Human Resources

Outstanding Staff Award

Since 2018, the Outstanding Staff Award Program annually honors two individuals for their achievements, service, leadership, and dedication to Southern Oregon University. Recipients and nominees are recognized in-person at the annual End of Year Celebration breakfast. Each recipient receives a $750 honorarium, glass trophy, presidential letter of commendation placed in their official personnel file with the Office of Human Resources, and their name engraved on a perpetual plaque displayed in Churchill Hall.

The nomination window for 2025 ended on Monday, March 31, 2025 at 5:00 pm. We look forward to your participation next year. Please visit this webpage regularly for updates and to view all of our previous years’ recipients and nominees.

Criteria & Eligibility

All current staff with a minimum of three years of continuous service at Southern Oregon University in a regular non-faculty* position may be nominated. Recipients of the Outstanding Staff Award may only be awarded once. Please review past recipients and nominees below.

Award recipients will be selected on the merit and strength of the following contributions:

Goes above and beyond to build relationships and assists colleagues and customers enthusiastically
Dedication and loyalty to work
Exhibits expertise in job performance
Demonstrates creativity, resourcefulness, and initiative
Displays consistent demonstration of one or more of the University’s values:
- Well-being and success of all learners
- Critical thinking, discovery, and engaged learning
- Equity, diversity, and inclusion
- Creativity and collaboration
- Excellence, continuous improvement, and accountability
- A healthy, safe, and civil campus
- Economic vitality and environmental sustainability
- Improving our community, region, and world
References who can support the nominee’s accomplishments, characteristics, and experience.

*Faculty positions are ineligible for this program as they are recognized via the Distinguished Teaching, Distinguished Service, and Distinguished Scholarship awards.

Recipients & Nominees

2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018

Karinda Decker

Financial Aid Director

Karinda began her SOU career in January 2015, as a Program Rep 1. She was promoted to assistant director of Financial Aid in July 2019, and to director of Financial Aid in November 2023. She is “an example of excellence” and “doesn’t know how to do a subpar job,” according to two of her references in the Outstanding Staff Award process. Karinda always considers the needs and point-of-view of her customers – SOU students – and won’t hesitate to tackle difficult situations to lighten the burden on financial aid recipients. Her job became more complicated this year with the federal government’s updates to FAFSA, but she is creative in using the limited resources of her office and has made the necessary adjustments to make the FAFSA process understandable for students.

Jennifer Jones

University Coaching, Academic Mentoring, & Disability Support Coordinator

Jennifer was hired at SOU in July 2012 as an academic coach and mentor, and has held positions including co-director of the Office of Disability Resources and University Coaching & Academic Mentoring. She has served since February 2023 as coordinator of Disability Resources and UCAM. She has built the UCAM program from the ground up, and it has grown and flourished, providing the accommodations that students in the program need. Jennifer has put SOU on the map for students with different learning styles, and involves both students and their families when making presentations about SOU in her travels around Oregon and the West Coast. She is an eager collaborator, has built solid relationships with instructors across campus and is always “a welcoming force” in her office, one of her references said.

2024 Nominees

Staci Buchwald

Director of University Housing
University Housing

Angela Decker

Senior Producer
Jefferson Public Radio

Iain Graalum

Campus & Mail Operations Supervisor
Facilities, Management & Planning

Michael Greata

RVTV Operations Manager
Digital Media Center

Javier Hernandez

Locksmith
Facilities, Manangement, & Planning

Aaron Hettman

Locksmith
Facilities, Management, & Planning

Greg Martin

Senior Graphic Designer
Marketing & Communications

Brian Nordahl

Officer
Campus Public Saftey

Zac Olson

Executive Director
Admissions & Recruitment

Lisa Sherrill

Division Coordinator/Administrative Program Assistant
School of Science & Business

Patrick Smith

Human Resources Generalist
Human Resource Services

Miranda Stiles

Associate Director of Outreach & Engagement
Admissions & Recruitment

Ashley King

Service Center
Manager

Ashley has been the Service Center Manager since July 2022 and effortlessly leads a team of seven employees. Her prior service to SOU included roles as an Office Specialist 2 and a Purchasing Agent 1 & 2. Her unique experience allows her to consistently demonstrate expertise and service excellence to customers across the entire campus. Ashley is in the
second year of a two-year term serving as the Staff Assembly Chair. Her innate diplomatic style, tact, and ability to reach common ground have brought a strong voice to this shared governing body. Her colleagues describe her as a mentor, trainer, and one who empowers.

