diff --git a/src/components/app/ByjoveApp.vue b/src/components/app/ByjoveApp.vue
index 0f0d061..3dbfe2f 100644
--- a/src/components/app/ByjoveApp.vue
+++ b/src/components/app/ByjoveApp.vue
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ export default {
 
             // let all of app know who the user is(n't)
             this.$store.commit('SET_USER', response.data.user)
+            this.$store.commit('SET_USER_IS_ADMIN', response.data.user ? response.data.user.is_admin : false)
             this.$store.commit('SET_USER_IS_ROOT', response.data.user ? response.data.user.is_root : false)
 
             // also keep track of user's permissions
diff --git a/src/components/menu/ByjoveMenu.vue b/src/components/menu/ByjoveMenu.vue
index 736602f..d4b1fbf 100644
--- a/src/components/menu/ByjoveMenu.vue
+++ b/src/components/menu/ByjoveMenu.vue
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 
           <slot></slot>
 
-          <b-dropdown-item v-if="user.is_admin && !user_is_root"
+          <b-dropdown-item v-if="$store.state.user_is_admin && !user_is_root"
                            aria-role="listitem"
                            has-link
                            class="root-user">
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ export default {
     },
     methods: {
         becomeRoot() {
-            if (this.user_is_root || !this.user.is_admin) {
+            if (this.user_is_root || !this.$store.state.user_is_admin) {
                 return
             }
             this.$http.post(this.becomeRootUrl).then(response => {
diff --git a/src/plugin.js b/src/plugin.js
index 2a42971..37d72aa 100644
--- a/src/plugin.js
+++ b/src/plugin.js
@@ -3,6 +3,23 @@ export function ByjovePlugin(Vue) {
     Vue.mixin({
         methods: {
 
+            $loginUser(user) {
+
+                // put user info in app store
+                this.$store.commit('SET_USER', user)
+                this.$store.commit('SET_USER_IS_ADMIN', user.is_admin)
+                // note, this should already be false
+                // this.$store.commit('SET_USER_IS_ROOT', false)
+            },
+
+            $logoutUser() {
+
+                // remove user info from app store
+                this.$store.commit('SET_USER', null)
+                this.$store.commit('SET_USER_IS_ADMIN', false)
+                this.$store.commit('SET_USER_IS_ROOT', false)
+            },
+
             $hasPerm(name) {
 
                 // if user is root then assume permission
diff --git a/src/store.js b/src/store.js
index b1e13f9..4ddc273 100644
--- a/src/store.js
+++ b/src/store.js
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ export let ByjoveStoreConfig = {
     state: {
         session_established: false,
         user: null,
+        user_is_admin: false,
         user_is_root: false,
         permissions: [],
     },
@@ -13,6 +14,9 @@ export let ByjoveStoreConfig = {
         SET_USER(state, user) {
             state.user = user
         },
+        SET_USER_IS_ADMIN(state, is_admin) {
+            state.user_is_admin = is_admin
+        },
         SET_USER_IS_ROOT(state, is_root) {
             state.user_is_root = is_root
         },