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The lifeblood of the University of New Haven are the faculty and staff members who dedicate their lives to helping our students reach their goals. Periodically, we’ll introduce you to a member of the staff so you can learn more about him or her – beyond their day to day work.

First up is Becca Kitchell, assistant dean of students.

Renee Chmiel: Where did you go to school? What was your major?
Becca Kitchell: I attended Regis College, and I graduated with my bachelor’s degree in English in 1998, with minors in communications and women’s studies. I then attended Providence College, graduating in 2000 with my M.Ed. in guidance and counseling. Returning to Regis College, I graduated in 2016 with my Ed.D. in educational leadership.

An interesting fact: I thought I wanted to teach high school English. Then, I did my student teaching and decided against it. I was a resident assistant and orientation leader at the time, and my Dean of Students encouraged me to explore student affairs – and the rest is history! I have been at the University of New Haven for almost 16 years. I started in the Dean of Students Office in December 2016. Before then, I had a great career in residential life. I also graduated from the New Haven Citizens FBI Academy in spring 2018.

RC: Do you have any pets?
BK: I currently have a cat that adopted us. He came to our home and wouldn’t leave, so we finally took him in. At the time, I thought he was a she and named him Annie – like Little Orphan Annie. He is still Annie to us!
I am a huge pug dog lover, and I had a pug named Lulu for many years. She was my life until she passed two years ago.

"I was a resident assistant and orientation leader at the time, and my Dean of Students encouraged me to explore student affairs – and the rest is history!"Becca Kitchell, assistant dean of students

RC: What is the most exotic food that you’ve eaten? Did you like it?
BK: I will try anything once! My partner was a chef in a former life, so we are pretty adventurous eaters. I ate cold octopus salad in Italy, and I wasn’t a huge fan. I’ve tried escargot and loved it.

RC: Do you collect anything?
BK: I collect pug everything – our entire Christmas tree this year was all pug ornaments. I also collect PEZ dispensers and I have more than 100 of them, including a rare original Popeye PEZ.

RC: What is the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done?
BK: I will eat anything once and try (almost anything) once. I travelled to London solo, I’ve parasailed, I’ve gone snowmobiling, I’ve travelled all over Tuscany by car – even on those winding Italian roads. When I was in high school, I went to Eastern Europe and visited Prague, Budapest, and Berlin. You only live once!

RC: What is your favorite TV show?
BK: I have a few favorites. Thanks to Netflix, my taste is varied. I like "RuPaul’s Drag Race," "Pose," "The Great British Baking Show," "The Final Table," "Orange Is the New Black," "Wentworth," "Shameless," and "Mindhunter."

I enjoy dramas with interesting characters. Growing up, I wanted to be a hostage negotiator, so I like prison dramas or FBI shows so that I can live vicariously through the agents. I love cooking shows and series with good character development. "Shameless" is my guilty pleasure.

RC: What was something funny or embarrassing that happened to you?
BK: I am a huge klutz! Ever since I was little, I have been prone to injuries. I fell and hit the side of my head on the edge of a drawer at age two and that was my first scar. When I was in college, I almost cut the tip of my finger off while cutting a bagel. Because of me, Regis College Dining Services got a bagel cutter. I tore my ACL by falling off my deck and I was in a full metal leg brace for months. I accidently stuck my thumb in a fan as I was trying to replace the cover and the fan was on. I fractured my foot and I had to wear a boot for months. My RAs would decorate it each month in keeping with a theme or a holiday.