By Dick Mason

Observer Staff Writer

Eight years have passed since Sheldon Nord, Eastern Oregon University's new vice president for student affairs, worked in Indonesia.

The lessons he learned there continue to guide his approach to life and his career.

Nord worked in Jakarta, Indonesia, in 1994-95 where he helped establish a new school known as Universitas Pelita Harapan. Nord was one of two Americans invited to serve there. He helped organize the university's student affairs division .

His year in Indonesia was an eye-opener.

"I learned what it is like to be a minority,'' he said. "It helped me appreciate the challenges international students face in the United States.''

Nord also learned something even more meaningful from the people, something which helped shape his approach to life.

"They value relationships. They are not as task-oriented,'' Nord said.

He noted that Indonesians frequently are late for meetings because they are involved in conversations. They do not want to cut the discussions short because they so value the relationships with the people.

"What we (his family) learned changed us and how we value people,'' Nord said.

People who value relationships rank highly with Nord. These include individuals like Dan Miles, the successful long-time men's basketball coach at Oregon Institute of Technology in Klamath Falls. Nord knows Miles well because he was a dean and vice president of student affairs at OIT from 1997 to 2002.

Nord noted that Miles works hard to reach out to the senior citizens of Klamath Falls. He had a special rooting section for them, made arrangements for them to get to games, and required his players to regularly visit retirement centers.

"He's a great person,'' Nord said.

Nord left OIT in July 2002 to take a position as dean of students at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah. He planned to stay for many years. Then the Eastern vice president for student affairs position opened.

"I told my supervisor that this was my dream job. It is the only job I would have left for. I was not searching for a new job.'' Nord said.

Nord and his family were happy in Ogden.

"Moving two years in a row was not what we had in mind,'' he said.

Nord and his wife, Jamie, have one daughter, Hannah, who will be a seventh-grader at the La Grande Middle School this fall.

At Eastern, Nord succeeds Harris Shelton, who served for four years at Eastern and a total of several decades as an educator.

Nord has worked closely with Shelton during the transition process.

"Harris believes in investing yourself in people,'' Nord said.

He describes Shelton as a well trained and very competent person who does not take himself seriously. He said it is unusual to find such a person.

"I mean that as the highest possible compliment,'' Nord said.

Nord took the job because he has long been impressed with EOU. He likes things such as the educational relationship that faculty have with students. For example, undergraduates are encouraged to get involved with research projects professors are conducting. At larger universities undergraduates often do not have this opportunity.

Nord also considers Eastern an ideal place because of its location. La Grande is not far from Boise where Nord's parents live. La Grande is also an ideal place for people who enjoy outdoor activities, as he does.

He and his family have been coming to Northeast Oregon to camp each Father's Day Weekend for 20 years. The Nords often camped in the Anthony Lakes and Mount Emily areas.

Nord grew up in Minnesota and came west when his parents moved to Boise. He enrolled at Western Baptist College in Salem and graduated in 1982 with a degree in social science. Nord later earned a master's degree from Oregon State University and a doctorate from Indiana University.

As vice president for student affairs Nord oversees many departments and programs including admissions, financial aid, career services, Native American programs, international student services, the Hoke Center, student activities, housing and residence life, the Learning Center, food services, athletics, the counseling center and student health services.

Projects high on Nord's priority list include the renovation and expansion of student housing.

Nord said that EOU is seriously looking into the possibility of adding a residence hall or other type of student housing.

Nord also is taking a serious look at expanding and renovating the Hoke Center, which is EOU's student union.

Nord said that the reception he has received is helping his transition go smoothly.

"There are just great people at Eastern," he said.