SOU Commencement 2024

SOU Commencement: good weather and optimism

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SOU’s 98th Commencement Ceremony on June 15 centered squarely on those receiving about 1,300 bachelor’s and master’s degrees – and on the recipient of a rare, honorary doctorate in humane letters. Sid DeBoer, who guided Lithia Motors from a single dealership in Ashland to the largest automotive retailer in the U.S., was honored for his business and civic accomplishments, and his longtime friendship with SOU.

“Lithia is one of just two Fortune 500 companies based in Oregon, and the only one without a swoosh as its logo,” SOU President Rick Bailey said, drawing a laugh from the crowd in his introduction of DeBoer.

The chair of Lithia’s board of directors – modestly referring to himself as a “used car salesman” – then encouraged the day’s other degree recipients to use what they have learned to take action and make their mark on the world. “It’s your moment every day when you get up,” DeBoer said.

Graduates and the near-capacity crowd at SOU’s Raider Stadium cheered and applauded throughout the 2 ½-hour ceremony – from the remarks by student speakers Edward Minasian, Emilio McCutcheon and Mimi Pieper through the awarding of diploma covers to the hundreds of new graduates who individually walked across the stage, shook hands with Bailey and posed for photos.

The graduates were asked to return to their seats after receiving degrees, to support those who followed them to the stage, and most did. The weather cooperated, with cooler-than-normal but dry conditions throughout the event.

Provost and Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs Casey Shillam, emceeing her first SOU Commencement Ceremony following her hiring early this year, pointed out that many of the day’s graduates missed out on their high school commencements when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out four years ago.

“Many of those walking today were denied that honor four years ago,” she said.

Pieper, one of the three student speakers and also a student member of the SOU Board of Trustees, told her classmates that the uncertainty of life “is what makes it an adventure.”

She was the only woman graduate in the Computer Science Program, receiving her bachelor’s degree with a GPA of 3.95. Pieper tutored fellow students in computer science and math, and also served as SOU’s Student Sustainability Coordinator.

SOU's inaugural Business Venture Tournament this week

Inaugural SOU Business Venture Tournament: innovative ideas across disciplines

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(Ashland, Ore.) — Southern Oregon University (SOU) will host its inaugural Business Venture Tournament this week. The groundbreaking competition – designed to nurture entrepreneurial ideas from students across all academic disciplines – is intended to transform innovative ideas into successful business ventures, with generous support from SOU alumni Jim Teece and Dena Matthews.

The tournament’s final competition and gala event will be held from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 6, in Room 217 of Britt Hall on the SOU campus. Seventeen students from various academic disciplines have submitted their venture ideas, and seven finalists will present their projects in Thursday’s final round.

The tournament’s primary goal is to help students understand that regardless of their major, any idea with an organizational structure inherently involves crucial business elements. That knowledge is essential for students pursuing any passion – from an Environmental Science major aiming to rescue endangered species to a Theatre major planning to open a children’s space for learning drama and dance.

By participating in the tournament, students gain hands-on experience in idea proof-of-concept, market research, venture promotion and presentation skills, preparing them for the real world.

The competition offers significant prizes: $3,000 for first place, $700 for second place, $250 for third place and $500 for the best sustainability features. Students who vote for a pitch and attend the gala will also be entered into a drawing for a $500 gift certificate at Southern Oregon Wilderness Adventures.

Teece and Matthews provided the initial funding for the Business Venture Tournament, envisioning a competition that would be inclusive of students from all academic backgrounds. That vision was brought to life by Vincent Smith, Ph.D., director of the School of Science and Business, and Douglas Daley, coordinator for SOU’s MBA program. Daley developed and executed the competition’s structure with support from Smith and graduate intern Jenny Chynoweth.

Thursday’s final round event will feature sponsors and table hosts, including the Ashland Food Co-Op, Southern Oregon Wilderness Adventures, Talent MakerCity, the SOU Small Business Development Center, SCORE Jackson County, Seed Collective, Rogue To-Go, Crater Works & Direct Involvement Recreation Teaching (DIRT), the SOU Institute of Applied Sustainability and Rogue Valley Women in Business.

