Larissa Lilly is the Associate Dean of Student Development. Her passion is to build community and help facilitate opportunities for students to find a place to belong at Northwest. Larissa oversees our Residence Life and Housing department and works within conduct and student leadership. She loves working with a team of Area Coordinators and Resident Assistants to serve the residential students at NU! Larissa has been living intentional life with college students since 2008. Though originally from a farm in eastern Washington, Larissa has found this work has taken her all over the US, but was happy to move back to the PNW in 2016. Her top five strengths are Achiever, Responsibility, Activator, Developer and Restorative. She’s a strong Three on the Enneagram and loves talking with students about how their personalities and stories play out.

Larissa met her husband, Curtis, shortly after coming back to the PNW and they have three young children: Zia, Iry and Booker. You will often see them as a family eating in the Caf, walking across campus or cheering on our Eagles! In her time away from work, you can find Larissa enjoying time with her family, fellowshipping with friends over meals, or at a local coffee shop. Come on by her office in the Pecota Center and ask her to take you to coffee!

Sara Rodriguez serves as the Area Coordinator for the Apartments and is excited to be part of the Northwest Community. She grew up in Indiana, where she received her Bachelor’s in Adolescent Ministry at Indiana Wesleyan University. She continued her education in Texas and received her Master’s in Christian Education from Dallas Baptist University while teaching outdoor education classes to 5th graders. She is now pursuing her Doctorate in Strategic Leadership from Liberty University Online. Her professional experience has been spent in camping ministry, where she has had many opportunities to connect with college-age students. This work grew her passion for college students, and she landed at Northwest. She is an enneagram seven, and her strengths are connectedness, empathy, developer, positivity, and ideation.

Sara spends her free time hanging out with friends, cooking for people, enjoying live music, trying a new coffee shop, or traveling. She is always up for an adventure and a good conversation! So please feel free to stop by her office for a good chat and maybe some coffee!   

Patrick serves as the Area Coordinator for Gray & Beatty residence halls. Patrick spent several years of his childhood in South Africa where his family served as missionaries; where he first came to know the Lord. As a student, he received both of his degrees from Indiana Wesleyan University, graduating Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s in Psychology with an Addictions Studies focus in 2015, followed a few years later with a Master’s in Student Development Administration in 2018. In the past few years, Patrick has served as a camp director with SpringHill in Michigan. He looks fondly at his experience as a camp director as it, along with his student life experience and education, has prepared him for ministry within the hall. You can find Patrick around the hall, in his office, or exploring the beautiful Pacific Northwest; he’s new to the area. For fun, Patrick is going to be out for a run, reading a good book, board gaming, movie critiquing, playing yard games, or simply enjoying nature. If you ever want to discuss philosophy or just say hello, feel free to stop by his office, there will always be plenty of coffee to share. 

Through it all, Patrick believes that every person has been created with their own unique divine calling that brings purpose to life. Though Strengths Finder and Enneagram types are important information to some, for others, the significance of such tests may be obsolete. Though Patrick does love a good personality discussion, what’s most important to him is that students can see Northwest as their home away from home.

Arlette Henderson serves as the Area Coordinator for the Guy, Perks, & Crowder residence halls. She is from Houston, Texas, and enjoys living life with purpose. She has previously served as a Resident Assistant, Resident Manager, Resident Director, and Student Organization Advisor all at her alma mater, East Texas Baptist University (ETBU), while becoming ordained as a Licensed Minister to serve at her local church in Texas. During her time working, Arlette completed a Bachelor of Science in Sociology with a concentration in Human Services and went on to study for a Master’s of Business Administration all earned courtesy of East Texas Baptist University. Her top five strengths are Responsibility, Achiever, Ideation, Empathy, and Strategic; though if you really want to get to know Arlette you can ask her about one of her many hobbies which include (but are not limited to) traveling, cooking, shopping, and exploring new things.

Her commitment to servant leadership is a key, cherished value that shines through in her current role within student development by striving to humbly serve, motivate, mentor, and lead individuals in a Christ-like manner.