Academics

WOU Introduces the Accelerated Undergraduate to Master’s Pathway

Posted on April 7, 2021 869 views
Street view of the large Hamersly Library, a three-story building with many windows.
Beginning fall 2021, WOU is opening up a new avenue of opportunity to prospective master’s degree students. The Accelerated Undergraduate to Master’s Pathway (AUMP) allows current WOU seniors to complete both undergraduate and graduate credits at once, with a long-term potential of receiving their master’s degree early. Seniors can take up to 16 credits that [more…]
Campus & community

Dana Schowalter: Falls City Pop-Up Soup Kitchen

Posted on April 1, 2021 1253 views
During the February ice storm and subsequent power outages in local areas, Dr. Dana Schowalter helped create a pop-up soup kitchen in the Falls City Community Center. Her collaborators were WOU alumni Lynn Bailey and TJ Bailey, WOU student parent Amy Houghtaling, as well as Jami Kidd and Donna Creekmore. For two days while serving [more…]
Academics

Training for Racial Healing and Understanding: A WOU-Led Local Initiative

Posted on March 15, 2021 919 views
Dr. Jaclyn Caires-Hurley, a WOU assistant professor in the Department of Education & Leadership, and Dr. Greg Willeford, a WOU Criminal Justice professor, recently created a training program titled Racial Healing and Understanding, following important and sensitive American events regarding racism in 2020. The training is designed for local communities, businesses, and administrators in the [more…]
Campus & community

MLK Video Contest: Aiyanna Suazo

Posted on March 5, 2021 701 views
Aiyanna Suazo is the first place winner of this year’s MLK Video Contest at WOU. She is a first year student and is majoring in Higher/Middle Education.    Why do you see Dr. King as an important leader, even today? He’s influential to people all over the world. He led a huge civil rights movement. [more…]
Campus & community

Hamersly Library Amenities

Posted on February 8, 2021 775 views
Hamersly Library is packed full of amenities to help students study, research, and create projects. There are a multitude of books to check out, shelved on all three floors, ranging from fiction to textbooks. If a student requires aid searching for resources, they can ask friendly staff, typically at the front desk. Citation guides and [more…]
Campus & community

2021 MLK Celebration Week

Posted on January 12, 2021 1147 views
On January 18, WOU will kick off its 14th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. celebration week, packed with panels and activities. This year, our celebration is inspired by Dr. King’s speech at the Southern Methodist University on March 17th, 1966. As he stated then, “We have come a long, long way but we still [more…]
Academics | Social & behavioral sciences

Spanish Degrees and Certificates Open Up Career Options

Posted on December 20, 2020 1409 views
Western Oregon University’s Spanish Department has three new certificates to help WOU students gain a competitive edge in the job market. The certificates are in Spanish-English Interpretation and Translation, Bilingual/Biliteracy and Social Justice and Service Learning (Bilingual). In addition to these certificate program’s, students can major in Spanish or Spanish Education, and minor in Spanish, [more…]
Academics | Health & wellness

Student Contact Tracers Gain Professional Skills While Aiding Polk County

Posted on December 18, 2020 1641 views
[This story is a follow-up piece to “WOU Students are Training to Be Contact Tracers”]   In the initial months of the pandemic, WOU faculty collaborated with Polk County Public Health to create a student-led COVID-19 contact tracing initiative. The group was gathered, trained, and instructed by Assistant Professors of Community Health Megan Patton-Lopez and [more…]
Academics | Science & technology

New Criminal Justice Major in 2021: Cybersecurity

Posted on December 16, 2020 1177 views
Beginning fall term 2021, WOU’s Criminal Justice Sciences Division will have a new major, a Bachelor of Science in Cybercrime Investigation and Enforcement, also known as Cybersecurity. The major will require 72 total credits, which are broken down into four main groups: criminal justice, cybercrime investigation and enforcement, information systems, and electives. The mission of this [more…]
Campus & community

Finding and Applying for On-Campus Jobs

Posted on December 6, 2020 1174 views
[Co-written by Cheyan Swan and Erin Worley]   WOU offers many opportunities for student employment on-campus within a variety of different organizations. There are a multitude of options even during quarantine, as many departments have temporarily moved online. Whatever your qualifications and preferences are, there’s sure to be a job for you. Here’s some helpful [more…]
Campus & community

