SOU Alumni Spotlight
Latest Stories
SOU launches largest-ever fundraising campaign with $100 million goalOctober 22, 2026 - 10:52 am
Survey seeks input on higher ed future in OregonOctober 20, 2026 - 12:45 pm
SOU undergrad Elliot Glenn gets hands-on cybersecurity experienceOctober 20, 2026 - 12:13 pm
Four SOU alumni to receive annual awardsOctober 20, 2026 - 11:38 am
SOU faculty members co-edit new book on conflict in creative industriesOctober 13, 2026 - 7:27 am
SOU takes first steps in Ghana relationshipsOctober 5, 2026 - 11:03 am
CRL Student Fellows program celebrates first yearOctober 5, 2026 - 5:17 am
SOU to participate in exclusive wellbeing collaborativeSeptember 29, 2026 - 12:05 pm
SOU Board member Everson named First CitizenSeptember 14, 2026 - 10:01 am
Legislative Emergency Board approves SOU allocationSeptember 14, 2026 - 7:49 am
Graduate student appointed, current members reappointed to SOU BoardSeptember 14, 2026 - 7:40 am
Oregon House Speaker tours SOU campusSeptember 1, 2026 - 10:52 am
McNair program changed the life of SOU faculty member and alumna
/in AlumniMention the name Brook Colley (’07) around the SOU campus and students reply with delight, quickly sharing stories of her warmth, approachability and whip-smart lectures. After graduating SOU with degrees in sociology and political science, Colley attended the University of California-Davis, where she received her doctorate in Native American Studies. She returned to SOU in […]
SOU Alum: Michael Finley’s national parks balancing act
/in AlumniMichael Finley was praised on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives when he retired in 2001 after more than 32 years with the National Park Service. California Congressman Jerry Lewis lauded Finley for his dynamic leadership of three of the nation’s largest national parks – Yosemite, Yellowstone and Everglades. Lewis identified Finley’s work […]
The Power of Art in the Political World
/in Alumni“It is possible to make a life in the arts and to live in the world of ideas as an intellectual,” says Bruce Guenther (’71) when reflecting on his 50-year career as a curator, artist and educator. For Guenther, who retired in 2014 after serving 14 years as chief curator for the Portland Art Museum, […]
Saxophone sensation: On Tour with Panic! At the Disco
/in AlumniGratitude is a recurring theme for saxophonist Jesse Molloy (’01). Whether the topic is music, bands or his education, Molloy said he wants to take the time to be thankful for the opportunities that have come his way. “I have been trying to express my gratitude in different ways, whether it is through producing music […]
Constant motion: Photographer Christopher Briscoe tells story through adventure
/in AlumniPhotographer Chris Briscoe (’75) will flat-out tell you he did not enjoy most of his time at college. Not because of SOU, where he earned a bachelor’s degree and teaching certification, but because of his love for adventure. “I’m just wired that way,” Briscoe said. “When I went back for my teaching certificate, I think […]
Burning Bright: Abbigail Nguyen Rosewood’s commitment to creativity
/in AlumniThe encouraging creative-writing community at SOU was an ideal fit for 27-year old writing dynamo Abbigail Nguyen- Rosewood (’13). Since graduating, she has written numerous essays, reviews, articles and creative works for online and print publications. And now, after recently finishing graduate school at Columbia University, Nguyen-Rosewood anxiously awaits the U.S. release of her first […]
Luders-Manuel: Writer addresses race with creativity and compassion
/in AlumniShannon Luders-Manuel (’07) wasn’t sure what a thesis statement was when came to SOU as an English major. She now makes her living as a writer, essayist and critical mixed-race scholar who has been published in a number of academic, news and creative publications. Luders-Manuel garnered national attention earlier this year when the New York […]
Life in stitches: Delaney Matson’s passionate patterns
/in AlumniThe old axiom says that if you do something you love, you’ll never work a day in your life. That may not hold true every single day for SOU alumna Delaney Matson, but she is coming pretty close. Matson, who graduated in 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in theatre arts with an emphasis on costume […]
Serving the Underserved: Maslow Project a one-stop resource for homeless youth
/in AlumniJackson County has the third-highest number of homeless and at-risk children in Oregon – an estimated 2,500, according to the Department of Education. Homeless youth are more likely to miss school or drop out, receive lower scores on standardized tests and have a higher probability of suffering from depression, physical illnesses, and learning disabilities. Mary […]