Alumni News

Art alumna helps local creative community

January 16, 2025

Growing up in the Rogue Valley, many local high school students head to college to get away from home. From the start, Amanda Grove ’10 knew she would study locally at SOU.

Theatre alum makes his own way

January 9, 2025

Clinton Clark ’10 grew up in Bend and graduated Summit High School. His junior year at Summit, he was among students that welcomed the school’s brand-new theatre.

Business alumna at home in the Sierras

November 7, 2024

Emma Gasman ’17 grew up in Clovis, California and visited SOU as a high school student while being recruited for volleyball by SOU head coach Josh Rohlfing ’07. When she crossed Siskiyou Summit on I-5 and drove down into Ashland, it was immediate love. “I was sold on the beauty of the Siskiyou Mountains and this being my home for the next several years,” she said.

Matt Essieh ’82 MBA’ 83 and Emmanuella Essieh ’82

From Unexpected Romance to Business Leaders

September 30, 2024

Matt Essieh ’82 MBA’ 83 and Emmanuella Essieh ’82 share a history at Southern Oregon University that opened the doors for thriving business careers, philanthropy, and a lifelong romance.

Alumna leads the future of analytical chemistry with groundbreaking research

September 30, 2024

Dr. Jessica Prenni ’98 had a straightforward reason for attending Southern Oregon University (SOU) after graduating from Roosevelt High School in Portland. “I chose SOU for the in-state tuition and planned to major in pre-engineering, then transfer to Oregon State University in Corvallis,” Dr. Prenni explained. However, during her freshman year, she enjoyed her general chemistry class so much that she changed her major to chemistry, which allowed her to complete her degree at SOU.

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