Alfred P. Maurice Online Art Sale

Posted on November 25, 2020 779 views
This is a companion piece to “Art for Innovation.”   The Alfred P. Maurice Art Sale is conducted by Western Oregon University in honor of the late Alfred Maurice, an avid art collector, an artist in his own right, and a friend and benefactor to our campus community.    Since 2011, WOU students have participated [more…]
Academics | Education

New Faculty Q&A: Leanne Cusack

Posted on November 17, 2020 1328 views
Dr. Leanne Cusack is a new WOU Health and Exercise Science assistant professor. She’s attended University of Waterloo (Canada) and Oregon State University, and she’s been teaching at a university level for about 10 years. This term, she is teaching Epidemiology and Infectious Disease/Injury Prevention. Cuasack’s office can be found at RWEC 237.   Why [more…]
Academics

New Faculty Q&A: Yuliana Kenfield

Posted on November 1, 2020 701 views
Dr. Yuliana Kenfield is a new WOU Education and Leadership assistant professor, who is teaching two classes this term: ED 446  Environments for Diverse Learners and ED 352 Social Studies Teaching Methods. She has attended Universidad Nacional San Antonio Abad del Cusco, Universidad Antonio de Nebrija, and University of New Mexico, and she has been [more…]
Campus & community

5 Ways to Celebrate Halloween Virtually

Posted on October 29, 2020 630 views
Everything looks different this academic year, including the holidays. If you’re a huge Halloween fan such as myself, you may be lost on how to celebrate safely. Luckily, through WOU and some outside sources, having a fun, virtual Halloween is possible!   Our first option is for students currently living in the residence halls: Res [more…]
Academics | Education

New Faculty Q&A: Lin Wu

Posted on October 28, 2020 813 views
Dr. Lin Wu is a new assistant professor for the Education and Leadership department. Wu has spent seven years teaching in K-12 and four years teaching in higher education. Wu graduated from the University of Washington and is currently instructing two classes at WOU: ED 418 Assessment, Planning, and Instruction; as well as ED 623 [more…]
Academics | Alumni | Social & behavioral sciences

Alumni Profile: Curtis Holbert

Posted on August 26, 2020 8096 views
Curtis Holbert graduated from WOU in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in History and a minor in Writing. Holbert is from Burns, Oregon, but currently works as a Title Examiner in Redmond, Oregon.   What is your current position?  Title Examiner. I research deed records, as well as other public record items to issue reports [more…]
Campus & community

Five Reasons to Enroll This Fall

Posted on August 24, 2020 714 views
Enrollment requires important decisions for every student–which courses to pursue, how to shape your schedule, and how many credits per term is right for you. As students, we have to be particularly thoughtful about enrollment this upcoming school year. COVID-19 has swept the world, and Oregon, in turn, causing changes to our academic environment, workplace [more…]
Science & technology

Alumni Profile: Francisco Aranda

Posted on August 18, 2020 942 views
Francisco Aranda graduated from WOU in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in Business and a minor in Spanish. In 2015, Aranda graduated from WOU with a master’s degree in Management and Information Systems, and now works as a product analyst at Nike.   Why did you choose WOU? In my sophomore year of high school, [more…]
Academics | Alumni | Business & global affairs

Alumni Profile: Kelsee Coito

Posted on July 27, 2020 1373 views
Kelsee Coito graduated from WOU in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in Business. Coito is originally from Mililani, Hawaii, but currently lives in Las Vegas, Nevada, working as a Marketing Ambassador for Topgolf.   Why did you choose WOU? I originally chose WOU for the cheerleading program.    What advice do you have for future [more…]
Class of 2020 | Education

Grad Profile: Jose Raul Magana Mendoza

Posted on June 19, 2020 1662 views
Jose Raul Magana Mendoza is an Early Childhood/Elementary Education major with a minor in English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). He is from Salem. As an outstanding 2020 graduate, we interviewed Magana about his most notable experiences from WOU, as well as his future plans.   What has your experience been like as a [more…]
Academics | Class of 2020

