From the President – September 18, 2024

From the President – September 18, 2024

Dear EOU Community:

EOU is abuzz with activity and there’s energy everywhere I look. We’ve moved back into the first floor of Inlow, and I witnessed lots of happy faces on move in day! Residence halls are welcoming new and returning students, and Week of Welcome activities are commencing. 

I’ve been busy sharing our new priorities in the university-wide listening sessions and at convocation. These are important opportunities for EOU to come together to discuss and create momentum around our shared and ambitious work plan for this year. The Ascent ‘29 strategies pinpoint the direction of the university and the actions we will take to improve EOU for our students and ourselves. I will use this platform, university updates, and the Koffee with Kelly series to update you on the actions we’re taking to fulfill our plans. 

The “Mountaineer Way: Choose Civility” campaign for the 2024 Fall term is part of the Ascent ‘29 strategies EOU is leading to foster a respectful and inclusive campus environment. Detailed information was shared via Infoline on 9/13. I encourage each of you to participate in the events and activities designed to encourage positive interactions, reduce social isolation, and facilitate meaningful dialogue on challenging topics. Together, let’s make EOU a place where civility guides our interactions and strengthens our community.

I’ve had a rewarding month reconnecting with a variety of EOU faculty, staff and students. I had dinner with our Summer Bridge students and lunch with our new RAs. I had a great meeting with our deans to discuss opportunities for our new Taiwan connections. What a team! New EOU faculty and I enjoyed some coffee together. 

We’ve had a flurry of recent activity in our larger community. VP Seydel and I visited Pendleton Round Up again this year; it’s an important event for us to connect with stakeholders from the legislature, not for profits, and the business community to share the great work we’re doing. We held our first TRU alumni social and had a great time in the Westward Ho! parade. Several of us also attended the Power Eastern Oregon Summit, a gathering of local leaders in Eastern Oregon who are working to identify the challenges and opportunities for the region. I volunteered at the Annual Celebrate La Grande event and had fun meeting with our local community. I took a tour of the McKenzie Farm with Bob Messinger. The McKenzie Farm was generously donated to support EOU over 30 years ago, and the Oregon Agricultural Foundation Board of Directors has generously managed it. 

I so enjoy sharing and celebrating EOU with all of you. Please continue to share good news, accomplishments, and successes with me!

Sincerely,

Kelly A. Ryan, Ph.D.
President