Volume III: Issue 7

Commencement

Congratulations to the approximately 850 students who received degrees during commencement last Saturday!

SOU's eighty-third commencement ceremony featured keynote speaker and SOU alumnus Michael Geisen, the 2008 National Teacher of the Year. Geisen earned a master of arts in teaching from SOU in 2001 and is a teacher at Crook County Middle School in Prineville, Oregon.

Representing the Oregon University System (OUS) was Dr. Rosemary Powers, an OUS Trustee and associate professor of sociology at Eastern Oregon University.

Student CheraLynn Renee Sabankaya was chosen by SOU deans to speak on behalf of her graduating class. She has volunteered many hours in service to the homeless and community members with mental health issues. CheraLynn graduated with a degree in psychology and a minor in criminology.

President's Recognition Dinner

On Thursday, May 28, we welcomed more than 150 guests to campus for the first President's Recognition Dinner.

Guests were treated to the student film, Without You which focuses on how scholarships changed the lives of five SOU students. We are grateful to the talented students who created this video in Howard Schreiber's Advanced Video Class: Vance Beach, Fawn Crow, and Josh Williams.

Vice President for Development and Executive Director of the Foundation Sylvia Kelley emceed this event honoring our friends and donors for their many contributions to SOU. Rob Harvey and his Beasy's on the Creek team catered the dinner, while guests enjoyed EdenVale wine courtesy of alumna Anne Root '90, President of the SOU Foundation Board and owner of EdenVale Winery.

Music was provided by alumnus Nicklas Waroff '09 (saxophone) and student Aaron Blenkush (piano).

Guests were serenaded by students Brianne Cardona ("Laughing Song" from The Bat by Johann Strauss); Brett Aakre '09 ("Lonely House" by Kurt Weil); and Dan Gibbs ("Some Enchanted Evening" from Rogers and Hammerstein's South Pacific).

Adjunct Professor of Music Laurie Ann Hunter accompanied on the piano.

President's Medal Awarded to Jed Meese

During the Presidents' Recognition Dinner, we announced the awarding of the 2009 President's Medal to Jed Meese, a local philanthropist and entrepreneur. We were delighted to acknowledge Jed's history of generous and enthusiastic support for SOU and the southern Oregon community.

A former pharmacist and lifelong entrepreneur, Jed co-founded Vitaline Corporation in 1972. Now retired, Jed lives with his wife, Celia—the 1998 President's Medal recipient—in Ashland, where they support many local causes.

The Meeses have been key supporters of SOU's major capital projects, including the Center for the Visual Arts, Hannon Library, and the RCC/SOU Higher Education Center in Medford. A big fan of Raider athletics, Jed helped develop the sports fitness center at Raider Stadium. He was also a member of the SOU President's Advisory Board for six years, serving on the Emergence in Science, Technology, and Health Professions Committee.

Jed has generously supported causes such as the Ashland Family YMCA, Ashland Community Hospital, Rogue Community College, Rogue Valley Medical Center, Providence Medical Center, La Clinica del Valle, the Britt Festivals, St. Vincent de Paul, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Hearts and Vines, and the Humane Society of Southern Oregon.

Established in 1984, the Southern Oregon University President's Medal is given each year to a member of the community whose actions merit such a distinguished honor. It is awarded to a person (or in rare instances, a company) whose exemplary service to the University, the region, and the greater community represents such qualities as compassion, integrity, and service.

Congratulations, and thank you, Jed.

SOAR 2009

The second annual Southern Oregon Arts and Research (SOAR) celebration of student and faculty achievements was a tremendous success. We gained a 54-percent increase in participants, with 178 students, faculty, and staff delivering forty-two presentations, twenty-eight poster sessions, eleven art exhibitions, and four live performances of dance and music.

I am so pleased the campus once again took this opportunity to celebrate research and artistic activities, highlighting the accomplishments of our academic community. I wish I could have attended every session. SOAR truly represents what SOU is all about—intellectual creativity, collaborations between students and faculty, and projects that move beyond the classroom to benefit the community.

Caught Doing Great Work at SOU

MaryAnn Neely was caught doing great work at SOU! The first recipient of this award, Enrollment Services IT Consultant MaryAnn was taken by surprise when the vice presidents and I showed up to deliver her award. For nearly two decades, MaryAnn has been providing enthusiastic, dedicated service to the University—all with her characteristic warm smile. Thanks for the great work, MaryAnn!

Thank You Josie Wilson, and Welcome Alissa Arp

On Friday, May 29, Acting Dean of Arts and Sciences Josie Wilson was recognized for her tireless work in directing the new College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) during the past two years, as well as her previous service as dean of the School of Social Sciences. We wish her well as she returns to her faculty position in the Department of Psychology.

We are delighted to welcome Dr. Alissa J. Arp as our new CAS dean. Prior to arriving at SOU, Arp served as Vice President for Research and Dean of the College of Natural Sciences at Hawaii Pacific University. Her previous experience includes eleven years as director of the Romberg Tiburon Center for Environmental Studies at San Francisco State University.

Alissa earned her PhD and MA in biology from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She received a BA with honors in biology from Sonoma State University. As a professor of biology at San Francisco State University, Alissa participated in eight deep-sea submersible dives to depths in excess of one-and-a-half miles.

Four Individuals, Team Slated for SOU Sports Hall of Fame

Four individuals and a football team have been selected for induction into the Southern Oregon University Sports Hall of Fame.

Former Women's Basketball Coach Shirley Huyett, former basketball and baseball player Dave D'Olivo, former baseball player Neil Rivenburg, former wrestler Roger Duvall, and the 1983 SOU Football Team will all be recognized in our Hall of Fame.

Current Events

Arts and Culture

April 16 through June 20

Faculty Art Show

Schneider Museum of Art

Community Events

July 8, 7:30 pm

Dr. Kevin Danaher, Sponsored by ECOS

Rogue River Room (SU)

Credits (top to bottom, left to right)

Commencement 2009 (Jolesch Photography).

Michael Geisen (Rory N. Finney).

President's Recognition Dinner video (Vance Beach, Fawn Crow, and Josh Williams).

President's Recognition performers (Jamie Lusch).

Jed Meese (Rory N. Finney).

SOAR 2009 (Dennis Dunleavy).

MaryAnn Neely (Melissa L. Michaels).

Josie Wilson (Marsa Morse) and Alissa Arp (courtesy of Alissa Arp).

Sports Hall of Fame inductee Shirley Huyett (courtesy of SOU Sports Information).