Grad Profile: Blanca Miranda-Aguilar

Posted on June 18, 2020 1306 views
Blanca Miranda-Aguilar is an Interdisciplinary Studies major from Arroyo Grande, Calif. As a 2020 graduate, we interviewed her on college memories and lessons learned.   What has your experience been like as a first-generation student? Yes, I am a first-generation student. I was lucky enough to find and get the help of the Multicultural Student [more…]
Class of 2020 | Social & behavioral sciences

Grad Profile: Kelsie Greenhill

Posted on June 18, 2020 1214 views
Kelsie Greenhill is a Public Policy and Administration major with a minor in Spanish. She is from Willamina, Ore. As a notable 2020 graduate, we interviewed Greenhill on her favorite aspects of WOU and fond memories from college.   What has the experience been like as a transfer student? I transferred from Chemeketa Community College. [more…]
Arts & culture | Class of 2020

Grad Profile: Kayli Smith

Posted on June 17, 2020 961 views
Kayli Smith is an art major with a concentration in ceramics, as well as a minor in art history. Her hometown is Dallas, Ore. As a 2020 graduate, we interviewed Smith about her experience at WOU and her future plans.   Why did you choose WOU?  Ceramics has always been a class that I felt [more…]
test

Grad Profile: Ayanna Arceneaux

Posted on June 16, 2020 796 views 2 comments
Ayanna Arceneaux is a Political Science major with a minor in Health. She is from Puyallup, Wash. As a 2020 graduate, we interviewed Arceneaux on her favorite memories from WOU and the lessons she wants to pass on to incoming students.   Why did you choose WOU?  I chose WOU not just for softball, but [more…]
Class of 2020 | Social & behavioral sciences

Grad Profile: Emily Swart

Posted on June 15, 2020 1087 views
Emily Swart is an Interdisciplinary Studies major from Salem, Ore., the two focuses of her major being humanities and social science. As an outstanding non-traditional graduate, we interviewed Swart on her most memorable experiences here, as well as her takeaways from college as a whole.   Why did you choose WOU?  I come from a [more…]
Academics | Class of 2020 | Social & behavioral sciences

Grad Profile: Leah Coyle

Posted on June 15, 2020 679 views
Leah Coyle is a Communication Studies major from Portland, Ore., who has also completed a minor in Humanities. As an outstanding graduate, we interviewed her on her WOU experience, including her favorite memories and the lessons she’s learned.   Are you a first-generation student? What has your experience been like? I am the first member [more…]
Class of 2020 | Science & technology | test

Grad Profile: Jonny Watt

Posted on June 14, 2020 686 views
Jonathon “Jonny” Watt is an Elementary/Middle School Education major with a concentration in Middle School Mathematics. He is a Kansas City, Kansas. As an outstanding 2020 graduate, we interviewed Watt on his favorite aspects of WOU and his future plans for after graduation.   Why did you choose WOU?  I chose WOU because I was [more…]
Class of 2020 | Science & technology

Grad Profile: Kelly Soto

Posted on June 14, 2020 409 views
Kelly Soto is a graduating nursing student from Ontario, California. She transferred to WOU from Chemeketa Community College, where she completed her nursing prerequisites and obtained her Associate Arts of Oregon Transfer degree. As an outstanding WOU 2020 graduate, we interviewed Soto about her college experience and future plans.   What has your experience been [more…]
Class of 2020 | Social & behavioral sciences

Grad Profile: Karina Lopez

Posted on June 9, 2020 658 views
Karina Lopez is a Communication Studies major and a Health minor from Independence. As an outstanding 2020 graduate, we interviewed Lopez about her experiences being a first generation student and a leader to her peers in our campus community.   What has your experience as a first-generation student been like? My experience as a first-generation [more…]
Class of 2020 | Social & behavioral sciences

Grad Profile: Zoe Noel Cawthon

Posted on June 8, 2020 918 views
Zoe Noel Cawthon is a philosophy major from Salem. As a 2020 graduate, we interviewed Cawthon on her most notable memories and life lessons from WOU.   What has been your most memorable class? My most memorable class was Forensic Anthropology with Jerielle Cartales! It has nothing to do with my major, and I took [more…]
Class of 2020 | Education | Science & technology

