant
and a PhD student in Applied Social
Psychology. She is from New Jersey
and knows a bit of Russian. Valerie
likes to read, play board games, play
Dungeons & Dragons, and watch
movies.
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Sule and Patience were James is returning as
both born in Ghana and YPC for teens 11-17 at
know seven Ghanian UV while getting his
dialects! Sule is a gradu- PhD in social psychol-
ate student in mechanical ogy. He came from Bos-
engineering and Patience ton, Massachusetts and
is a business student. In likes to play role-playing
their free time they like games, as well as board
to play soccer, watch and video games.
movies, and play indoor
games. James Wood
Youth Program Coordinator
Robert and Leyda were Rami and Dalal are Community
born in Puerto Rico and Coordinators for UV Buildings
are returning Community 51-54 and are from Jordan.
Coordinators at 1700 UV. Rami is an Application Devel-
Robert graduated from oper and an MBA student, and
CU and Leyda is working Dalal is a PhD Computer Sci-
on her PhD in Electrical ence student. They have a son,
Engineering. They both Ahmad, and both know Arabic.
know Spanish, and Robert Rami likes to hike and read,
enjoys being at home with and Dalal enjoys playing with
his family and Ahmad, cooking and reading.
Rami Jalal& Dalal Alrmuny
barbecuing. Leyda enjoys
Community Coordinators
being with her family.
The 2009-2010 University Village Staff.
 Aggie Village

Kinsey Holloway Ross Nolan Elaine Ann

Manager
Kinsey is continuing as Aggie’s
Manager and is a Student Affairs in
Higher Education (SAHE) student.
She is excited for the fresh start with
a wonderful staff and working with
the diverse residents at Aggie. She
knows Spanish, and loves to read,
watch movies, and enjoys the out-
doors and being with friends.
Associate Manager
Ross is the new Associate Manager of
Aggie Village. He is a student in the
Student Affairs in Higher Education
(SAHE). Ross came from the San Fran-
cisco Bay Area and is excited to work
with people from all around the world.
He knows intermediate Russian and
Ukranian and likes to play sports, camp,
watch movies and hang out with friends.
Office Manager
Elaine has been the Office Manager at
Aggie since 1988 and has lived, worked,
socialized and graduated from CSU. She
is from Fort Collins and took two Arabic
lessons. In her free time, Elaine sings,
plays guitar and piano, reads, travels,
attends cultural programs, and browses
around flea markets and garage sales.

Joyce is from Uganda and is a Michelle is one of the Youth

graduate student in Ecology. She Program Coordinators at Aggie,
loves the Aggie community, enjoys a Family and Consumer
interacting with everyone, and is Sciences major and is excited
honored to serve on staff again. She to work with youth and meet
speaks Acholi, and likes to hang out new people. She knows some
with friends. Tagalog and likes to shop, watch
movies, and eat different foods.

Joyce Acen Michelle Avilla

Manager’s Assisant Youth Programs Coordinator

Liyun is a Music Therapy student Yin Chi also a YPC for

at CSU from Taiwan, and knows Aggie and is excited to meet
Chinese. She is excited to work people. She came from
with a diverse staff at Aggie Village China and can speak
as Spouse and Partner Coordinator. Mandarin Chinese. In her
Liyun enjoys playing the piano, and free time, she enjoys movies,
watching movies for leisure. food, travel and hiking.