For more information, visit venture.sou.edu.

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Rogue Valley Television now available on largest streaming platforms

Rogue Valley Television now available to cable-cutters and others

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Rogue Valley Television, the community- and government-access station operated by Southern Oregon University’s Digital Media Center, is now available as an app or channel on the five largest streaming platforms: Roku, Amazon Fire, Apple TV and mobile apps for iOS and Android. The change makes RVTV – which is also available over-the-air and on local cable – available anywhere, without an antenna or cable subscription.

RVTV offers four cable channels across Jackson and Josephine counties: RVTV Prime, RVTV Civic, RVTV Voices and RVTV Grants Pass. The stations serves as the government television service provider for Jackson County and the cities of Ashland, Grants Pass and Medford, carrying all public hearings live and on replay. Public meetings from the Ashland School District and Rogue Valley Transportation District are also available.

On its Voices channel, the station also carries community-access programming on well-being and lifestyle, news and politics, education, nature and ecology, entertainment and music, and more.

RVTV has been has been available through cable providers in the Rogue Valley for almost 35 years, and began streaming live channels from its website in the mid- to late-2000s. RVTV is considered a Public, Education and Government (P.E.G.) access television network.

The station began working with the Telvue Corporation in 2011 to migrate to an all-digital playback server, operating four cable channels with simultaneous live streaming. RVTV and Telvue began work last fall to develop mobile and OTT (over-the-top) streaming video channels across the five largest streaming platforms, to broaden the reach of both its live channels and on-demand video content from its government partners. OTT refers to technology that streams content by way of internet-connected devises.

RVTV continues to seek the most effective means of providing civic information and community media to southern Oregon residents, with support from Southern Oregon University, Jackson County and the cities of Ashland, Grants Pass and Medford.

Creativity Conference at SOU set to begin

Sixth annual Creativity Conference at SOU set to begin May 16

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(Ashland, Ore.) — The 6th annual Creativity Conference at Southern Oregon University will kick off Thursday, May 16, and run through Sunday, May 19. The four-day event features a dynamic, global lineup with over 100 presenters, including five keynote speakers.

Drawing together many of the world’s leading scholars, researchers and practitioners from the field of creativity, alongside a diverse array of professionals seeking to infuse creativity into their endeavors, the conference is set to spur curiosity and innovation, and generate conversations to transform and inspire creative thinking. The conference will feature research presentations, artistic exhibits and performances, and hands-on demonstrations. See the conference website for a full listing of this year’s program.

The conference will feature both in-person and remote presentation formats. In-person presentations, demonstrations and performances will run Thursday, May 16, through Saturday, May 18. Attendees joining in-person will have the option to view these sessions in designated venues in SOU’s Stevenson Union. Sunday, May 19, is devoted exclusively to remote presentations. All sessions – remote and in-person – will be accessible via livestream, ensuring inclusivity and engagement. Additionally, archived presentations will be available for viewing post-event.

“This conference showcases internationally renowned speakers, researchers and artists who are at the forefront of creativity research and application,” said Conference Co-Executive Director Dan DeNeui. “Their insights will ignite imagination and challenge attendees to reimagine their ideas about creativity.”

This year’s conference will again feature unique presentations and demonstrations on artificial intelligence and creativity. On Friday, the conference will feature an AI forum where attendees can learn about how faculty, students and innovators are using AI technology, and get hands on experience with AI tools.

Attendees can expect a diverse range of formats, including 60-minute panel discussions, 40- to 50-minute individual presentations, 15-minute “boom talk” sessions delivering concise insights, and engaging poster presentations. Each format will provide ample opportunities for interactive dialogue and exchange.

Distinguished keynote and invited speaker/performers for this year’s conference include:

  • Indre Viscontas, Associate Professor at the University of San Francisco
  • Tuomas Auvinen, Dean of the School of Arts, Design, and Architecture at Aalto University in Finland
  • Sandra Russ, Distinguished University Professor Emerita at Case Western Reserve University
  • April Matson, Executive Director of Rock The Rez
  • Bob Root-Bernstein, Professor of Physiology Emeritus at Michigan State University
  • Derek Keller, Assistant Professor of Music, Southern Oregon University

The SOU Creativity Conference serves as a global platform, offering cutting-edge insights and resources for individuals interested in the science and application of creativity research. The event fosters collaboration among creativity researchers, facilitating the expansion of professional networks and knowledge exchange.

