SOU News Archives

Outstanding Graduate Student award recipient Matthew Havniear, SOU Ashland

SOU’s Havniear receives Outstanding Graduate Student award

(Ashland, Ore.) — U.S. Marine Corps veteran, nonprofit leader and graduating MBA student Matthew Havniear will be celebrated as the 2025 recipient of the University of Guanajuato Outstanding Graduate Student Award during the Southern Oregon University commencement ceremony on June 14. The prestigious annual award honors a graduate student who exemplifies academic excellence and meaningful […]

SOU Ashland Spring Wellness Event

Highlights from SOU’s Spring Wellness Event

The Spring Wellness Event that was held recently at SOU transformed the lawn in front of Britt Hall into a hub of creativity, movement and community connection, with more than 30 students, staff and faculty taking time to prioritize their well-being during the busy end of spring term. Attendees at the event – hosted by […]

Mindfulness and compassion book co-authored by Paul Condon of SOU Ashland

SOU faculty member co-authors book on mindfulness and compassion

(Ashland, Ore.) — Paul Condon, an associate professor of psychology at Southern Oregon University, is co-author of a new book that blends psychological science and contemplative theories to inform mindfulness and compassion practices for the general public. “How Compassion Works: A Step-by-step guide to cultivating well-being, love and wisdom,” was written jointly with Boston College […]

Faculty union and SOU Ashland extend contract

SOU and faculty union agree to extend contract

(Ashland, Ore.) — Southern Oregon University and its faculty union have signed an agreement that will postpone bargaining on a new contract for 18 months, allowing the university to better navigate fiscal uncertainties at the state and federal levels. The current collective bargaining agreement with the Association of Professors of Southern Oregon University (APSOU) was […]

SOU Ashland's Calli Pelkey is in top 1% nationwide in MBA test

SOU MBA student places on top percentile in nationwide test

(Ashland, Ore.) — Southern Oregon University student Calli Pelkey, a participant in SOU’s Online MBA Program, has earned a remarkable distinction, placing in the top 1% nationwide on the Educational Testing Service (ETS) Major Field Test for master of business administration programs. The MBA Major Field Test is a national standardized exam taken by thousands […]

Open textbooks at SOU

SOU faculty members take lead role in open textbook project

(Ashland, Ore.) — Open Oregon Educational Resources, a statewide initiative that promotes textbook affordability for students at Oregon colleges and universities, is releasing four new open textbooks whose authors include four Southern Oregon University faculty members and a student in the Criminology and Criminal Justice program. “Our goal with these projects is to provide rigorous […]

The Business Venture Tournament returns to SOU Ashland

SOU Business Venture Tournament: $4k in prizes, plus “Wildcard”

(Ashland, Ore.) — Southern Oregon University will bring together student innovation and live audience energy at the 2025 Business Venture Tournament final competition and gala – with more than $4,000 in prize money and an entrepreneurial head start at stake. The free event – from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 27, in the […]

Elementary students from Kids Unlimited Academy visit SOU Ashland.

New SOU pathway program reaches into elementary schools

(Ashland, Ore.) — A Southern Oregon University Spanish instructor’s personal initiative has brought to campus more than 120 elementary school students from underserved backgrounds over the past month, offering the children an up-close look at college life and the opportunity to see themselves as future students in a post-secondary setting. The “Vision to the Future” […]

SOU Ashland graduate Thilini Dissanyake stars in "Earnest" at OSF

Recent SOU alumna stars in OSF production of “Earnest”

(Ashland, Ore.) — Sitting in the backseat of her family’s car after a third-grade play, Thilini Dissanayake surprised her mother with a bold declaration: “I wanna be famous.” That moment – following her turn as the Little Red Hen in her class play – sparked a love for acting that would lead Dissanayake to Southern […]

Creativity Conference at SOU Ashland set to begin

Creativity Conference at Southern Oregon University set to begin May 15

(Ashland, Ore.) — The 7th annual Creativity Conference at Southern Oregon University will offer something for everyone in four days of presentations, May 15 through 18. The conference delivers a wealth of information for those who study the science of creativity, seek to leverage research on creative thinking or simply consider themselves to be creative. […]