Liyun Cecil Yin Chi

Spouse and Partner Coordinator Youth Programs Coordinator

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 Aggie Village (cont.)
Nicole is the Northwest court-
yard CC and is studying
Photography, Art Education, and
Spanish. She is excited about
the new, creative programming
at Aggie and likes to travel and
read in her free time.
Nicole Stahly
Community Coordinator
Ercan is from Turkey and is study-
ing Chemistry while also being
the North Central courtyard CC.
He knows Turkish and is excited
to meet new people and chat with
them. In his free time, Ercan likes
driving, shopping, and spending
time with his wife, Hanife.
Ercan Bayram
Community Coordinator
Rozi came from Malaysia to
pursue his studies in Educational
Leadership: Renewal and Change.
He knows Japanese and Malay and
will be the South Central courtyard
CC. He enjoys spending time with
family and friends, watching mov-
ies, and karaoke, and is excited to
get involved with people from all
Rozi Ismail over the world.
Community Coordinator
Nora is from Malaysia and is also
pursuing her graduate studies in
Educational Leadership: Renewal
and Change. She is the Southeast
courtyard CC and knows Malay.
She likes to read, travel and get to
know people in her free time.
Nora Ali
Community Coordinator
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Sara came from Nicaragua and is
studying Agriculture and Natural
Resource Economics. She will
be the Northeast courtyard CC for
Aggie, and is excited to meet new
people. She knows Spanish and
enjoys hiking, playing games, and
watching movies.
Sara Blandon
Community Coordinator
Shadi came from Iran and is
studying Health and Exercise
Science. She will be the South-
west courtyard CC for Aggie, and
loves the friendly, multicultural
environment of Apartment Life.
She can speak Farsi and in her free
time enjoys hiking, watching
movies, playing cards, baking and
Shadi Khademi gardening.
Community Coordinator
Joe is the maintenance
supervisor for Aggie and is from
Denver. He works full time and
is a CSU alum with a degree in
Computer Information Systems.
Joe likes to participate in outdoor
activites, create, and study
performing, liberal and visual
Joe Bohman arts in his free time.
Aggie Village Maintenance Lead
Patti is the environmental
services at Aggie Village, and
was born in Laramie, Wyoming.
She has seven grandchildren
with an eighth one coming in
July. Patti loves to spend time
with her family.
Patti Williams
Aggie Village Environmental Services Supervisor
Aggie Village (cont.)
The 2009-2010 Aggie Village
Staff.

Be sure to attend the

2009 Aggie Summer
Bash on August 8th!

ALL Apartments Safety Inspection:

This summer you will receive a letter indicating the date/time for
safety inspection for your apartment. Housing Safety staff will en-
ter your apartment for safety inspection. The timeline runs from
Wednesday May 27, 2009 – Friday August 21, 2009 between
the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Also 2-3 days in advance
of the inspection, a note will be placed on your door that is slated
for inspection so that you can make other arrangements as neces-
sary. University Village will be the first area to be inspected and
then Aggie Village and lastly I-House and Lory. Thank you.

We are a Global Village

Apartment Life
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 International House/Lory Apartments
Claudia Rosty
Manager
Claudia is from Rio de Janiero, Brazil
and is continuing her Masters degree
in Student Affairs in Higher Education
(SAHE). She is fluent in Portugese and
Spanish and enjoys playing table ten-
nis, watching movies, and hanging out
with friends.
Catherine Elliot
Community Coordinator
Catherine grew up in Pennsylvania, and
she is working on her PhD. In her free
time she enjoys riding her bike with
friends.
Melanie Yong
Community Coordinator
Melanie is from Malaysia and is studying
Biomedical Sciences and Microbiology.
She speaks six languages: Malay,
Mandarin, Cantonese, Taiwanese and
Indonesian. She likes to hike, read, listen
to music, watch movies, and chat with
friends in her free time.
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Tyler Cegler
Associate Manager
Tyler is from the big sky of Montana,
and is seeking his degree in Student
Affairs in Higher Education (SAHE).
In his free time he likes to hike, ski,
read, drink coffee, hang out with
friends, travel, and discuss politics.
Aliyar Fouladkhah
Community Coordinator
Aliyar came to CSU from Iran to obtain
his masters’ degree in Food Science and
Nutrition. He can speak Persian, and in
his free time he likes to swim and listen to
music.
Panagiotis (Takis) Oikonomou
Community Coordinator
Takis is from Athens, Greece and is
pursuing a PhD in Water Resources Plan-
ning and Management. He can speak
Greek as well as a bit of German. Takis
enjoys playing soccer, skiing, reading and
hanging out with friends.
Nancy Venturato
Office Manager
Nancy has been with the University for 31
years and enjoys the students, her col-
leagues and her boss. She hails from Inde-
pendence, Missouri and has an elementary
teaching degree. In her free time she likes
to read historical books, be with her grand-
children, and work in her flower garden.
Rachel Wicker
Community Coordinator
Rachel comes from Georgia and is a
second-year Occupational Therapy gradu-
ate student. She likes to read, travel, and
hang out with friends.
Ken Nichols
I-House/Lory and UV
Maintenance Lead
Ken is the current maintenance lead
for both University Village and
I-House. He is from Fort Collins,
and enjoys hiking or biking in the
mountains with his wife and dogs in
his free time.
 International House/Lory Apartments

