We are excited to welcome Emily Rap on Monday, July 21st in the role of Assistant Director for Pre-Professional and Legal Pathways. Emily will report to Alex Aragon and her office is located in Sage 128 with Cariann Powers. In this role Emily will be responsible for developing, coordinating, and expanding pre-professional support services for honors students at Barrett, The Honors College, with an emphasis on pre-law programming. Emily will work with our ASU and community partners as well as Barrett and ASU faculty and staff to support honors students pursuing careers in law, medicine, and graduate school. 

Emily is a proud Barrett alumna, Class of 2005.  She earned her JD from Penn Law and practiced at a large firm in Washington DC prior to undertaking additional graduate study in comparative legal history.  She has been working at ASU since 2020, but lived in France for over three years, pre-pandemic.  In her leisure time Emily enjoys cooking, reading mystery novels, and exploring downtown Phoenix with her husband and her Welsh Terrier, Rufus.

Dear Barrett Community, 

Please welcome Jimmy Garcia to Barrett, the Honors College!  He will be serving as the new Academic Success Advising Coordinator for the Downtown campus.   Jimmy comes to us from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, bringing outstanding experience in advising and teaching.  We are thrilled to have Jimmy on board, starting August 4th, and we'll ensure that he has the opportunity to connect with everyone during his onboarding process.

Barret Michalec

Associate Dean, Downtown Campus

A team retrospective is a structured way to look back on a project or period of work to understand what went well, what could be improved, and how to move forward stronger. In this hands-on session, you'll learn simple steps to facilitate your team in reflecting openly, building trust, and turning insights into action. Register here!

Curious about what it takes to land a Business Analyst (BA) role? Join us for a practical Lunch & Learn focused on interview prep and insider advice from real hiring managers.
  Discover common BA interview formats & prep tips
  Hear what BA hiring managers look for most
Whether you’re actively applying or just exploring, this session is for you!
  Date: July 30, 12–1PM
  Location: Zoom
  Register here
 All are welcome—feel free to share with your teams!

Surplus Property Employee Sale!

Faculty and staff can shop for amazing deals at the ASU Surplus Retail Store on Saturday, Aug. 9, from 8 a.m. to noon.

Surplus Retail Store Location: 734 W Alameda Drive, Tempe, AZ 85282. Please park on the building’s west side. Store entrance is at Door W4.Bring the family and stock up before the fall semester begins! ASU Staff Council and Surplus Property are proud sponsors of this employee sale.

Lights! Camera! Ashley!

Please welcome Ashley Napodano to the Barrett Marketing Team as our new Communications and Multimedia Specialist. On Monday, June 9, she will join Tiffany Woodruff-Mayer’s team in the Vista office space.

With more than a decade of experience in video production and writing, Ashley will bring a fresh perspective to sharing Barrett’s stories, highlighting our students, faculty, and programs.

Most recently, Ashley was Senior Video Editor at Isagenix Worldwide, where she wrote and produced a range of content—from dynamic social media posts to engaging videos—and collaborated closely with cross-functional teams to craft messages that resonate. Prior to that, she produced commercials, event videos, training and educational videos, and digital media for GoDaddy and Resolutions Media Group. Ashley is a gifted storyteller whose freelance work includes creating content for Scottsdale Community College and developing a campaign addressing adolescent mental health issues.

In her role at Barrett, Ashley will write feature articles, press releases, and social posts; shoot and edit a variety of videos; and work closely with our student videographers. Her blend of creativity and attention to detail will illuminate our honors community’s achievements.

Outside of her professional life, Ashley enjoys family time with her husband, her daughter (a recent kindergarten graduate), and their two fur babies. She is a lifelong learner who spends her free time mastering new skills such as learning Korean.

Please join me in welcoming Ashley to Barrett!

Barrett Advising is excited to announce a new staff member who will be joining our team as an Academic Success Advisor at the Tempe campus. 

Hanna Theobald is originally from California, and has been working locally in elementary education as a Support Specialist providing targeted math and literacy interventions for at risk students through small group instruction. In various roles working with students, she has found impactful solutions to help students overcome challenges. We were so impressed with Hanna’s intentional and careful communication, as well as her enthusiasm for working with honors students here at Barrett. She holds a bachelor's degree in Psychology from UC Davis and is currently pursuing a master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at NAU. We are confident her vast experience will contribute to the Barrett student experience. 

Hanna will be starting on Monday, April 28, and will be training right away to start seeing students. Be on the lookout for meetings in early May, as well as the chance to meet her at the upcoming End of Year Celebration. 

Curious about how business analysts fit into the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)? Join us for a practical Lunch & Learn designed to break it all down.
When and why the SDLC matters—perfect for BAs & project teams
Explore key phases from planning to deployment
See how BAs support success at every stage
Whether you’re new to software projects or want a refresher, this session is for you!
Date: April 16, 12–1 PM
Location: Zoom
Register here
All are welcome—feel free to share with your teams!

ASU Staff Council Tempe campus and Skysong  Appreciation Celebration

We couldn’t do it without YOU — so let’s celebrate! Join us for a special event to recognize and appreciate the incredible work, dedication, and heart you bring every day. Expect good food, fun vibes, laughter, and a few surprises!

Thursday, April 10, 2025
11:00 a.m. -1:00 p.m.
McCord Hall, Room 256, Tempe Campus

Come as you are and let us say THANK YOU for everything you do. We can't wait to celebrate with you! Light lunch, sweet treats, and beverages will be provided. In an effort to remain sustainable, please bring your reusable cup.

(This invitation extends to all ASU staff members. Please no student workers.)