Grad Profile: Danel Camacho

Posted on June 7, 2020 730 views
Danel Camacho is a Community Health Education major and a Human Biology minor from Roseville, Calif. As a 2020 graduate, we interviewed Camacho about her experience being a transfer student, as well as her fondest memories from being a student-athlete and interacting with our WOU community as a whole.   Are you a transfer student? [more…]
Class of 2020 | Education

Grad Profile: Melissa Long

Posted on June 6, 2020 1027 views
Melissa Long is a Secondary English Language Arts Education major from Bend, Ore. As an outstanding 2020 graduate, we interviewed Long on the lessons she learned during college and her favorite memories from WOU.   Where did you transfer from and what has the experience been like? I transferred to WOU from Chemeketa Community College [more…]
Class of 2020 | Education

Grad Profile: Kaela Wehrman

Posted on June 5, 2020 1082 views
Kaela Wehrman is a Secondary Education Language Arts major from Albany, Ore. As a 2020 graduate, we interviewed Wehrman on her most memorable communities and moments from WOU.   Why did you choose WOU?  I chose WOU because from the first moment I stepped on campus to tour, I could feel the sense of a [more…]
Class of 2020 | Social & behavioral sciences

Grad Profile: Arianna Stone

Posted on June 4, 2020 705 views 1 comment
Arianna Stone is a Psychology major with a minor in Social Science. She is from Salem, Ore, and originally earned her Associates of Arts Oregon Transfer degree from Chemeketa Community College before transferring to WOU. As a 2020 graduate, we interviewed Stone about her impact on multiple WOU communities, her fondest memories, and her future [more…]
Class of 2020 | Science & technology

Grad Profile: Salvador Garcia Lopez

Posted on June 3, 2020 793 views
Person sitting in a red graduation cap and gown, smiling
Salvador Garcia Lopez is an Earth Science major with a minor in Biology. He is from Portland, Ore. As a 2020 graduate, we interviewed Lopez on his favorite experiences from WOU and his plans for after graduation.   Where did you transfer from and what has the experience been like? In the fall of 2017, [more…]
Academics | Class of 2020 | Education

Grad Profile: Kailee Goodrich

Posted on May 17, 2020 1999 views 8 comments
Person smiling, standing in front of blooming trees
Kailee is graduating with degrees in both American Sign Language (ASL) Studies and ASL/English Interpretation Major, and she has also earned a minor in health. She is from Livermore, California, where she attended Las Positas Community College and completed her Associate in Arts degree before transferring to WOU. As an outstanding student and member of [more…]
Academics | Arts & culture | Class of 2020

Grad Profile: Sean Tellvik

Posted on May 15, 2020 1422 views 1 comment
Sean Tellvik is a graduating English major, with a concentration in Writing and a minor in Humanities. He is from Hillsboro, Ore., and has served an active part of our community through clubs, sub-communities, and working as a tutor at the Writing Center. We interviewed him on his most notable experiences from his years here [more…]
Campus & community

WOU Department Feature: Disability Services Office

Posted on May 3, 2020 1215 views
Hello Spring with a bicycle
Although the office is currently closed to in-person visits, ODS staff are still available to students during their usual hours through phone, email, and Google Hangouts. For a complete list of where/how to contact ODS, visit their website. We’re continuing our department feature series with the Disability Services Office (ODS). We talked to Assistant Director [more…]
Campus & community

Student Profile: Jose Andres Hernandes-Galvin

Posted on April 27, 2020 1229 views
Person smiling as he stands in front of a layout of WOU logos. He is holding a hat with the symbols of his fraternity, shaded from the bright sun beyond him.
Jose Andres Hernandes-Galvin (who goes by Andres), is an Interdisciplinary Studies Major with a concentration in Social Studies, Humanities, and Education, as well as a minor in Chicano/Latinx studies. When first considering colleges to attend, “I originally had to choose between WOU and PSU. I got a scholarship to come to WOU, but was skeptical [more…]
Campus & community

Q&A with Campus Public Safety Director Rebecca Chiles

Posted on March 20, 2020 3161 views
Black SUV with words "public safety" painted on it
We had the opportunity to talk with Rebecca Chiles, director of WOU’s Campus Public Safety (CPS) department, about her role on campus and what she enjoys about working on campus. Can you describe your current position?  I’m director of Campus Public Safety, which encompasses environmental and occupational health and safety, parking services and emergency management. [more…]
Campus & community | Student life

