SOU News Archives

Sheila Clough and husband Chris at Ashland Chamber of Commerce awards dinner

SOU board chair receives highest Chamber honor

SOU Board of Trustees Chair Sheila Clough was honored for her volunteerism and community service in a surprise presentation of the Honorary Life Member Award at last week’s 115th annual dinner of the Ashland Chamber of Commerce. The award is the highest honor that the Ashland Chamber bestows on individuals. “Through her vision, her dedication […]

Three new members appointed to SOU Ashland Board of Trustees

Three new members appointed to SOU board

(Ashland, Ore.) — A local credit union president and CEO with extensive public service experience, a Southern Oregon University alumna and administrator, and a student in the SOU Master’s in Business Administration program have been appointed by Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek and confirmed today by the Oregon Senate to serve on the Southern Oregon University Board […]

SOU Ashland alumni awards recipients

Four to receive annual SOU alumni awards

(Ashland, Ore.) — This year’s Southern Oregon University alumni award winners will be a business lawyer who has conducted an investigation of Las Vegas city officials and managed litigation for a $4 billion real estate firm; a lifelong educator who has written three books and made more than 500 educational presentations; a former legislator who […]

SOU's Sojka and de Vries co-author book on transgender experiences

SOU faculty members co-author book on transgender experiences

(Ashland, Ore.) — SOU’s Carey Jean Sojka and Kylan Mattias de Vries – both faculty members in the Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies Program, and both previous recipients of the university’s Distinguished Teaching Award – have co-authored a new book about the identity experiences of transgender people. The book, “Transgender Intersections: Race and Gender through […]

SOU's Noah Horstman on Golf Digest list

SOU’s Horstman makes Golf Digest list

Noah Horstman, head coach for the SOU men’s and women’s golf teams, has been included in Golf Digest’s listing of “Best Teachers in Every State for 2026-27,” as voted by golf-instructing peers. Horstman, who operates the Golf Garage in Phoenix in addition to his SOU coaching duties, is one of eight instructors included in Golf Digest’s […]

SOU embraces energy resilience with new solar projects

SOU expands solar and energy resilience footprint

(Ashland, Ore.) — Southern Oregon University has embraced its role as an energy resilience leader in the region – supporting both the SOU community and the surrounding community – by completing two new solar arrays and installing its first battery system for energy storage. The moves edge SOU closer to its goal of generating 100% […]

Philanthropy accounts for second-highest total ever in 2025

Fiscal year 2025 among best for SOU philanthropy

(Ashland, Ore.) — Southern Oregon University continued its historic fundraising run in fiscal year 2025, raising $14.17 million. The philanthropic total for FY25 is the second-highest annual total ever raised for the university; in fiscal year 2023, the university raised more than $19 million, including $10 million from Lithia Motors and Green Cars. “We’re generating […]

SOU Digital Cinema makes MovieMaker list of top film schools

SOU Digital Cinema named to national Top 30

(Ashland, Ore.) — Southern Oregon University’s Digital Cinema program has been ranked among the nation’s Top 30 film schools by MovieMaker Magazine for the second consecutive year – a recognition of SOU’s role in preparing Oregon’s next generation of creative professionals. MovieMaker cited SOU Digital Cinema’s distinctive blend of hands-on training, industry partnerships and cross-disciplinary collaboration. The program emphasizes […]

Grant for SOU Ashland to develop accessible tourism for state of Oregon.

SOU receives grant to develop accessible tourism

(Ashland, Ore.) — Southern Oregon University has received an $89,745 grant from Travel Oregon to develop an accessibility training program for tourism business leaders, with the goal of ensuring that all visitors to the state – including those with disabilities – feel valued and welcome. The initiative is further supported by a $5,000 grant from […]

Creative Industries will be consolidated at SOU Ashland

Creative Industries project gains legislative funding

Southern Oregon University is celebrating a piece of its future by acknowledging the Oregon Legislature’s recent approval of $40 million in capital construction bonds to update and consolidate SOU’s facilities for creative industries – music, media and film. The cross-disciplinary project will transform the university’s programs and help secure Oregon’s future as a national leader […]