Welcome to OCL. We hope you stop by our office and meet our wonderful staff!
Jeannie Ortega, Director
Hi, I'm Jeannie Ortega, Director of Off-Campus Life. I feel as though I grew up on campus, as I have been here since 1982! Having worked part time in various positions on campus, I eventually began working in OCSS/RAL in 1995 (before the flood!) and have been the director since 2000. I have a background in Psychology and Human Development & Family Studies from CSU. I truly enjoy working with students and seeing them reach their goals and realizing their full potential. It keeps me young at heart!
Jeannie Ortega, Director
Melissa Emerson, Assistant Director
Hi! My name is Melissa and I have been with OCL for four years now. I oversee the
Community Liaison Program which is designed to provide education, outreach and programming in an effort to strengthen relationships between students and long-term residents living in the neighborhoods of Fort Collins. I split my time between Off-Campus Life and the city’s Neighborhood Services Office. I obtained my Master's degree is in Conflict Analysis & Resolution from George Mason University and I am also trained as a mediator. Outside of work, I am enjoying being a new mom to my daughter, and spending the vast amount of my free time playing Nintendo Wii.
Katie Jane, Chief Editor of Commuter Link
Hi, my name is Katie Jane. I am a senior at CSU, majoring in technical journalism with a concentration in public relations. I moved to Fort Collins in August 2006 and have loved every second of it. I am a member of the women’s club soccer team and I really enjoy being outdoors. I primarily work with OCL. I also enjoy helping people find what they are looking for and getting to know the people who come into our office.
Mister Luke Thomas Schnickel, Unofficial Office Leader
Hello and best wishes on a bully morning for you and your relatives. I am most pleased with your cordial and timely visit to our new and vastly improved online collection of resources and data. If you could kindly leave your coat at the door, and perhaps your penny loafers at the entrance, we can continue on into the main room, or homepage, of the OCL website. Hold on while I call Mr. Woods, the butler or chief servant to the office, to pull a collection of beverages, free at the OCL Lounge, for your enjoyment. Care for a spot of tea? A sip of coffee? Maybe some hot Coco for the younglings? Please do help yourself, this would make me most satisfied. Now that you are on our homepage, perhaps even on our homepage at our lounge in room 195 of the LSC, you can see various options from which to search and find all the information you shall need on community living, housing, and tea partying. Please take a comfortable look and do ring if any queries should arise, simply ask the operator to put you through to a Mister Luke Thomas at 970-491-2248 (office extension). Good Day to you sir or ma'am!
Laura Barron, New Hire
At work Laura is a Superstar, but at Home She Leads A Totally Normal Life! Laura Barron might seem like an average girl but she isn't. She moved from Tennessee to Malibu to Fort Collins and is adapting to a new job-working at OCL. Laura has a huge secret only known by her dad/manager, her weird brother Blake, and her two best friends Katie and Brandi. Laura's huge secret is she leads a double life as a student in the grad program and as an employee at Off-Campus Life. "She goes through average teen problems including pimples, bullies, and the occasional wicked cousin trying to reveal [her] secret." Come visit her at the OCL lounge to catch-up with her on her CRAZY life! But dont let anyone know that you know her secret. goodness gracious! We recently asked Laura about her life, here is what she said: "I know, so it is like totally crazy. I am so like a regular girl but I am not. An example? Sure I can give you an example-I have a Harry Potter tattoo. I like chocolate. I think Blake is funny. I create amazing display cases and then rub it in that I create amazing display cases. I mean, like my life is totally crAZy. Well, gotta go-my fav show Glee is on. Loves it."