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Summer Bridge Director and Professor, English/Writing
Cori Brewster teaches courses in rhetoric, writing, and literacy studies and serves as Writing Coordinator in the English/Writing program. Her current research focuses on rhetorics of race, gender, and agriculture and access and equity in public higher education. She is always looking forward to spending more time outside. She earned her PhD in Rhetoric and Composition from Washington State University, her MA in Literature from the University of Montana, and her BA in English with a minor in Women’s Studies from the University of Oregon.
Associate Vice President, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
Lead MentorJunior, Anthropology major
When not working or going to classes, Nathaniel loves winding down by hiking in the Wallowas or kayaking at Morgan Lake. He especially loves “living in an area where we have so much in our own back yard!” After participating in Summer Bridge as a student his first term at EOU in 2022, he is looking forward to serving as a mentor in 2023 and getting to know incoming students.
Writing TutorSenior, English/Writing major
Renee is a writing tutor for the Learning Center in addition to tutoring for the Summer Bridge Study Nights. They are currently one of the Co-Presidents of the SAGE and MountainQueers club after having been a member for two years. They love to read, play the Sims 4, and crochet while binge-watching TV shows (their newest obsession has been Criminal Minds).
Senior Lead MentorJunior, Psychology major with a minor in Art
From “the small but mighty island of Palau,” Losii Daniel is the current president of the Navigator’s Club and has been involved in many EOU events such as the Celebrate, Educate, Appreciate Diversity (CEAD) Conference. Losii attended Summer Bridge in 2021 and has been a lead mentor for Summer Bridge since 2022.
Math TutorSophomore, Computer Science major with a minor in Mathematics
Levi is a huge social fanatic, love to talk with old, current, and new friends, “Strangers are friends you just haven’t talked with yet.” He loves being outside and feeling the Hot Summer Breeze and the Cold winter snowball fights. He joined the Army ROTC and Oregon Army National Guard and he loves to play sports and doing anything new, from taking hikes to competing in a basketball competition.
Delilah is a local to the area and has a passion for the written word. She’s had work published online in the Coffin Bell Journal and is working towards becoming a professor of creative writing. When she isn’t tutoring or acting as a club officer she’s a big fan of reading, writing, board games, video games, and watching movies about vampires.
Lead MentorSophomore, Public Relations major with a minor in Economics
Eberdil is from the beautiful island of Palau and loves traveling, playing basketball, and going outdoors. She attended Summer Bridge as a new student in 2022 and this year is happy to be a part of the mentors.
Senior Lead MentorSenior, Mathematics major with a minor in Art focusing in photography
Hailey was born and raised on the west side of Oregon in Oregon City. When Hailey isn’t working or attending classes you’ll find her with friends playing card or board games, bowling downtown, or sitting outside with her cat on a nice day. As a lover of traveling, she loves to tell and listen to stories about traveling or other cultures. Once she completes her bachelor’s degree this year she plans to apply to the MAT program as the next step in her educational journey to become a high school math teacher. She’s participated in Summer Bridge every year she’s been at Eastern, first as a student in 2021 then as a lead mentor since 2022.
Lead MentorJunior, English/Writing major
InstructorMathematics
Director of Advising
Sam is from a tiny Eastern Oregon town of 500 people. She is currently the Director of Academic Advising and has served at EOU since 1994. She is a lover of the outdoors and her family. She’s a new grandma, which is her raison d’etre! Sam has traveled to Palau and FSM and the Marshall Islands working with students, and has a heart for the Pacific Islands and their people. Sam earned her bachelor’s degree from EOU in 1996 in Anthropology/Sociology with honors.
Lead Mentor
Senior, Communication Studies major
Nygma was born and raised in Palau (Micronesia). With one older brother and one younger sister, he finds himself “being the middle child of the family both literally and metaphorically.” Nygma attended Palau Community College (PCC) back home wherein he completed a two-year degree in Liberal Arts, and after graduation decided to continue his education at Eastern Oregon University.
Nygma participated in the Summer Bridge program as a student in 2022 and hopes to “make the experience just as fun and informative for others as it was for me.”
