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By Emmanuel Macías, Asst. to the Vice President for Student Affairs
The Division of Student Affairs Welcomes New Staff!
Grant Harris (He/Him/His), Admissions Counselor, Admissions
Grant was born and raised in Glide, Oregon. He attended Western Oregon University a received a Bachelor's in Communications Studies in 2018. One thing you may not know about Grant is he donated bone marrow to an individual in Ohio, after his grandfather passed died from the same cancer as the bone marrow recipient. Grant is still in contact with him today, and he is alive and well.
Marci Miller (She/Her/Hers), Director, Wolf Store
Marci was born and raised in Visalia, California; the tenth of thirteen children. After working in retail management for 13 years, she changed course and has been working in higher education since 2014, when she received her Masters of Public Administration degree with an emphasis in Student Affairs from Southern Utah University. In her spare time, she loves spending time with her husband and three children, reading, being outdoors, baking, and being involved in community theater.
Kristen Perry (She/Her/Hers), Director, Abby's House
Kristen grew up in St. Helens, OR (also known as Halloweentown!) and graduated from WOU in 2014. She then earned a Master of Science degree in College Student Personnel Administration from Canisius College, and wrote a thesis on sexual violence prevention. She started her career in Residence Life, and then transferred to violence prevention and advocacy, and she's worked at many universities across the country. Kristen has a passion for helping survivors of interpersonal violence, and works to remove barriers and assist them to be able to continue their academic career. She is so excited to be back in the PNW and make WOU her home again! Kristen collects houseplants, loves Halloween, is obsessed with anything related to the beach/ocean/aquariums, and is a cat mom!
Antonio Castellanos, Financial Aid Navigator for Recruitment & Retention, Admissions
Ann Marie Matagi, Admissions Counselor, Admissions
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By Emmanuel Macías, Asst. to the Vice President for Student Affairs
The Western Oregon University Divisions of Academic and Student Affairs have partnered with Oregon State University’s Search Advocate Program to offer faculty and staff Search Advocate training in December 2021. The Search Advocates program started in 2008 with an objective to train external search committee members who promote equity and diversity in the search process. To become a Search Advocate, individuals must attend a 16-hour workshop series that focus on a range of issues and practices, such as implicit bias, diversity, legal considerations, and recruitment and selection process. In addition to the division's faculty and staff participants, the President’s Cabinet will also be participating in this upcoming training, respectively.
Currently, WOU has a little over 30 (known) trained Search Advocates; a large number of these folks attend monthly Search Advocacy learning community meetings, where reflection activities and continued learning exercises are facilitated. As Western expands it's involvement and training opportunities, we look forward to the prospect of institutionalizing a WOU Search Advocate program in the future. Visit OSU Search Advocate Program for more information or watch this detailed introductory video. If you are a staff member in the Academic or Student Affairs division and would like to be made aware of future WOU Search Advocate training (first come, first serve), contact Malissa Larson (larsonm@wou.edu / Student Affairs) or Chelle Blatcher (batchelorc@wou.edu / Academic Affairs).
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By Patrick Moser, Assistant Vice President / Director of Student Engagement
Interested in Leadership Possibilities? Join Discover Leadership!
Discover Leadership is a program at Western Oregon University created to help students who may have limited experience with leadership learn essential skills to increase their confidence and enhance their knowledge. This free program helps prepare students for different leadership opportunities on campus, and it is also a great way to meet new friends and learn about campus resources. Students will meet Tuesdays 5:30-7pm during Winter term. Applications due Dec. 17th on Presence. Contact Alyssa Rollins (rollinsa@wou.edu) if you have questions!
Topics covered: team building, service learning, values, communication & conflict, group development, diversity, leadership panel, and interviewing skills.
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By Christiana Paradis, Abby's House
WAIV Committee
WAIV, formerly WOU CASA, is a committee charged with identifying and responding to campus needs regarding interpersonal violence and working towards engaging all levels of the WOU community in violence prevention work. Our recent goals include: re-establishing ourselves as a team, addressing campus needs including developing tools or a coordinated response to those needs, and developing a campus wide prevention plan. Committee members include: Tina Fuchs, Maria Bonifacio-Sample, Beth Scroggins, Malissa Larson, Mike Hanson, Rebecca Chiles, Heather Mercer, Randi Lydum, and the Director of Abby’s House.