Aligned with SOU’s strategic vision, which prioritizes creativity, innovation and essential human skills, the conference underscores the significance of creativity in driving progress and meeting the evolving needs of society.

Interested individuals can register for the conference by visiting the Creativity Conference website.

Those with questions can reach out to either Dan DeNeui at deneuid@sou.edu or Mark Runco at runcom@sou.edu.

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SOU's Hannon Library and the legacy of Tony and Betty Shively

Past to present: The Hannon Library’s Shively legacy

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T.S. Eliot famously penned that “the very existence of libraries affords the best evidence that we may yet have hope for the future,” beckoning toward the treasured Hannon Library at SOU. Located in the heart of campus, the Hannon Library is a remarkable place of knowledge. More than just a quiet space to study, the Hannon Library serves as a vital resource for students and the wider community. Its extensive collections, both physical and digital, empower learners to navigate the ever-expanding world of information. The Hannon Library bridges the gap between past and present with its historical archives, ensuring that students and community members alike have the tools they need for research and academics.

One such member of the Hannon Library community was Thornton T. Shively – known by most as Tony – who left his mark on SOU in more ways than one. Not only was he a resident of Ashland, but he also actively participated in the community’s renowned cultural scene. He graced the stage of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF) between 1948 and 1952. His love for literature extended beyond performance, as he transitioned to working at Southern Oregon College (now SOU) as a librarian from 1959 to 1962. Shively even explored the world of authorship under the pen name “Thorne Lee,” with his book “Summer Shock” drawing inspiration from a local Ashland production of “King Lear.”

The Shively family established the Thornton T. Shively Memorial Fund at Hannon Library in 1980, after Tony’s death. The fund was created to acquire important editions of William Shakespeare’s works and the works of Shakespeare’s contemporaries for the Hannon Library’s Margery Bailey Renaissance Collection.

Tony and Betty were close friends with Dr. Margery Bailey, who particularly admired Tony’s reading of Shakespeare. Tony was cast as the Earl of Kent in the OSF’s 1951 production of “King Lear.” Family lore has it that Dr. Bailey believed Tony should have instead been chosen for the lead role of King Lear. Tony’s wife, Betty, also worked at the library and volunteered actively with the OSF’s Tudor Guild and costume shop.

The Shively Memorial Fund has significantly enriched the Hannon Library’s collection of Shakespeare and early dramatic works. The very first item acquired with the fund was a landmark piece: the fourth folio edition of Shakespeare’s collected works, published in 1685 and presented by Susan Elizabeth Shively, also known as Betty, in 1981. This acquisition was followed by others of equal importance, including the Beaumont and Fletcher second folio of 53 plays (1679), the William Pickering edition of Shakespeare’s plays (1825), and the Nonesuch edition of Shakespeare’s plays (1936).

The fourth folio includes 36 plays found in the earlier folios, plus another seven plays thought at that time to have been written by Shakespeare. The Shively copy is bound in 19th century calf by Bayntum of Bath. The folio can be viewed by appointment in the archives at SOU’s Hannon Library. In fact, as SOU’s Theatre Department is bringing Shakespeare’s “Pericles” to life on-stage this spring, a curious theatre arts student cast in the production came to the archives to examine a copy of the fourth folio. To their surprise, they discovered a single word variation between the historical text and the script used in the current production. This encounter exemplifies the enduring value of the SOU archives. Even today, these resources serve as a vital resource for scholarly exploration, enriching the understanding and appreciation of theatrical works such as “Pericles.”

Betty passed away in 1984, and the name of the fund was changed to the Thornton T. and Susan Elizabeth Shively Memorial Fund.

“It pleases me to know this resource is available to scholars, educators and interested visitors,” says Susan Zare, Tony and Betty Shively’s daughter. “I recall reading in a library newsletter about an actor from the festival who used the folio for research. This cross-fertilization between SOU and OSF, and the value this collection brings to the university and the local community, feels truly rewarding.”

