From the President – April 2, 2025

Dear EOU Community,

I hope many of you had a peaceful break. My calendar slowed a bit, and it was great to catch up and have some time for fun. I know many of you worked over the break prepping for classes, getting students registered, working on our facilities, coaching, budgeting, and making decisions. Thank you!

Happy spring term! We’re now in the final stretch towards our commencement ceremony, when we get to see how all of the efforts we’ve made have led to so many students’ and families’ success.  

Simultaneously, it gets warmer, and we get to watch buds and green colors appear in the valley prior to the heat of the summer. I love this time of rebirth. (I suspect that those of you with allergies are not as pleased as I am!)

Great work continues throughout our campus.

Please join me in congratulating Lyle Henderson, EOU IT Programmer, for receiving an Honorable Mention for his submission of the My.EOU Portal in Ellucian’s Experience Idol Contest. This contest celebrates creativity and innovation and acknowledges the positive impact on the success of students, staff, and faculty. Lyle will be recognized at the Ellucian Live conference this month.

Congratulations are also in order for Haley Evans, EOU Controller, and her team, who were recently notified by the Oregon Department of Administrative Services that EOU received the Oregon Agency Gold Star Award for 2024. The Gold Star Award is Oregon’s equivalent to the nationally recognized Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting, issued each year by the Government Finance Officers Association. This award requires the timely and accurate completion of 13 items related to our Financial Statements. Thanks to the expertise and diligence of our Finance & Administration team, EOU has received this award 9 times in the past 10 years! 

I also want to give a shout-out to all the folks who have been publicizing the food drive. Thank you to Bill Grigsby, MJ Heather, Kate Gekeler and all the others who’ve sent messages encouraging our giving.  

Have a beautiful day!

Sincerely,

Kelly A. Ryan, Ph.D.
President