Lead MentorSophomore, Education major with a concentration in English for Speakers of Other Languages and a minor in Business
Ozzie is from Prineville, Oregon and enjoys golfing, playing basketball, and participating in any other games with friends during his free time. He participated in Summer Bridge as a student in 2022.
Associate Professor and Director of the Writing CenterEnglish/Writing
In addition to directing the EOU Writing Center and teaching in the English/Writing program, Dr. Rysdam writes and publishes about teaching college composition, responding to student writing, rhetorics of political economy, social class, labor, power, feminist medical rhetorics, doula work, and literacy. She continues to write poetry and fiction as well. In her free time, Dr. Rysdam enjoys reading, writing, gardening, practicing and teaching yoga, doula work, and spending time with her family. Dr. Rysdam earned her PhD in Rhetoric and Composition from Washington State University, her MA in Creative Writing from Western Washington University, and her BA in English with a minor in Spanish from Eastern Oregon University.
Assistant Director of Academic SupportLearning Center
Ryan Scariano is the author of two poetry collections: Not Your Happy Dance (Finishing Line Press) and Smithereens (Imperfect Press). Some of his recent work has appeared in The American Journal of Poetry, SOFTBLOW, Rock & Sling, Phantom Drift, basalt, and Bright Bones: Contemporary Montana Writing. He earns his living in La Grande, but his heart resides on the Central Oregon Coast. Ryan earned his MFA in Poetry from Eastern Washington University and his BA in English from Portland State University.
Assistant Professor and CORE CoordinatorEnglish/Writing
Jennifer (Jenny) Slinkard teaches primarily gateway seminar, first-year writing, and introductory applied linguistics courses at EOU. Her professional interests include transitions to higher education, language identity, language policy, and writing pedagogy. Her personal interests include hiking, backpacking, bicycling, and pretty much any other opportunity to play outside. Dr. Slinkard earned her PhD in Second Language Acquisition and Teaching from the University of Arizona, an MA in English as a Second Language from University of Arizona, an MA in English Literature and Language from University of Missouri-Kansas City, and a BA in English from Truman State University in Missouri.
Senior Instructor IIEnglish/Writing
James Stolen grew up in Alaska and Oregon. He served as Peace Corps Volunteer in Lesotho between 2006-2008. An avid adventurer, photographer and writer, he is often found outside the classroom exploring the local region of Eastern Oregon. He teaches creative writing and literature and is involved with the Outdoor Activities Program and Summer Bridge. James earned his MFA in Creative Writing from Virginia Polytechnic Institution and his BA in English from Carleton College. He has publications in Callaloo Review, Shenandoah, Bellevue Literary Review, Sierra Nevada Review and Minnesota Review, among others. He is currently working on a novel and a collection of essays.
Lead MentorSophomore, History major with a minor in Native American Studies
Madelynn was in Summer Bridge 2022 and have been a mentor since April 2023. She is from Union, Oregon which isn’t too far from LaGrande. She enjoys crocheting, journaling, and reading.
Senior Lead MentorSenior, Information Technology Management major with a minor in Computer Science
From the beautiful island of Palau, Lyresha enjoys being in bed and reading a good book or watching a horror movie to pass the time. She has an Associate’s of Science in Information Technology and worked for two years as a clerk in an elementary school in her hometown. She is a former Secretary of the Navigators’ Club and has participated in various activities on campus. She has also participated in Summer Bridge as a mentor in 2022 and is now a Lead Mentor of Summer Bridge 2023 and hopes that she “comes out of her shell more.”
Senior Lead MentorSenior, Health and Human Performance major with a concentration in Community Health
Jeyda Titiml was born and raised in the beautiful islands of Palau. She is the oldest middle child of nine siblings and “an auntie of too many babies.” She studied health pathways for four years in high school and completed her practicum as an OBGYN nurse. She is a Palau Community College alumni with an associate’s degree in Community Public Health (CPH). Jeyda spent the past summer in Palau as an intern for the Ministry of Health and spent most of her time in the Division of Behavioral Health. She participated in Summer Bridge as a student in 2021 and has served as a lead mentor since summer 2022.
Instructor
Mathematics
Dr. Cori BrewsterDirector and Professor of English/WritingCollege of Arts, Humanities, and Social SciencesEmail: cbrewste@eou.eduOffice: Ackerman 204-E