Listen: Raider Up with President Rick, Episode 16

June 6, 2025 – Southern Oregon University President Rick Bailey touches on new topics each month in the “Raider Up” podcast, moderated by Marketing and Communications student employee Susie Dale, a UK exchange student studying English at SOU. This month’s topics are a look back from the end of the academic year at what has been learned and accomplished, and a look ahead to what may be in store for students in the fall – from progress on sustainability and older student housing, to more fantastic academics and student support.

Listen: Raider Up with President Rick, Episode 15

May 16, 2025 – Southern Oregon University President Rick Bailey touches on new topics each month in the “Raider Up” podcast, moderated by Marketing and Communications student employee Susie Dale, a UK exchange student studying English at SOU. This month’s discussion centers on Artificial Intelligence – which President Bailey says should be leveraged to open more opportunities for students to learn and achieve. “Let’s embrace it,” he says. “Let’s find ways to use it ethically and responsibly.”

Listen: Raider Up with President Rick, Episode 14

April 22, 2025 – Southern Oregon University President Rick Bailey touches on new topics each month in the “Raider Up” podcast, moderated by Marketing and Communications student employee Susie Dale, a UK exchange student studying English at SOU. This month’s topics include preparations for the “SOU Thrive” strategic plan – the guiding document that President Bailey says will “create a pathway between where we are now and where we want to be as an institution.” There are also updates on senior living, the University Business District, solar power and more.

Listen: Raider Up with President Rick, Episode 13

February 18, 2025 – Southern Oregon University President Rick Bailey touches on new topics each month in this podcast moderated by Marketing and Communications student employee Susie Dale, a UK exchange student studying English at SOU. This months topics include SOU’s proposed public-private developments to construct an anchor building for the new University District, and to create a senior living facility at the site of the Cascade Complex – which is currently being demolished. Rick and Susie also discuss the recent “snowmageddon” event in Ashland, and more.

Listen: Raider Up with President Rick, Episode 12

December 12, 2024 – Southern Oregon University President Rick Bailey tackles new topics each month in this podcast moderated by Marketing and Communications student employee Susie Dale, a UK exchange student studying English at SOU. This month’s topic is Ashland. President Bailey has now lived in Ashland for almost three years, while Susie has settled in for her exchange year from Nottingham, England. The conversation hits on restaurants, parades, favorite outdoor locales, the SOU campus and even Ashland’s “old-school” Varsity theater.

Listen: Raider Up with President Rick, Episode 11

November 12, 2024 – Southern Oregon University President Rick Bailey tackles new topics each month in this podcast moderated by Marketing and Communications student employee Susie Dale, a UK exchange student studying English at SOU. This month’s topic is elections and politics – the differences and similarities between the U.S. and the UK. The conversation touches on characters as diverse as Winston Churchill, Ronald Reagan, Thomas “Tip” O’Neill, Elon Musk and Taylor Swift.

Listen: Raider Up with President Rick, Episode 10

June 10, 2024 – Episode 10 of “Raider Up with President Rick” – the final episode for this academic year – is available wherever you get your podcasts. Topics for SOU President Rick Bailey and student host Kai Pace include a potential student agreement with the government of Taiwan; what President Bailey would want with him on a deserted island; his unusual path to a university presidency; and the “sweet spot” that sets SOU apart.

Listen: Raider Up with President Rick, Episode 9

January 22, 2024 – They’re back! Episode 9 of “Raider Up with President Rick” is available wherever you get your podcasts. Topics for SOU President Rick Bailey and student host Kai Pace include SOU exchange programs, Environmental Science, Policy & Sustainability, a vision of SOU in 10 years and the advice President Bailey would give himself when he came aboard two years ago.

Listen: Raider Up with President Rick, Episode 8

December 14, 2023 – SOU President Rick Bailey and student podcast host Kai Pace are back for another episode of “Raider Up with President Rick.” This month’s topics include what happens on campus during winter break, SOU’s Theatre program, status of construction projects, SOU’s upward trajectory and more!

Listen: Raider Up with President Rick, Episode 7

November 14, 2023 – SOU President Rick Bailey is back for another season of the Raider Up podcast, this year hosted by student podcaster Kai Pace. President Rick answers questions about students’ questions about what excites him most about SOU’s future, his favorite places on campus, fire alarms and more.