Zare and her sister, Sally Legakis, continue to support the Hannon Library as a cornerstone of SOU and the Rogue Valley community’s cultural heritage. It houses irreplaceable archives and collections that not only tell the stories of the past but also inspire creativity and scholarship for future generations.

Story by Melissa Matthewson, SOU Director of Development Communications

Peter Angstadt to serve as interim VPFA

Interim VPFA: Peter Angstadt to fill the key role

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Peter Angstadt, Ph.D.,  has agreed to serve as Southern Oregon University’s interim Vice President for Finance and Administration (VPFA), beginning June 3. Angstadt, who retired in 2016 after serving 12 years as president of Rogue Community College, is currently an adjunct professor in SOU’s MBA Program.

“I am confident that Peter will hit the ground running to support our students, faculty and staff, and help us better connect to our community,” SOU President Rick Bailey said.

SOU recently conducted a nationwide search for the VPFA position, but was unable to identify a candidate who was a mutual fit. The university will reopen its search for a permanent VPFA later this year, and Angstadt is expected to serve in the interim role until the permanent vice president is hired and begins work.

Neil Woolf, SOU’s executive vice president, is currently filling SOU’s VPFA role on a temporary basis. Woolf has been hired to serve as president of New Mexico Highlands University beginning this summer.

Finance and Administration oversees a broad range of campus operations and works closely with the university president on policy and operational issues. The Finance and Administration Office oversees eight SOU departments: Business Services, Budget & Planning, Contracts and Risk Management, Human Resources, Facilities Management & Planning, Campus Public Safety, Information Technology, Sustainability and University Housing. Those departments are collectively known as the Business Affairs Council, which manages all non-academic business operations for the university.

Angstadt is chair of the Asante Board of Directors and has served on many other local, community boards. He worked closely with SOU leadership while president of RCC and has also served as president of Colorado Northwestern Community College, the chief financial officer and Dean of College Services at Oregon’s Clackamas Community College and for two terms (1990-98) as the full-time mayor of Pocatello, Idaho.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in zoology from Colorado State University and two master’s degrees: an M.Ed. in higher education administration from CSU and an MBA from Idaho State University. He earned his doctorate in educational policy and management from the University of Oregon.

Job fairs this week

Job and internship fairs this week

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Two events offered this week by the SOU Office of Career Connections are intended to help students and alumni discover job opportunities in general, and to highlight the need for teachers and education professionals in particular.

SOU’s all-industries Job, Career and Internship Fair – which is held each spring – will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, April 10, in the Stevenson Union’s Rogue River Room and ASSOU Lounge. It will be followed on Friday, April 12, by the Education Industry Job Fair, from 3 to 6 p.m. in the Rogue River Room.

Both events are free and open to all students and alumni.

Wednesday’s Job, Career and Internship Fair will feature representatives from about 75 local and statewide employers. Those who are interested in attending can register and learn more online.

The fair enables attendees to connect with companies and organizations from a variety of industries, and to help students develop professionally and build their resumes. Employers will be filling full-time positions as well as part-time jobs and internships.

Employers expected at the Job, Career and Internship Fair include:

