Gallagher-Roach Introduction

Hello,

I am Frances Gallagher-Roach.   I was born and raised in New Jersey.   I am the youngest of 3 children.   I was raised in a “Leave It to Beaver’/’Ozzie & Harriette’ type of family.  Though that was my home life, I hung around some unsavory types of individuals.   My father was a social worker and at different points of his career he worked for a psychiatric hospital, owned and ran a home for troubled youth, was a prison director and specialized in counseling individuals with drug and alcohol addictions.   As a close-knit family, we traveled with and lived very close to the facilities he directed and owned.

I attended Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey and received a Bachelor of Science in Accounting & Auditing.   I really enjoyed the management side of the house but loved math.   Since I dislike science, I decided Accounting was the way for me.   At least I could follow the money trail.   When I matriculated in the 80’s the emphasis was not on the people side of the house but the mechanics of the profession and managing money was what I wanted to learn.

I have been married to the same wonderful man for almost 28 years and have lived 24 of those years in interior Alaska.   We met at Incirlik Air Base in Turkey.   We were both active duty at the time.   Since he saved me from sliding down a mountain, I had to marry him.  We raised our 3 children here and plan on staying for many more years.

I am currently an academic advisor and adjunct instructor for UAF/CTC campus.   I assist students who live, work or attend classes on the military installations:   Eielson and Ft Wainwright.   I have taught Business Math, Accounting Principles I, and Customer Service.   I teach face to face classes because I like the interaction with the students.

I have decided it is time to go back and get my Business Management degree.   Even though there are many choices, I have chosen UAF.  Simply because I believe in it.   I chose to use the eCampus because it gives me the freedom to work, teach, and travel.

The one thing I have always wanted to do was a hot air balloon ride for a day.   The idea of drifting in the air really appeals to my sense of adventure.