Meet the Staff

Jarrick Brown, M.Ed. (he/him), a dynamic individual shaping the student experience here at CU Denver. Jarrick is a graduate of THE Prairie View A&M University (HBCU outside of Houston) with a degree in mass communications with a focus in radio, television and film, a minor in social behavioral and political science, a master's degree in education administration and is currently pursuing his doctoral degree from the University of Southern Mississippi for higher education administration. Jarrick is a former 2-termed SGA Executive Vice President and served on the executive board of his Campus Activities Board. Currently, he holds the esteemed position of Regional Chair for the Central Region within the National Association for Campus Activities (NACA), where he brings his passion for diversity, equity, and inclusion to the forefront. Jarrick also holds the national title of the 2023 Pasty Morley Outstanding Programmer Award. Jarrick is a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and loves to cook, travel, and hang out with friends. 

Kelsi’s passion for student belonging and transitions began when she was a student leader and during her graduate work at the University of Northern Colorado. Kelsi joined the Student Life team in November 2022 as the Assistant Director of Student Engagement. She previously worked at CU Denver in the Student Transitions & Family Engagement unit, where she was the Coordinator for the Peer Advocate Leaders (PALs) peer mentoring program. Outside work, Kelsi critically studies spaces and place-making in higher education, funding trends at federal and state levels, and exploring solutions for future generations of students and their families.

Addison joined the Student Life team in April 2022 as the Assistant Director for Student Organizations. He previously worked at CU Denver in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Addison's passion for student involvement and leadership began during his undergraduate career when he was a member of Phi Gamma Delta and several other student organizations. He went on to pursue his Master's Degree in College Student Development at Appalachian State University and has been working in higher education ever since. Addison is a North Carolina native who has lived and worked all over the country in different student-facing higher education roles where he is passionate about helping students find their community. Outside of work, Addison loves to spend as much time as possible exploring the outdoors.

Grace DeRaad has served as the Campus Activities Coordinator since January of 2023.  She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Organizational Leadership with a focus in talent development from the University of Cincinnati.  Grace serves as one of Student Life's lead event planners focusing on social and community engagement events.  She also supervises the students on the Campus Activities team.  Grace is passionate about leadership, cultural development, team building and diversity and inclusion.  Oh, and fun!  She loves to create events where students can make new friends, connections and lasting memories. Her favorite hobbies are baking and crocheting.

Jodyanna Gallegos has been deeply committed to leadership and community engagement since 2015, contributing more than 1,000 hours of service, leadership education, and student engagement initiatives over the past decade. Guided by her personal mantra of helping, not harming, Jodyanna approaches leadership and community service with intentionality, empathy, and care. Her passion for leadership also includes speaking at conferences, facilitating workshops, and creating meaningful learning experiences for students and colleagues. She earned her Master of Arts in Leadership with a concentration in Student Affairs in Higher Education and her Bachelor of Arts in Women’s and Ethnic Studies with a minor in Leadership from UCCS. Since joining the Student Life team in June 2023 as the Coordinator of Leadership Education and Community Engagement, Jodyanna has focused on helping others grow into empathetic and confident leaders. Her work challenges traditional notions of leadership by centering humanity, care, and courage. She believes leadership is less about position and more about the impact we create together, and she enjoys creating engaging learning environments that challenge, encourage, and inspire growth.

JuJu (she/her/hers) earned her master's degree in 2021 from Clemson University in Higher Education, with a concentration in Social Justice and Counseling. She received her Bachelors Degree from the University of South Alabama in 2019 in Human Resource Management. JuJu joined the Student Life team in June 2023 from the University of Mount Olive in Mount Olive NC (the pickle capital) where she served as the Director of Student Activities and Housing Coordinator for 2 years. JuJu is the Coordinator for Student Organizations here a UC Denver and will be advising the Sentry Newspaper student leaders, Student Life Human Resource tasks and assisting the Student Organizations team. JuJu is excited to be in Denver and continue to have transformative impact on student leaders. JuJu loves to paint, take naps, and spend time with friends and family!

Mark Martinez has served as the Student Services Coordinator in Student Life since 2012.  Mark manages the campus Locker Rental program, supports our computer and technical needs, supports Student Life programs, and lastly assists students with finding campus resources. You can find him managing our Front Desk as he prides himself on being your second to last stop, if not your last stop when seeking information. Mark rides his bicycle or takes public transportation to get around, and rarely watches television shows.

Ricky joined the Student Life team in July 2026 as a Business Services Professional. He brings a strong background in higher education administration, financial operations, purchasing, travel, hiring support, and process improvement. After earning his bachelor’s degree in economics from The University of Texas at Austin, Ricky built his higher education experience at The University of Texas at San Antonio through roles in the College of Education and Human Development Dean’s Office, Housing and Residence Life, and the Department of Psychology, where he supported faculty, staff, and students through a wide range of administrative and budget-related processes.

Ricky enjoys being the person who helps make complicated processes feel a little more manageable. He is passionate about supporting student-centered work from behind the scenes, building clear systems, and helping teams stay organized and effective. Outside of work, Ricky enjoys hiking, going on road trips, playing soccer, and gaming.