ACA Group, ACCESS, Adapt Integrated Health Care, AllCare Health, Ashland Family YMCA, Ashland Partners & Company LLP, Atrio Health Plans Inc., Avamere Health Services, Bicoastal Media, Boise Cascade Company, Bureau of Land Management, City of Ashland Police, City of Ashland Fire & Rescue, City of Medford Community Works, Edustaff, Enterprise Mobility, ESS, Evergreen Federal Bank, Express Employment Professionals – Medford, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Grange Co-op, Harry & David, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, Jackson County Library Services, Jackson County Community Justice, Jackson County Health & Human Service, Jackson County Roads & Parks, Jackson County Sheriff, Jasper Mountain, Kairos, KDRV-TV, Kelley Create, Klick Solar, KMVU TV Fox 26, La Clinica, Lithia & Driveway, Medford Water Commission, Mercy Flights, Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, Ontrack Rogue Valley, Oregon Department of Human Services, Oregon Department of Revenue, Oregon State University, Pacific Domes, Pacific Oasis Inc., Partnerships In Community Living, Inc. (PCL), Peace Corps, Personnel Source, Inc., Pfeiffer Vacuum, Purelight Power, Rogue Action Center, Rogue Community College, Rogue Community Health, Rogue Credit Union, Rogue School of Phlebotomy, Rogue Valley Manor-PRS, Rogue Valley SHRM, Rogue Waste, Inc., SEC Compliance Solutions LLC, Shasta County, SMART Reading, Southern Oregon Goodwill Industries, Southern Oregon Head Start, Southern Oregon PBS, Southern Oregon University Campus Employment, State of Oregon-Department of Human Services, The Children’s Museum of Southern Oregon, The Crest, U.S. Department of State, United Community Action Network, Valley Immediate Care LLC, WaFd Bank, WorkSource Oregon-Business Services.

Friday’s Education Industry Job Fair will provide an opportunity for students in SOU’s Education Department and others to meet with representatives of school districts from throughout southern Oregon. The districts are seeking to fill elementary, middle and high school teaching positions, along with initial administration licensure and support staff positions.

Those who are interested in attending can register or find more information online.

SOU’s Career Connections office helps students identify and achieve career goals that will lead them to lives of purpose. The office collaborates with employers, graduate and professional schools, faculty and staff, student organizations, parents and alumni to serve students and graduates. Visit the Career Connections office at SU 310 or email for more information at careerconnections@sou.edu.

La Clinica to operate SOU Student Health & Wellness Center

La Clinica partners with SOU to operate student health center

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Medford-based community health center group La Clinica has partnered with Southern Oregon University to operate the on-campus Student Health & Wellness Center starting in September.

The collaboration is aimed at ensuring SOU can continue to provide students with affordable and high quality medical, behavioral health and reproductive health services. La Clinica accepts most insurance, including Oregon Health Plan, and does not turn away patients for inability to pay.

“La Clinica is an outstanding, community-minded organization, and SOU is proud to be partnering with them to ensure our students continue to get high-quality care while keeping their costs affordable,” SOU President Rick Bailey said. “We are indebted to everyone at La Clinica for embracing this partnership with compassion, kindness, and a focus on selfless student service.”

La Clinica CEO Brenda Johnson said that providing services at SOU will come naturally for the healthcare organization.

“We’re grateful and excited to be able to step into this role as a partner and support SOU’s vision in providing accessible and affordable health care for their students,” said Johnson. “SOU is an excellent educational home, and La Clinica has a lot of experience running school-based health centers. It’s an ideal collaboration.”

La Clinica operates 29 health centers in Jackson County, including 19 at area schools. It has deep experience in providing the services offered at the student health center. The organization serves about 30,000 patients annually.

La Clinica will begin operations at SOU as students return to campus in September for fall term, and will continue to offer students access to low-cost medical, mental health, and contraceptive care, as they’ve had available previously. The Student Health & Wellness Center is at the eastern edge of the SOU campus at 560 Indiana St.

La Clinica provides a host of other services to everyone involved in its care as well, including help signing up for the Oregon Health Plan or understanding other potential community resources; special prescription drug pricing; drop-in care on Saturdays at the Acute Care Clinic; dental care; education and training services through The Learning Well (https://thelearningwell.org); and grief education and support services through WinterSpring.

About La Clinica
La Clinica offers wellness-focused medical, dental, mental health, and substance use disorder care at 29 sites: 19 school-based centers, the Acute Care Clinic, the Women’s Health Center, East Medford Dental Clinic, a learning center, and six other community health centers. Although its mission focuses on providing access to low-income people, La Clinica is open to everyone. La Clinica was founded in 1989 to serve the primary and preventive care needs of migrant and seasonal farm workers in Jackson County.  In 2001, in response to an increasing need for affordable primary health, La Clinica expanded its scope to serve every member of the community. All services are offered regardless of a patient’s ability to pay, and on a sliding-scale basis for the uninsured and low income. Visit https://laclinicahealth.org.

