Office of the President

Office of the President

Dr. Kelly A. Ryan

Eastern Oregon University’s Board of Trustees voted unanimously to name Dr. Kelly A. Ryan as the University’s 13th President on May 9, 2023, and she began her tenure on July 1, 2023.

Dr. Ryan is passionate about the power of higher education to transform lives. Her leadership vision places student success and community engagement at the center of her work.  

Prior to joining EOU, Dr. Ryan was Interim Chancellor of Indiana University Southeast in New Albany, Indiana. In this role, she developed relationships and partnerships to increase community engagement with the institution, and orchestrated efforts to fund scholarships, student research and creativity initiatives, and support resources for faculty, staff, and student development.

Dr. Ryan has led university-wide strategic planning processes, improved accreditation practices, overseen enrollment management, instituted inclusive hiring and teaching practices, and managed the development of academic and noncredit programs and courses. She is the recipient of several awards and distinctions, including the Indiana University Bicentennial Medal and she is a four-time winner of the IU Trustees Teaching Award.  

While at Indiana University Southeast, Dr. Ryan served as Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Dean of the School of Social Sciences, Coordinator for the Department of History, and Professor of History. 

Her first love was the practice and teaching of history, and she is the author of numerous publications, including two books: Regulating Passion and Everyday Crimes.  She has also provided expertise on colonial America to The Learning Channel’s popular genealogy program, Who Do You Think You Are?.

Dr. Ryan grew up in a military family as the daughter of a naval officer and thus spent her youth living in many locations, including Maryland, Maine, Florida, Virginia, California and Hawaii.  She and her husband, Adam, enjoy hiking, biking, films, and all the great restaurants they can find.

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September 27

From the President, September 27, 2023

As we start the new academic year, I am reminded of a famous saying from the Kentucky Derby as our fall term at Eastern Oregon University is beginning:“And they’re off!”We have held several traditional campus events like Convocation, Opening Session, move-in days, and now Week of Welcome. Being new to EOU myself, it has been […]

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September 13

From the President, September 13, 2023

There is so much good news to celebrate I hardly know where to start! Dr. Hope Schuermann, Director of the Clinical Mental Health program, was appointed standing member of the steering committee for Greater Oregon Behavioral Health, Inc. (GOBHI). GOBHI works with mental health providers in eastern Oregon to fill gaps in employment and mental […]

2022 Eastern Oregon University Annual Report

Learn more about what EOU did in 2022 by reading our Annual Report.

Contact Information

Office of the President
Eastern Oregon University
One University Boulevard
Library 209
La Grande, OR 97850

Phone: 541-962-3512
Fax: 541-962-3113

Convocation 2023-2024