Alumni Relations
Sharing updates from around the world!
Send in your news to Doreen O'Skea at alumni@sou.edu.
1970's | 1980's | 1990's | 2000's
2000's
Matt Espinoza ‘07 set two three-point shot records for the men's basketball team and also received several honors academically while a student here. He was also one of the members that traveled to the National Tournament in Point Lookout, Missouri. His journey and basketball career have been chronicled in a new novel – “Noza: A True Basketball Success Story.” The book is available at bookstores everywhere. We look forward to hearing about Matt’s ongoing successes.
Rachel Jones ‘01, after leaving SOU, Rachel moved to Washington, D.C. to pursue a Master of Arts in Arts Management at American University. After completing that degree in 2003, she moved to Northern Virginia to become the Assistant Director of Education Outreach at The Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts. She manages a variety of programs; however, one of her favorites is the Wolf Trap Internship Program which takes her to colleges throughout the U.S. to interview potential interns. Rachel said that these trips remind her “how fortunate I was to go to school at SOU, with such a wonderful campus and faculty!” Thank you for the update, Rachel!
Eric Rogers ’01, graduated from SOU with a Master of Science in Math & Computer Science. He was immediately employed by Washington Mutual in Seattle as a Senior Information Systems Auditor. After a few years at WaMu he left for HomeStreet Bank as their Senior Information Systems Auditor. In 2007, he accepted a promotion to Vice President and Corporate Information Security Officer. Congratulations, Eric!
Sarah T. Call ’00, Wrote to update us on her recent travels to Paris. While there she thought frequently about her former French professor Marian Golding and wished that she had paid more attention in class! However, the longer she was in Paris the more words and phrases came back to her. The Parisians were gracious and welcoming. The highlight of Sarah’s trip was a private tour of the area where her grandfather jumped as a paratrooper in the D-day invasion--near St. Mere Eglise, Normandy. Truly a trip of a lifetime.
Steve Milford ’00 commands a regional office working for Goodwill Industries of the Columbia Willamette as an Employment Specialist in Cedar Hills (Beaverton). If you need a new job or career, give Steve a call, he may be able to help! After a brief stint in market research, and traveling the country after graduation, Steve went into sales for a couple of years, and transitioned into HR, and workforce development. Ever the student who believes in lifelong learning, Steve started teaching job search classes at the Beaverton City Library, and absolutely loves it! In Steve’s spare time, he also is an Independent Insurance Consultant with Action Insurance Company finding competitive solutions to everyday needs.
Steve is married to a wonderful woman, Elizabeth, and they recently celebrated their seventh wedding anniversary in Hood River. Feel free to give him a ring and catch up, 503-753-7015, or connect with him on LinkedIn! http://www.linkedin.com/in/stevemilford
1990's
Casie Berk Goldman earned her degree from Southern Oregon University in 1997. Casie currently lives in Portland, Oregon. She got married 2 years ago to Matthew Goldman. Casie and Matthew purchased their first home together this past summer and love sharing their lives together. Casie works as an ophthalmic technician at Devers Eye Institute in Good Samaritan Hospital for a world-renown corneal surgeon. Casie is a frequent visitor of the Rogue Valley as most of her family still lives in Ashland.
Melissa (Bernstein) Fricke ’98 recently reconnected with SOU. You may remember Melissa as our former Cheerleading Coach. Since graduating from SOU, Melissa has been traveling. She spent a few years in Colorado where she had the opportunity to train and try out for the Bronco’s Cheerleading team. After Colorado, Melissa moved to Orange Country, CA to be closer to her family (and the beach!). Melissa married her husband, Scott Fricke, in 2002. Scott is a Strength Coach for Major League Baseball. Melissa and Scott both obtained their MBAs from the University of the Redlands in 2004. She is currently an Account Executive for an IT/Engineering Recruiting firm. Melissa and Scott are collecting passport stamps as a hobby and to date have traveled to: Switzerland, Amsterdam, Jamaica, Belize, Hondoras, and are going on a cruise to Italy and the Greek Islands at the end of 2009! Melissa and Scott are also training for their first full marathon in February 2010. Melissa – thank you so much for the inspirational update.
1980s
Dru Bloomfield ’80, recently shared with the alumni office that she was mentioned in Forbes Magazine! The Forbes Article: Must Read Real Estate Blogs by Francesa Levy recognized Dru’s work on AtHomeInScottsdale.com . Many home buyers and sellers are changing the way they interview agents, doing a lot of research on-line, before ever making contact via email, phone, or text. Dru’s blog provides up-to-date accurate information for the Scottsdale Market. Levy writes, “Dru Bloomfield, on her Scottsdale-focused blog, writes for readers who are anxious about plummeting property values and foreclosures. Home prices and distressed house sales, therefore, are the frequent focus of posts.”
