Mounties Show Their Support for EOU This Season and All Year Long

Mounties Show Their Support for EOU This Season and All Year Long

Posted on December 14, 2023

“I give to the Foundation in support of The Voice because I believe no college or university is complete without a student newspaper. For decades, The Voice and The Beacon before it, informed and represented the student body – creating valuable content for a specific group of students attending the university at a particular point […]


From College Sweethearts to Blue & Gold Legacies

From College Sweethearts to Blue & Gold Legacies

Posted on December 14, 2023

In a cozy corner of the Library on EOU’s campus, longtime alumni Mary Jo Lemon, ’66, and her husband Terry Lemon, ’69, reminisced about their memories as adults, students, and children.  “I remember my mother bringing my sister and me to her office and just playing in the halls of Inlow,” Mary Jo said smiling. […]


Scott Fairley’s Legacy

Scott Fairley’s Legacy

Posted on December 14, 2023

Connecting communities and building bridges Embarking on a journey with her classmates through the bustling heart of Portland, EOU student and Pendleton, Oregon native Addison Bonzani experienced the rush of city life for the first time. But getting here was not a simple process. Two powerful forces conspired to make her adventure possible: the Urban-Rural […]


EOU Brings Mental Health Training to Rural Oregon and Beyond

EOU Brings Mental Health Training to Rural Oregon and Beyond

Posted on December 14, 2023

In the wide open landscapes of Oregon, where rural communities grapple with an ongoing scarcity of mental health providers, Eastern Oregon University (EOU) has emerged as a new and innovative partner. With a mission to address the pressing need for mental health professionals, especially in remote areas, EOU launched its Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) […]


Paving The Way For Bright Futures

Paving The Way For Bright Futures

Posted on December 14, 2023

EOU donors make record-breaking $880,000 in scholarships possible At Eastern Oregon University, we’re on a mission to provide quality education and transform the lives of our students who face financial challenges. Thirty-four percent of EOU students come from low-income families, and 38% are first-generation college students striving to break the cycle of limited opportunities. In […]


Message from the President

Message from the President

Posted on December 14, 2023

Dear Friends of Eastern Oregon University, As we embark on another academic year, I continue to be filled with excitement and anticipation since stepping into my role as President of Eastern Oregon University just a few short months ago. It is with immense pleasurethat I express my heartfelt thanks for your unwavering support and commitment […]


In Memoriam

In Memoriam

Posted on July 12, 2023

Honoring those who made lasting impacts on EOU Howard Bailey, Professor Emeritus Dr. Bailey was born Nov. 5, 1925 in Iowa and after a life of activities and accomplishments, passed away in Island City on Oct. 15, 2021. Dr. Bailey served in the U.S. Army from 1944-46. He later earned his doctorate of mathematics and […]


An Ambassador for Change

An Ambassador for Change

Posted on July 12, 2023

How an EOU education instilled a sense of belonging and inspired social consciousness Doctor Abio Ayeliya, ’08, was selected by the EOU Alumni Association as the 2022 Distinguished Alumni for his work helping others and he continues to affect change years after his graduation from Eastern Oregon University. The young man, who once went to […]


The Ripple Effect of a Musical Legacy

The Ripple Effect of a Musical Legacy

Posted on July 11, 2023

Only recently has Duane Boyer started thinking about his legacy after five decades in the classroom. After graduating from Eastern Oregon College cum laude in 1969 the Eastern Oregon University guitar and banjo instructor was hired in 1973 to teach music. Eastern Oregon State College would not change its name until 1997 when it became […]


Far From Home

Far From Home

Posted on July 11, 2023

Two EOU alumni, each with their own stories, found themselves teaching at the same school system in the remote Alaskan Bush Conrad Woodhead, a 2002 EOU alum, was looking for a one-of-a-kind experience and found it in remote Alaska. “I was in this village, a remote whaling community with a totally subsisting lifestyle. You can […]


Discovering History, From Wallowa to Croatia

Discovering History, From Wallowa to Croatia

Posted on July 11, 2023

Bright lights and pristine workstations line the room, ready for action. Deep in the basement of EOU’s Ackerman Hall, the former elementary school, is the brand-new anthropology classroom and lab. A space designed for students to really own, while they explore the worlds, techniques, and processes of anthropology and archaeology. In the corner, stacked nearly […]


Resilience in Rural Communities

Resilience in Rural Communities

Posted on July 11, 2023

EOU faculty and students empower local communities through insights You’ve probably heard reference to the “REV” Center before. Or at least know EOU has a REV Center. The Rural Engagement & Vitality – or REV – Center is a joint venture between Eastern Oregon University and Wallowa Resources with the goal and intent of serving […]


The Value of Education

The Value of Education

Posted on July 11, 2023

7,000 miles to EOU For Eastern Oregon University freshman Mohtarama “Mary” Qazizada, education is a birthright. Mary is passionate about a woman’s right to education, but more importantly she believes learning is the key to changing the world for the better. Mary was born and raised in Afghanistan and is deeply saddened as she watches […]


Teaching Rural 

Teaching Rural 

Posted on July 11, 2023

Heart and journey, from teacher to student It’s not just what you learn within the four walls of a classroom; it’s the hands-on experiences you never thought you’d have out of the classroom which makes the difference. EOU’s Teach Rural Oregon is a rare gem in the space of higher education and is the umbrella […]


Message From the Alumni President

Message From the Alumni President

Posted on July 11, 2023

To my fellow alumni and friends of Eastern Oregon University, It gives me great pleasure to introduce this issue of the Mountaineer Magazine. As a 2006 and 2008 alumna of Eastern Oregon University and the current President of the EOU Alumni Association, I have thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to work with and for the Alumni […]


