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Nominees For Regional University Boards Announced

AASHA.org

The governor's choices to sit on the newly-formed boards that will oversee Oregon's regional and technical universities have been named.

The names, announced Monday morning by Governor John Kitzhaber's office, include prospective Board of Trustee members for Southern Oregon University in Ashland, Oregon Institute of Technology in Klamath Falls, Western Oregon University in Monmouth and Eastern Oregon University in La Grande.

SOU interim president Roy Saigo said in a statement Monday,  "We are delighted with the distinguished character and professional caliber of Governor Kitzhaber’s appointments to Southern Oregon University’s inaugural Board of Trustees.  Their expertise and wise counsel will be of great value to us as we plan our future, and expand and enrich our focus on student success."

OIT president Chris Maples was also upbeat.

“We appreciate the Governor’s historic nominations for appointment of Oregon Tech’s first Board of Trustees, and the Senate’s confirmation consideration next month. This is a stellar group of people who represent this university’s diverse stakeholders, and who understand and value our unique polytechnic mission. I know their commitment will advance Oregon Tech’s focus on student success and workforce needs, and enrich our advocacy for college access and public support for higher education for Oregonians."

The boards are part of the reorganization of the state university system approved by Oregon lawmakers last year. Under the new system, the University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon State University in Corvallis and Portland State University all have their own governing boards, which began operating in July. The boards for the four regional and technical universities will be confirmed by the state Senate and are slated to start on July 1, 2015.

The nominees for SOU are: 

  • Sidney DeBoer, Ashland 
  • William Thorndike, Medford 
  • Filiberto Bencomo, Medford 
  • Judy Shih, Ashland 
  • Adam Washington, Portland 
  • Willie Faust, Medford 
  • Teresa Sayre, Medford  
  • Steven Vincent, Medford 
  • Paul Nicholson, Ashland 
  • April Sevcik, Jacksonville 
  • Dennis Slattery, Ashland 
  • Joanna Steinman, Phoenix

 The OIT nominees are: 
 
·   Dr. Jeremy Brown,  Portland

·   Melissa Ceron, Klamath Falls

·   Dr. Lisa Graham, Bend

·   Dana Henry, Klamath Falls

·   Kathleen Hill, Chiloquin

·   Kelley Minty Morris, Klamath Falls

·   Celia Núñez,  Wilsonville

·   Dr. Dan W. Peterson, Klamath Falls 

·   Dr. Steve Sliwa,  Portland and Seattle

Liam Moriarty has been covering news in the Pacific Northwest for three decades. He served two stints as JPR News Director and retired full-time from JPR at the end of 2021. Liam now edits and curates the news on JPR's website and digital platforms.