Graduation after a 30-Year Break

Southern Oregon University (SOU) has hundreds of non-traditional students who work, go to school part or full time and take care of their families while trying to make ends meet. Karen Jeffery ’11 epitomizes the hard working,

Alumna loves her natural resource career

Lindsay Abercrombie MSEE ’12 grew up in Santa Barbara, CA, then attended and graduated Cal Poly San Louis Obispo for her undergraduate education in animal science.

Heiken family exudes Raider spirit

If any family epitomizes what it means to be a Raider alum, the Heiken family more than fits that description. For Bobby ’97, Sarah ’00 and their daughter Gabby ’26, the hashtag #RaiderFamily, is the culture they live by.

Alumna was inspired into creative writing at SOU

Born in Vietnam, Abbigail Nguyen Rosewood ’13 came to Southern Oregon University as a struggling transfer student—the large campus and impersonal atmosphere had left her overwhelmed.

Alum was inspired to help students learn and succeed for six decades.

Dr. Sue Teele MS ’69 has wanted to be a teacher since she was in 4th grade and never wavered from that career goal. 

Alumna excels as a commercial and business litigation attorney

It’s not too often that a 9th grader chooses to take a college course for credit, then aces the entire three-term series. But while she was a student at Ashland High School, Catherine Meulemans ’85, did just that.

Alumna Leads Rogue Valley Community Health Organization with Heart and Vision

When Brenda Johnson ’95 was growing up, her mom had a strong feeling she’d become a nurse—and as it turns out, her mom was right. After moving to Medford with her family and graduating from North Medford High School, Brenda already had her sights set on Southern Oregon State College (now SOU). Living nearby, she had spent time on campus as a teen and always felt at home there. “It just felt right,” she said. “It was accessible, it was welcoming, and it gave me the opportunity to pursue something meaningful.”

Alumna builds outstanding high school theatre program

With her father serving in the U.S. Air Force, Kate Torcom ’12 didn’t follow a traditional path to Southern Oregon University. When he was offered the rare opportunity to choose his next duty station, he selected Kingsley Field in Klamath Falls—drawn by stories of Oregon’s natural beauty passed down from his mother. Eventually, the family relocated from the Chicago area and settled in Redmond.

Biology alum excels in emergency room care

Born in Ashland then raised in Springfield through his freshman year in high school, Alex Grimaldi ’09 was able to return to Ashland and graduate a Grizzly in 2005. For Alex, looking at opportunities across Siskiyou Boulevard at SOU meshed well with his idea of a great education in an intimate and personal setting.

Alumna leads School of Neuroscience at Virginia Tech

Originally from San Diego, Dr. Michelle Olsen ’99, made the move with her family to the Rogue Valley then started her collegiate experience at Rogue Community College (RCC) in Medford.