Stacy Shaver

Office of the Provost
Academic Resource Officer

As the Academic Resource Officer in the Office of the Provost, Stacy is known as an invaluable problem solver who balances the needs of faculty and enhances all communication with business partners. Among other things, her Banner expertise, attention to detail, organizational abilities, and wealth of institutional knowledge make her the liaison for academic resources. Provost Walsh said, “We love having Stacy as a colleague. Her personality combines the perfect blend of sass,
sparkle, and good old-fashioned common sense.”

2023 Nominees

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Kim Andresen

Marketing & Box Office Manager
Oregon Center for the Arts

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Mark Badowsky

Assistant Coach
Athletics – Track & Field

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Michele Barlow

Assistant Director
Human Resources

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Staci Buchwald

Director
University Housing

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Anita Caster

Program Advisor/Education
Education

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Todd Doriguzzi

Campus Public Safety Officer
Campus Public Safety

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Michael Greata

RVTV Government Meeting Op.
Digital Media Center

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Bobby Heiken

Associate Athletic Director/Development & Marketing
Athletics

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Paige Jensen

Administrative Program Assistant
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute

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Connie Lynn

Administrative Program Assistant
Pre-College Youth Programs

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Angel McDonald

Office Specialist 2
Psychology

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Karen Menzie

Library Tech 3
Hannon Library

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Taliah Mortensen

Administrative Program Assistant
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute

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Brian Nordahl

Campus Public Safety Officer
Campus Public Safety

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Linda Powell

Administrative Program Assistant
Small Business Development Centere

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Matt Roberts

Sergeant
Campus Public Safety

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Chelsea Rose

Director
SOU Laboratory of Anthropology

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Ulrich Sommerauer

Op.Systems/Network Analyst 2
Information Technology

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Matt Stillman

Associate Vice President/Registrar
Enrollment Management

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janelle wilson

Associate Dean of Students
Office of the Dean of Students

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Christpher Young-Hammond

Assistant Director
University Housing

Anna D’Amato

Executive Director
Student Health and Wellness Center

As the Executive Director of the Student Health and Wellness Center, Anna is known for tirelessly working to support students in their health and wellness needs as well as being an extremely caring supervisor of her staff. During the pandemic, Anna served as the university’s liaison with Jackson County Public Health and was instrumental in disseminating critical information as a member of the incident response team which ensured a safe learning and working environment for all. Anna is described by her peers as a flexible and resilient leader and a phenomenal team player with a “we, not me” style. Her character and worth ethic is to be admired and modeled.

Terry Knowles

Office Specialist 2 (Division Assistant)
Social Sciences

In her 30+ years with the university, Terry is described by her peers as indispensable, extraordinarily knowledgeable, and highly dedicated to the mission, vision, and core values of the university. She is referred to as “the rock of Taylor Hall” and when a challenge arises, the reoccurring phrase is “go ask Terry!” She is praised for always being two-steps ahead, extremely organized, and a diligent division assistant who goes above and beyond to help students and her colleagues in an unfailingly cheerful and positive way.

2022 Nominees

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Allyson Beck

Assistant Director for Leadership, Retention, and Marketing
University Housing

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Nicole Blodgett

Benefits Officer
Human Resources

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Karen Bolda

Divisional Academic Advisor, Recruitment, and Retention Coordinator
Oregon Center for the Arts at SOU

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Leon Crouch

Assistant Director of Operations/Acting Director of FMP
Facilities, Maintenance, and Planning

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Tracey Culbertson

Assistant Director of International Student & Scholar Services
International Programs

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Samantha Eaton

Advisor Success at Southern/TRIO
Student Support Services

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Jane Hickinbotham

Stage Production Coordinator/Staff Technical Manager
Theatre Arts

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Don Hill

Classroom and Media Services Manager
Information Technology