Liz Downing
I-House/Lory Environmental
Services Supervisor
Liz was born in Kansas and was raised
in Fort Collins. She has enjoyed being a
part of the many changes, experiences and
challenges I-House has been through over
the years. She enjoys being in Las Vegas
when she is free.
The 2009-2010 International House/Lory Apartments Staff.

Apartment Life organizational Chart

Custodial and Maintenance

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Graduating? Office Hours
Please Read This! University Village
Monday-Friday:
7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

I Closed for lunch:

f you graduate in August
you must vacate no later
than August 9th.
Once the Intent to Vacate form
is filed, vacate dates cannot be
changed to an earlier date and
extensions may not be possible.
It is important to be sure of your
vacate date when filing your no-
tice. was convenient and enjoyable.
The Assignments and Billings
Coordinator, Maria Martinez,
office is located in room 208 of
the Palmer Center; she must ap-
prove vacate extensions. Hous-
ing deposits are processed in the
Housing Office approximately
six to eight weeks after you va-
cate your apartment.
To assist you in informing the
University of your forwarding
address, please visit the Ram-
Web Web site to change your
mailing and billing address.
Those wishing for referrals
from the Housing Office must
complete and sign a Referral
Form at the time they submit
their vacate notice. No referrals
can be given without a signed
release form. Regardless, Hous- If you have special circum-
ing and Dining Services does not stances and wish to remain in 12 p.m. to 12:30 p.m.
give out financial information, your apartment after the 9th
only referrals. If you are of August, please contact the
Saturday & Sunday:
vacating, the Office of Hous- Apartment Life Office at 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
ing and Dining Services wishes alassign@colostate.edu.
you the best in your future en- Aggie Village
deavors, and we hope your stay
in our University communities
Monday - Friday:
7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
We welcome your comments Saturday & Sunday:
on the exit surveys contained 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
in your vacate package because
your feedback helps us enhance
the services we provide for our International House
residents. Monday - Friday:
8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Saturday:
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Closed Sunday
Palmer Center
Monday - Friday:
7:45 a.m. - 4:45 p.m.
Thank you for
being a part of the
Apartment Life
community!

All photos courtesy of: Aggie Village, University Village, I-House/Lory, and Palmer Center Staffs. Photos taken by Asseal Ahmad and Cassidy
Edman.

Background Photos and filler photos from:

http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/thumb_43/114108642295y2u2.jpg
http://www.theworldflag.org/lowBand/images/worldFlag.jpg
http://www.mediabistro.com/agencyspy/original/Diversity_Matters_photo_without_wording__.jpg (pg 10)
http://www.merinews.com/upload/thumbimage/1217492534895_religion_t.bmp (pg 2)
http://www.innovativespa.com/GlobeHands4inch.jpg (pg2)
http://www.muses3.com/about/diversity.jpg (pg 4-6)
http://infonaut.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/flagmap.jpg

 Newsletter Staff  970-491-4755  aptlife.newsletter@gmail.com

The Keeping in Touch Newsletter is made possible by the efforts of several writers and editors
for residents who live in Apartment Life. The newsletter is published monthly by the Office of
Housing and Dining Services at Colorado State University, and all its contents are copyrighted,
except where noted. The information contained is considered adequate notification to residents
of Apartment Life activities, policies and procedures.

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