About Us
The Basic Needs Collective
Mission
We support student well-being and success. As a coordinated resource referral hub, we educate and connect students to campus and community resources to help them meet their basic needs.
Process
As a central location for resource referrals related to basic needs, we aim to help students attain and sustain optimal physical and mental health, personal connections, meaningful experiences and promote wellness as a key to student success.
Vision
Support student learning through education, capacity building, and supportive resources so they may achieve their academic potential, complete their degrees, and succeed in their future goals.
Our Team
A part of Student Affairs at The University of Utah, our service area is housed under The Dean of Students Office. We emphasize the collective nature and effort it takes to support students' needs.
Martha Hernandez
Basic Needs Manager
Martha Hernandez (she/her/ella) is a University of Utah alumna. She graduated from Salt Lake Community College with an Associate of Arts in Education, and a Bachelor of Arts in History Teaching from the University of Utah. Martha is thrilled to be part of the BNC team! Through her work at the Basic Needs Collective, Martha supports student well-being and success by helping students learn about and connect with campus and community resources to help them meet their basic needs. Through her manager role, Martha provides logistical oversight for the Basic Needs Collective, supports the Basic Needs team, and works on building sustainable relationships with campus and community partners to secure resources for students. She believes in the importance of supporting students in meeting their basic needs to foster academic success, retention, and degree completion. Martha is a teacher at heart and life-long learner who enjoys reading, visiting new places, and learning new languages.
Keaton Schrank
Basic Needs Coordinator
Keaton Schrank (she/they) is thrilled to be a part of the University of Utah Basic Needs team! Originally from Texas, she received her bachelor’s in Environmental Science and Italian Studies from Wheaton College in Massachusetts then completed her master’s in Geography from Oregon State University. Before joining the BNC team, Keaton ran the Environmental Center and the Basic Needs program at Westminster University, where she oversaw their basic needs pantry, emergency funding, organic garden, and all sustainability and basic needs initiatives. Keaton is deeply passionate about helping folks get the resources they need to be successful in all aspects of their lives and cares deeply about university basic needs! She considers it a great honor to be able to support students during such a transformative time in their lives, and she believes in advocating for and supporting students as much as necessary both in and out of the classroom. When she’s not at work, Keaton enjoys thrifting, reading, musical theatre, playing and watching sports, and spending time with her partner and their three cats!
Jennifer Rodela
Basic Needs Programming Lead
Jennifer Rodela is attending The University of Utah as a sophomore student aiming to pursue her bachelor's degree as a first-generation student. She loves the social work profession and wishes to dedicate her career to it. She has been a part of the BNC team since the Fall of 2022 and hopes to be a part of it for a long time! As an underrepresented student, she understands the challenges and difficulties one can face, especially in a higher education environment where everything is different. She believes supporting students with their basic needs is important because it increases their overall well-being and their likelihood of graduating with a college degree. Her role is to support and provide resources to students from the university while at the same time coordinating events, activities, and collaborations with campus/community partners, and colleagues around campus.
Jay Chaudhari
Basic Needs U Service Corps Member
I'm Jay Chaudhari, an upcoming sophomore and first-generation student pursuing a bachelor's degree in Accounting with a minor in Psychology. I'm really excited to be joining the Basic Needs Collective as a U Service Corps member. I'm here because I want to make a positive impact on the community and love connecting with others. I'm looking forward to an amazing year ahead! In my free time, I enjoy playing tennis, hanging out with friends and traveling.
Partner Offices
Each one of our partner offices brings specialized knowledge to the BNC, which allows us to provide students with the resources and tools they need to succeed. Learn more about each of the offices that help make our work possible.