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Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
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By Logan Doerfler, Director of the Veterans Resource Center
SACI: Student Affairs Committee on Inclusion
SACI is the Student Affairs Committee on Inclusion! We are dedicated to the advancement of inclusion, social justice, and equity within our Division while aligning with the goals of the University Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee. To that end, we promote ongoing learning through competency training, by promoting a Word of the Month, a Video of the Month, and by forming committees to address issues of diversity within Student Affairs. We encourage you to visit our recently upgraded website and set up the SACI channel on your WOU Portal.
December 2021 Word of the Month: Assumption
A thing that is accepted as true or as certain to happen, without proof. For example, many people assume a link between people PTSD and violent behavior.
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December 2021 Video of the Month
'The Danger of a Single Story' - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
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STUDENTS: FREE PANCAKES!!!
Featuring a LIVE MUSIC PERFORMANCE by a talented group of WOU students.
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By Katelin Steward, Coordinator, Student Activities and Inclusion, Student Engagement
Holiday Tree Lighting Returns to Campus
We are excited to bring back an in-person Holiday Tree Lighting this year on December 3rd starting at 6pm! Complete with a parade hosted by the Student Activities Board, photos with Santa, and a beverage bar hosted by Alumni Relations! We hope to see you there and throughout the weekend for the Monmouth Making Spirits Bright events. For more information check out our website or contact Katelin Stewart, stewartk@wou.edu.
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Resources & Support Services
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By Marshall Habermann-Guthrie, Director of the TRIO Student Enrichment Program
First-Gen College Celebration
What is First-Gen Day?
The term first-generation refers to students who are the first in their families to attend college. November 8th was selected as the date for the annual National First-Generation College Celebration to honor the anniversary of the signing of the Higher Education Act of 1965. It was a big deal that led to the creation of TRIO - Student Support Services like SEP and Teacher Prep-SSS at WOU.
Why do we celebrate?
First-Gen students make up 45% of WOU’s undergraduate population. Students who see their identities represented at all levels of higher education are more likely to feel a sense of belonging and less likely to question their ability to succeed. By sharing our first-generation stories, we create community with students who have been historically disadvantaged.
What can you do to help us celebrate?
Helping make First-Gen identities visible is one of the most important things you can do. If you identify/identified as a First-Generation college student, we’d love for you to share your identity by displaying a First-Gen sign or using a First-Gen Zoom Background.
Want to do more?
Staff and Faculty: Share your first-generation stories with each other and the students. Listen to their stories. Incorporate that perspective in your work. Our community is stronger when we understand how these stories unite us.
Students: Be First-Gen and be it PROUDLY! Whatever that looks like for you. Maybe everyone knows it, maybe you save it for a trusted few.
If you snap a photo celebrating your First-Gen identity, feel free to @ us on Instagram: @wou_sep #celebratefirstgen. Thanks. It means a lot to us.
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By Christiana Paradis, Abby's House
Staying Safe/Interacting with Toxic Family During the Holidays
For many people, holidays mean more time spen t with family and friends. However, for people who have been or are currently in a toxic relationship with family/friends, managing holiday engagements can be difficult. Here are some tips for staying safe over the holidays. First, consider whether you want to attend a gathering with family/friends at all. If attending an event will put you in a situation that makes you feel emotionally and physically unsafe, you have the right to not attend. If you decide to attend it will be important to set boundaries for yourself. Be clear about when you will be there and how long you will be staying. Perhaps there is a certain subject that a toxic family member likes to publicly humiliate you about? Let them know, it’s off the table. Setting firm and consistent boundaries as well as clear consequences if a boundary is crossed can help mitigate issues. For instance, you could say, “I’m coming to the holiday dinner this year. I will be there at 5pm, but unfortunately, I will have to leave at 7pm. While I’m excited to spend time with family and share updates, I am not willing to share any updates about my current partner. If any insensitive comments are made about them or our relationship, I will leave.” Some other tips of importance: have a friend on call if you need a quick vent session and check in on yourself if you feel you are getting overwhelmed. Need more tips? Tips for dealing with toxic family / Tips for dealing with abusive partners/families during the holidays.
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By Emmanuel Macías, Asst. to the Vice President for Student Affairs
Virtual Pancake Feed Throwback
Did you know the last time the Division of Student Affairs hosted WOLF IT DOWN, it was virtual?? Check it out for yourself!
Students: See you all at the Fall Term 2021 WOLF IT DOWN on Dec. 6, 2021, 9pm, WUC Summit! Featuring a live music performance by a talented group of WOU students!
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Western Oregon University Pancake Feed
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