About Southern Oregon University
Southern Oregon University is a medium-sized campus that provides comprehensive educational opportunities with a strong focus on student success and intellectual creativity. Located in vibrant Ashland, Oregon, SOU remains committed to diversity and inclusion for all students on its environmentally sustainable campus. Connected learning programs taught by a host of exceptional faculty provide quality, innovative experiences for students. Visit sou.edu.

SOU's Brain Bowl tournament

SOU offers “Brain Bowl” for local students

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More than 20 teams and a combined 100-plus students participated last month in the 47th annual Southern Oregon Brain Bowl, a quizbowl tournament organized by the Pre-College Youth Program at Southern Oregon University for middle and high schools in the region.

The first-round winners are St. Mary’s, Ashland, Logos Charter and Henley high schools in the junior varsity category, and Cascade Christian, Ashland, Phoenix and Mazama high schools in the varsity competition. The four finalists in both the varsity and junior varsity categories will complete for the Brain Bowl Division Championships, with the competition filmed on Saturday, April 13, and aired on Southern Oregon Public Television (PBS) at 4 p.m. on Sunday, April 14.

Winners in the middle school category were St. Mary’s in Division A, McLoughlin in Division B and Scenic in Division C.

A special “Team Challenge” competition was also held during this year’s first-round high school tournament, with each team given five minutes to work together to answer a question or solve a problem. Each team was given the same challenge, and the special team event didn’t affect scoring for the overall tournament. The Team Challenge awards went to Grants Pass and Phoenix high schools in the varsity category, and to St. Mary’s and Henley high schools in the junior varsity category.

The SOU Pre-College Youth Programs staff congratulated all of the participating Brain Bowl students for their sportsmanship and competence, and thanked coaches for supporting their teams. The Jackson, Josephine and Klamath County school districts all helped to sponsor the tournament.

The director and question creator for this year’s Brain Bowl was James Johnson, who oversees the Academic Support Center at Ashland Middle School and coaches the school’s Brain Bowl team. The headquarters team included scorekeepers Diane Novak and Debbi Larsen, part of a team of more than 30 community members who served as timekeepers, scorekeepers and moderators.

The Southern Oregon Brain Bowl, based on game show Jeopardy, began in 1977 as a local academic competition between southern Oregon middle schools and high schools.

SOU receives Tree Campus designation

SOU earns 10th Tree Campus designation

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(Ashland, Ore.) — Southern Oregon University has been honored by the national Arbor Day Foundation as a Tree Campus USA for the 10th consecutive year, in recognition of SOU’s commitment to the effective management of its urban forest.

Tree Campus Higher Education, a program that began in 2008, recognizes U.S. colleges and universities, and their leaders, for promoting healthy trees and engaging students and staff in the spirit of conservation. SOU, which first earned the distinction in 2014, is one of 411 higher education institutions nationwide to receive the most recent recognition.

“We are delighted to be awarded Tree Campus certification for another year at Southern Oregon University,” said Becs Walker, SOU’s director of sustainability. “This is very much a collaborative effort of faculty, students, staff and the community. Our trees are also facing increased stress from drought and disease, and our landscape department is working hard to minimize this impact.”

SOU earned the Tree Campus designation by fulfilling the program’s five standards for effective campus forest management: maintaining a tree advisory committee, a campus tree-care plan, dedicated annual expenditures for its campus tree program, an Arbor Day observance and a student service-learning project..

Trees on campus and in urban spaces can lower energy costs by providing shade cover, cleaner air and water, and green spaces for students and faculty. Trees can also improve students’ mental and cognitive health, provide an appealing aesthetic for campuses and create shaded areas for studying and gathering.

“Trees not only play a vital role in the environment but also in our daily lives,” said Dan Lambe, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. “Having trees on college and university campuses is a great way to show a commitment to students and faculty’s overall wellbeing.”

The Arbor Day Foundation is a million-member, nonprofit conservation and education organization with the mission of inspiring people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees. The foundation, launched in 1972, has helped to plant nearly 500 million trees in more than 50 countries.

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