SOU Executive Leadership
and Staff
Janet Fratella
Vice President of University Advancement and Executive Director, SOU Foundation
Janet joined SOU in 2015 and has nearly thirty years’ experience in university advancement. She provides leadership and oversight of the university’s development and alumni relations programs, government and corporate relations, marketing and communication, media and community relations, grants and sponsored projects, and serves as the Executive Director of the SOU Foundation. Prior to joining the university, Janet was a member of the executive leadership team at the Oregon Health and Science University Foundation in Portland, OR, where she served as Vice President for Alumni and Donor Relations and Chief of Staff. Janet also spent seventeen years at the University of Oregon. – Read Full Bio
Dr. Carson Howell
VP for Finance and Administration
Carson has a long and distinguished track record in higher education and fiscal management. Prior to joining SOU, he served as the Vice President for Finance and Administrative Services at 6,000-student Snow College in Ephraim, Utah. He was treasurer of Snow’s foundation board, which doubled the value of its endowment fund in five years. He has also served as the chief financial officer and the chief research officer for Idaho’s Office of the State Board of Education, as a financial manager and legislative analyst for the Utah Science Technology and Research Initiative, and as the manager of policy research for the Utah Data Alliance. Carson received his bachelor’s degree in biology from Boise State University, his master’s degree in public administration from Syracuse University and his doctorate in public policy and administration from Boise State.
Rob Patridge
University General Counsel
Rob Patridge has been an attorney since 1993. He brings a diverse background in law, public policy, business, management, and leadership to his role as the General Counsel. He advises the President, Executive Team, Board of Trustees, and University leaders and departments on legal matters.
Immediately prior to joining SOU, Mr. Patridge served as the international regulated products leader for Deloitte Consulting, LLP where he advised national, state, and local governments and commercial businesses. – Read Full Bio
Sabrina Prud’homme
University Board Secretary
Sabrina Prud’homme is the university board secretary for the Board of Trustees at Southern Oregon University (SOU), where she ensures compliance and serves as a strategic advisor and liaison. She is a member of the National Council of Board Professionals and has presented on board governance. Prud’homme is also part of SOU’s president’s cabinet, served on the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Leadership Team in 2020 and 2021, and is currently on the President’s Committee for Equity and Diversity. – Read Full Bio
Casey Shillam
Executive Vice President and Provost
Casey Shillam, Ph.D., R.N., F.A.A.N, is Executive Vice President and Provost at Southern Oregon University. She earned a bachelor’s degree in arts and letters at Portland State University; bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees in nursing, all at Oregon Health & Science University; and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of California, Davis. Her bachelor’s degree in nursing was from the OHSU program on the SOU campus. Dr. Shillam is an experienced academic leader, nurse, educator, administrator and U.S. military veteran. She is an expert on aging, a skilled researcher and statistician with a long record of research funding, and has a prolific publication history. – Read Full Bio
Contact the Office of the President
SOU Office of the President
1250 Siskiyou Blvd.
Ashland, OR 97520
Office: 541.552.6111
Fax: 541.552.6337
presidentsoffice@sou.edu
