Office of the President

From the President – May 27, 2025

Building a Supportive Culture

Dear EOU Community,

Each year, the Spring Symposium is one of the highlights of our academic calendar. I really enjoy seeing students’ projects developed to fruition and getting to talk with them about their journey. Each of these conversations reveals the essential role EOU faculty have in the development of our students. And frankly, the scholar in me really enjoys learning through them.

Last week, the Board of Trustees hosted a learning session with the Learning Center and the Disability Services Office to grow in their knowledge about how both centers serve and mentor students to success. It was wonderful to see the students and staff share their accomplishments, and the ways they are tackling making textbooks accessible, helping students write better, and supporting each other in their studies, among other duties.

These two programs highlight EOU at its best — spotlighting the good work of our talented students, faculty, and staff, as well as supporting each other in our growth. You can learn more about what EOU faculty, staff, and students have been up to in my president’s report (opens in a new tab) to the Board of Trustees. (Spoiler alert: We’re killing it!). And, as a reminder, our Lunch and Learn series is here to support each of you! I hope you were able to catch Dr. Mary Fisher’s presentation yesterday.

Student success highlights continue to roll in and are worthy of celebration:

• Congratulations to EOU mathematics students Julia Fredrick, Kendal DeYoung, Levi Danz, Luna Dennett, and Mackenzie Issak recipients of Mercer Family Foundation scholarships (opens in a new tab). EOU students were the only TRU representatives from Oregon, and a Mercer representative noted that the letters of support reflected how well we know our students as individuals. Thank you for all you do!

• Congratulations to student-athlete Lizzy Grandle for earning the conference Heptathlon title at the CCC Multi-Event Championship (opens in a new tab)!

Lifelong learning is always to be celebrated. I hope you will join me in congratulating Bennie Moses-Mesubed for receiving an OSU College of Education Graduate Student Research & Conference Award which reflects the strength, academic and professional value of her dissertation work.

As we conclude the month of May, I have had the usual busy schedule of meetings, including our Summer meeting with the Cascades Collegiate Conference Council of Presidents. I learned there that EOU is #1 in the Conference (opens in a new tab) (!) and that we are currently #12 nationwide in the Learfield Cup. While in the west, I attended the Oregon Talent Summit to learn more about how the state is prioritizing its workforce needs so that we can best position EOU for success. The EOU Board of Trustees meeting was especially chock full of items, as it always is in May, when the work of the board’s yearly activities comes to a close. We’ve tightened our relationship with Oregon Public Broadcasting and today they are hosting listening sessions on campus.

Have a tremendous week!

Sincerely,