Today at WOU

Jennifer Romadka is a graduating Public Policy and Administration student from Beaverton. During her time at WOU, Jennifer has participated in the Honors Program and multiple student leadership positions. What has your experience been like as an Honors Program student? My experience in honors has pushed me academically, personally, and professionally in all the ways [more…]

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…]

Taylor Dowler is a graduating Political Science student from Portland. She transferred to WOU from Mount Hood Community College, and has actively been involved with numerous extracurricular activities on campus, including Model United Nations and ASWOU. What has your experience as a transfer student been like? I originally obtained my Associates Degree from Mount Hood [more…]

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…]

D-Dré Wright ’20 has a penchant for acronyms, especially one that inspired and guided her success at Western Oregon University. Wright recalls arranging three words in her mind when she finally decided she was going to ACE everything in her life – Accept, Change and/or Embrace it. From competing on three intramural athletic teams to [more…]

As a first-generation and low-income student, Monica Cerda Ortiz ’20 started her freshman year of college feeling powerless and not knowing where she belonged. That quickly changed as she learned the importance of finding campus groups where she felt represented and supported at Western Oregon University. She is grateful for the WOU faculty, staff, students [more…]

Mario and Alma Pastega Award for Excellence in Scholarship winner Associate Professor Kenneth Carano aspires to use his knowledge and status to listen and learn from others’ voices. “Using my white male privilege to be a co-conspirator in working towards giving less-privileged voices a chance to be heard is a critical part of my field’s [more…]

Graduating student Erin Ritchie will be completing a degree in Sociology this spring, with a minor in Psychology. Originally from Newport, she transferred to WOU from Linn-Benton Community College, and has been involved with CIP, Abby’s House, and Student Success and Advising during her time at WOU.   Where did you transfer from and what [more…]

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…]

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…]

Max Kilby is a Psychology major and a Forensic Psychology minor from Chino Hills, Calif. As a 2020 graduate, we interviewed Kilby on his favorite aspects of WOU and his memorable experiences from here.   What has been your favorite annual event at WOU? The Holiday Tree Lighting has always been one of my favorite [more…]

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…]

Politics, Policy and Administration Professor Eliot Dickinson is a master of being in the right place at the right time. Opportunities have presented themselves to him throughout his life, and he never hesitated in spotting the opening. Dickinson, a nine-year member of the WOU faculty, is the winner of the 2017 Mario and Alma Pastega [more…]

Vivian Djokotoe, this year’s recipient of the Mario and Alma Pastega Excellence in Teaching Award, says she has been lucky through every stage of her life. Although she’s certainly been the benefactor of Fortune’s smile many times, however, it’s clear that good ol’ hard work deserves the lion’s share of credit for her success. Djokotoe [more…]

This is part of our WOU graduate profile series where we’re featuring students who have been making incredible contributions to the WOU community In this feature, we’re celebrating the amazing accomplishments of Kaylyn Taylor, a psychology major with a minor in Spanish. Kaylyn’s been involved in a lot of different programs during her time at [more…]

This is part of our WOU graduate profile series where we’re featuring students who have been making incredible contributions to the WOU community One of the first things you notice about Rosita Olalde, though you may not think that it is particularly noticeable at all, is how modest she is. She has a way of talking [more…]

This is part of our WOU graduate profile series where we’re featuring students who have been making incredible contributions to the WOU community Today we’re featuring Laura Miranda, a social science major who made her mark with numerous organizations on campus, including Upward Bound and the Multicultural Student Union. We asked Laura about her time [more…]

This is part of our WOU graduate profile series where we’re featuring students who have been making incredible contributions to the WOU community Senior Max Norr is the creator of “The Record Keeper,” an exhibit and website based on books belonging to Sister Genevieve “Birdie” Lantz. She was a nurse with the American Red Cross [more…]

An unexpected incident led Sharyne Ryals, this year’s Mario and Alma Pastega Award for Staff Excellence recipient, to Western Oregon University. Ryals had always worked in the private sector, and her previous job was at a silicon wafer manufacturer. This industry became an unstable environment to work in, and closed like many other businesses in [more…]

Fully set on going to another college, Sarah Duhart changed her mind last second after being offered a position at the WOU’s Writing Center straight out of high school. She says that she hasn’t regretted her decision one bit because it gave her opportunities she would not have had otherwise. Because of the support provided [more…]

College is never easy especially for those of us that have taken a longer road. Bella Borja is an amazing and personable woman who is graduating in this year’s class of 2016 as a first generation college student. Like many, she has worked her way through college often holding up to two full time jobs [more…]

Sabrina Riggs Salem, Ore. Political science major Undergraduate Sabrina Riggs is a graduating political science major. She was born in New York, but with her father being in the Navy, they moved all around the states until he retired. In 2006, she moved to Oregon and has been here ever since. She has been very [more…]

Nicole Larsen is an outstanding student with an eye for adventure.  Larsen decided to stay in Oregon, after moving here from Utah for high school, and it has lead her places she never thought she would be able to go. She came to Western Oregon University after falling in love with the campus upon visiting [more…]

Josh Henderson is graduating Western Oregon University this June with a Bachelor’s of Arts in Anthropology. Henderson is from Salem, Ore. and chose to attend WOU for the campus involvement and the close relationships with professors that a smaller university can offer. His favorite lunch to treat himself to is Momiji’s; his favorite WOU event [more…]

Klarissa Gaskell is a 2016 graduate with a fantastic future ahead of her. Not only is she graduating with a political science degree, but she also has plans to attend law school in 2017. She is a kind, hardworking student who is going to go far in life. Where are you from? “Hillsboro, Oregon” Why [more…]

Name:  Emily Peterson Age: 22 Major/Minor: Psychology/American Sign Language studies Hometown: Tualatin, Ore. Favorite campus event: Holiday Tree Lighting Best study spot: Beside the piano in the WUC Advice to incoming freshman: “Have fun while you’re at Western, this is your independence. At the same time, be responsible. This school has a lot to offer so set a time to [more…]

Name:  Kevin Alejandrez Age: 22 Major/Minor:  Sociology/sports leadership Hometown: Independence, Ore. Best study spot: Lounge in the Werner University Center Advice to incoming freshman: “Do your thing! Be honest with what you want from college and go for it.” Growing up in Independence, Alejandrez felt some ambivalence about staying close to home for university and was considering out of state [more…]