Women of Culture Celebration 2020

Posted on March 3, 2020 646 views
[Co-written by Cheyan Swan and Erin Worley] This Wednesday, March 4, WOU’s Multicultural Student Union (MSU) is hosting their Women of Culture Celebration in the WUC’s Columbia Room. There is no cost to attend, but registration is necessary. Interested individuals can head to MSSP Office during their weekday hours of 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. [more…]
Campus & community

Resident Halls: Barnum

Posted on February 8, 2020 311 views
Of all the housing options at WOU, Barnum Hall differs most. Jojo McGee, a Barnum RA from this past academic year, characterizes the residence hall by its layout, as it is very similar in feel and practicality to an apartment. Because Barnum is not comprised of halls that share bathrooms and other gathering spaces, residents [more…]
Campus & community

Resident Halls: Landers

Posted on February 7, 2020 277 views
Landers Hall is comprised of three floors and four pods per floor that are open to residents. Traditionally, pods were organized by pairs with one RA overlooking each pair per floor. In the new system, beginning in Fall 2019, each pod is overlooked by their own RA. Jaqcueline Cach Briceno, the RA of Pods 3 [more…]
Campus & community

Residence Halls: Heritage

Posted on February 6, 2020 294 views
Heritage Hall is a four-story, stand-alone building that houses first-year students. The RA of Fourth Christensen, Leah Coyle, defines Heritage and its community as overall welcoming. The programs, environment, and atmosphere are interesting, safe, and inclusive. One of the notable benefits is the halls’ layout, shaped in a T formation with a community area in [more…]
Campus & community | Student life

Residence Halls: Ackerman

Posted on February 5, 2020 618 views
Students studying in a hallway in Ackerman Hall
Ackerman Hall is the newest amongst WOU’s first-year housing options. It is comprised of three coed wings per floor, spanning up through three full residence floors. Zac Cole, the RA for Third Taylor this academic year, characterized Ackerman’s community experience by its mixed class nature. Ackerman is the only residence hall that fills each hall [more…]
Academics

Honors Program Insights

Posted on January 22, 2020 962 views
Western Oregon University’s Honors Program is a subcommunity of the university’s academic populace. The required curriculum is developed by and for the students engaging in it, as the Honors Committee is comprised of both instructors and honors students. Leading the program is Gavin Keulks, who has been WOU’s Honors Director for 10 years. For his [more…]
Academics | Arts & culture

Author Advice: From Writers for Writers

Posted on November 1, 2019 569 views
Street view of the large Hamersly Library, a three-story building with many windows.
To celebrate National Author’s Day on November 1, we sought advice from campus authors (fiction, poetry, academic work, etc.) to feature, in order to highlight writers’ accomplishments and passions, as well as stoke the interest of newer writers. Here is what they had to offer. Plotting Advice: “Make an outline first – then add by [more…]
Campus & community

Paranormal Tales of Todd Hall

Posted on October 31, 2019 604 views
An old photograph of Todd Hall, a brick building pictured through sepia.
Written by Natalie Dean Todd Hall rests at Western Oregon University, built as the first dorm in 1912 and was named in honor of Jessica Todd, who was the first Dean of Women. Her legacy lingers in the building’s halls due to her well-known discipline, even after her retirement in 1931. She made sure the [more…]
Campus & community | Top News

The Haunting of Todd Hall: An Interview with Natalie Dean

Posted on October 31, 2019 746 views
The side of historic Todd Hall, a brick building, bathed in late afternoon sunlight.
During October, there is an abundance of ghostly, paranormal, and spiritual content to consume. The afterlife and the make-believe take center stage during America’s preparation for the frightful and fun-filled night of All Hallows’ Eve. Humans have displayed an interest in the afterlife since the early days of society, ranging from the lore-based traditions of [more…]
Campus & community | Top News

Fun Fall and Halloween Activities in the Area

Posted on October 25, 2019 636 views
A green field with lots of pumpkins
Story by Cheyan Swan All around campus, temperatures are dropping, the leaves overhead are changing colors, and Halloween decorations are popping up in town. Fall has arrived, and with it are the many exciting and fun harvest activities in the greater Monmouth area. Local farms and businesses offer affordable activities for WOU students and beyond, [more…]