Mounties, Alumni, and Friends show their support for EOU

Mounties, Alumni, and Friends show their support for EOU

Posted on November 28, 2022

“Maya and I support the EOU foundation because we know how important the success of the university and its students are to our local communities. As alumni, EOU has had a huge impact on both of our lives and we feel an obligation to pay it forward to help current and future students develop and […]


Building New Memories

Building New Memories

Posted on November 28, 2022

From snow to sunburn, the EOU Men’s Baseball season plays through any and all weather conditions.  From early mornings to late evenings for both practice and games, the team sees it all.  Except the backdrop of the EOU campus.  “I love being part of a baseball program being built from the ground up.  It’s taken […]


Getting your hands dirty

Getting your hands dirty

Posted on November 28, 2022

Experience at your fingertips Her face lit up as she talked about the projects and possibilities this new school year brings, as a member of the inaugural cohort of the Agriculture-Entrepreneurship program.  Eva Martin, a sophomore from Ione, Oregon, expressed her passion for community outreach.  “I grew up in FFA [Future Farmers of America]; I […]


A Legacy: Past, Present, and Future

A Legacy: Past, Present, and Future

Posted on November 28, 2022

Sunshine radiates through the massive windows into the new Health & Human Performance (HHP) offices overlooking the Track & Field Complex.  In the past, sharing only one lab between classes, research, and testing, coupled with program faculty spread between offices across campus, the thought of a state-of-the-art lab and teaching facility wasn’t even a concept.   […]


Message from the Chair of the Foundation Board

Message from the Chair of the Foundation Board

Posted on November 28, 2022

Season’s greetings fellow alumni, colleagues, and friends, As we come towards the close of another year, we give thanks for the many blessings we have – our students have successfully completed the fall term, our faculty and staff continue making Eastern a world-class experience, and our programs continue to thrive. I have had the distinct […]


Welcome Home Mounties

Welcome Home Mounties

Posted on August 30, 2022

Two new members of University Advancement returned to their alma mater to further engage alumni and enhance student experiences through the EOU Foundation. Michelle Mudder, ’14, Assistant Director of Annual Giving & Alumni Engagement Q: What’s something you are working on that you’re excited about?     A: Growing our Alumni social media presence and continuing […]


Message from the President

Message from the President

Posted on August 30, 2022

Friends and Fellow Alumni,  Excellence in teaching and learning are at the center of EOU’s identity, and you’ll find these themes woven throughout this issue of The Mountaineer. Our shared legacy includes nearly a century of preparing teachers to serve schools throughout our region. These last several years have only highlighted the all-important role classrooms […]


A legacy of care

A legacy of care

Posted on August 30, 2022

Caring professors and coaches made a lasting impact on Wilda Stratton, ’72, and now she’s determined to pay it forward.  Stratton and her husband Marcus Watt have set up a $2 million estate gift to the EOU Foundation that will benefit women in STEM fields and student-athletes. Adding this legacy to their will ensures a […]


Mountaineer Tracks

Mountaineer Tracks

Posted on August 30, 2022

Weddings Shaylee Nielsen, ’11 and ’12, married Kimberly Judd on Sept. 3, 2021. Nielsen earned her Physical Activity and Health degree from EOU, followed by a Master of Arts in Teaching. She played basketball for the Mountaineers from 2009 to 2011 and was the team’s graduate assistant in 2011-12. She now teaches Health and PE […]


Film fellows

Film fellows

Posted on August 30, 2022

By Katy Nesbitt Growing partnerships with the Liberty Theatre and EOU are giving the Eastern Oregon Film Festival (EOFF) room to spread its wings, providing more creative experiences for filmmakers and movie enthusiasts alike. Coming into its 13th year, EOFF Director Christopher Jennings said when renovation is complete at the historic Liberty Theatre in La […]


Student futures built on real work

Student futures built on real work

Posted on August 30, 2022

Garrett Christensen  In times of uncertainty, the simple act of being listened to goes a long way. This fall, Assistant Professor of Public Administration Daniel Costie and the Rural Engagement and Vitality Center (REV Center) helped bring a voice to several rural Oregon communities.  REV partnered with Euvalcree, a nonprofit community support organization based out […]


Special Education, One License at a Time

Special Education, One License at a Time

Posted on August 30, 2022

Garrett Christensen  Accessibility to education encompasses teachers as much as students. Years of rigorous schooling and graduate study can create a qualification bottleneck. At Eastern Oregon University, however, the field of special education is opening to a new generation of educators at the undergraduate level.   The College of Education’s new Special Education Initial Teacher Licensure […]


Raising better readers: Modern methods promise improved literacy

Raising better readers: Modern methods promise improved literacy

Posted on August 30, 2022

By the end of third grade, about half of Oregon students have fallen behind in reading comprehension. Difficulty reading at this early stage often leads to lower achievement in school, as well as in adult life.  A new program developed by Eastern Oregon University’s College of Education aims to equip teachers with tools and strategies […]


At the hub: College of Education links PNW rural schools

At the hub: College of Education links PNW rural schools

Posted on August 30, 2022

Established as a teacher’s college and long esteemed as a source of teacher instruction, EOU recently partnered with the Rural Schools Collaborative to bolster rural teacher preparation and community engagement.  The Rural Schools Collaborative is a national nonprofit based in Illinois with 12 regional hubs that facilitate shared work. As the Pacific Northwest Hub, EOU […]


Life Lessons on and off The Court.

Life Lessons on and off The Court.

Posted on August 30, 2022

Ryan Looney’s, ’98, skill at building teams has proven successful—and those successes culminated into an opportunity to be the head coach of an NCAA Division 1 basketball team. There were a lot of stops along the road to the Division 1 job, but that was never the plan. “Each time we moved, there was an […]