Alumni News

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.”

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.

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.

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.