Wayne Hackett (B.S. 1981, M.S. 1983) has retired after 30 years with the Department of Defense, including four years with the U.S. Air Force and 26 years with the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA). Wayne spent the last six years with the DCMA resident office at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, where he was Administrative Contracting Officer for the Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) program. Wayne will continue working as an adjunct faculty member in the Communication Department at Salt Lake Community College, where he’s taught for the last 12 years. He and his wife, Sherri (B.S. 1981), plan to remain in the Salt Lake Valley until she retires from her job as an elementary school teacher. They expect to spend a lot more free time with family doing the things they enjoy most, including traveling, camping, skiing, and exploring more of this country’s hidden gems.Thank you for staying in touch with us, Wayne! Send us postcards from your travels.
Michael Miller ’87, has been working in Marketing, Business Development and Management in the technology industry since leaving SOU. He began with a laser company in Grants Pass, moved to Southern California for 7 years and has spent the most recent 10 years in Silicon Valley. During this time, Michael has enjoyed the excitement of working with Start-ups and Fortune 500 companies. He is currently the Director of Business Development for AcademixDirect, a Silicon Valley Internet company that matches adult learners with colleges & universities in North America. He is eager to reconnect with his alma mater and will happily speak with students in the School of Business or the Department of Communications.
1970s
Jack Graff ’74 is currently serving as the Business Development for LeapFrog Interactive, a full service online interactive agency. Jack has had a varied career in a variety of venues – from direct sales to corporate and family owned businesses, from brand marketing to business to business sales. He has managed traditional advertising agencies, corporate field sales as well as wholesale distribution. He has been a trainer and a counselor to senior executives. Jack specializes in team building, goal attainment, brand plan execution, collaboration, interpersonal skills, marketing, sales, organizational skills, manpower management, training, creative thinking, coaching, self development and a very strong work ethic. Thank you for the updates, Jack.
In memoriam
Parker Thomas Hess, former Ashland Postmaster, and a longtime resident of Ashland, Ore., passed away June 13, 2011, at a foster home in Medford, Ore. He was 93. Born on June 14, 1917, in Riggins, Idaho, Parker was the eighth of ten children born to Jennie Hess and Allen Orville Hess. After moving around during the first decade of his life, Parker's family settled in Ashland, Ore., in 1927. Three years later, tragedy befell the family following the sudden death of Parker's mother and the economic difficulties of the Great Depression. After living briefly in Jacksonville, Ore., following his mother's passing, Parker returned to Ashland and made the town his permanent home. During his teenage years, the community of Ashland took Parker under its wing and allowed him to grow and thrive despite his trying family circumstances. He held various jobs to make ends meet, and for several years he lived on A.E. Ally Powell's enclosed back porch and then at the local fire hall. In 1936, he graduated from Ashland High School, where he was a star athlete in football, basketball, and baseball. He briefly attended Southern Oregon Normal School until financial difficulties arose. During World War II, he was stationed in San Francisco, Calif., as a Naval Shore Patrol Officer. In February 1941, Parker married Gertie Wenner, an Ashland native and his lifelong soulmate. Together they raised three children and were married for over seven decades. Throughout his adult life, Parker was a well-known fixture in the Ashland community. He was the town's first motorcycle police officer, and from 1951 to 1973, he served as Postmaster of the local Post Office. Over the years, Parker was also a sports referee, Boy Scout leader, Rotarian, and local billiards champion. He attended the Methodist and Presbyterian churches and belonged to the Toastmasters and Postmasters clubs. He participated in local coffee klatches nearly every morning for over half a century. In 2006, Parker and his wife, Gertie, served as Grand Marshals of the 4th of July Parade. In 2009, Parker was recognized for 70 years of service with the local Elks Lodge. More important than the memberships and activities, however, Parker treasured and supported the community of Ashland, from the high school athletes of the day, to local business owners and their employees, to friends and neighbors he met over the years. In retirement, Parker and Gertie enjoyed traveling. Parker was foremost a family man, and he cared deeply about the well being of his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He is survived by his wife, Gertie; sons, Steve (Billie) Hess, of Sun City West, Ariz., and Tod (Peggy) Hess, of Beaverton, Ore.; daughter, Susan Yates, of Ashland, Ore.; grandchildren, Paul (Tam) Hess, Mark (MinhHai) Hess, Frank Honts, Melinda (Honts) (Chris) Williamson, Natalie (Glen) Long, and Stephanie (Mark) Spohnhauer; 14 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. His family recalls many fond memories of Parker/Dad/Gramps: going fishing, hunting, and camping, taking walks and playing in Lithia Park, singing silly children's songs, watching home movies, listening to bedtime stories, and laughing along with his practical jokes. The family will remember his undying humor and love of laughter in every aspect of his life. He will be missed.