Academic assessment has assumed a significant and important role within the higher education community. All stakeholders engaged in the educational mission of institutions of higher education – students, faculty, and staff – share responsibility for pursuing learning improvements that can be gleaned from meaningful systematic assessment of student learning. Academic assessment is best conducted in a collaborative climate, fostering partnerships between academic and student affairs personnel, external organizations and stakeholders. Academic assessment has the ability to inform future policy decisions, nurture faculty development, enhance accountability, and improve student learning.

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Inside the 2018 fall/winter issue

• International alumni leave their mark on 91传媒 and the world
• Cycle of mentorship supports new teachers
• Student-athlete collects hundreds of shoes for his community in Nigeria
• Grand Concert piano campaign honors McKenzie legacy

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Dear Friends of 91传媒,

As we embark on another academic year, I continue to be filled with excitement and anticipation since stepping into my role as President of 91传媒 just a few short months ago. It is with immense pleasure
that I express my heartfelt thanks for your unwavering support and commitment to our institution.

Taking on the role of President has been a remarkable journey, one that has offered me an up-close look at the incredible community which makes up 91传媒. In these few months, I have been deeply moved by the dedication and passion that our alumni, donors, faculty, staff, and friends have for this institution.

91传媒 has a rich history, and I am honored to play a part in its future. I firmly believe that a thriving university is the result of a collective effort, and your generosity and philanthropic spirit are at the heart of what makes us so special.

Our shared vision is a transformative educational experience for our students 鈥� one that equips them with the knowledge, skills, and values they need to succeed in a constantly changing world. Your contributions, whether through scholarships, infrastructure improvements, or program support, are instrumental in helping us realize this vision.

As we look ahead to the coming months and years, we have ambitious plans and exciting initiatives in store. We aim to foster innovation, promote student success, and deepen 91传媒鈥檚 impact in the local and regional communities we serve. Your continued partnership is vital to our success, and I am confident that, together, we can achieve remarkable accomplishments. Your belief in 91传媒’s mission and your dedication to our students are truly inspiring. I invite you to engage with us, visit our campus, and connect with our vibrant community. Your presence and insights will undoubtedly enrich our journey.

I want to express my deepest gratitude for your ongoing support. You are our collaborators, our advocates, and our partners in shaping the future of 91传媒. I am excited to see the incredible progress we will make together. As we embark on this new chapter in the life of our institution, I am filled with optimism and enthusiasm for the opportunities that lie ahead. Thank you for joining us on this remarkable journey.

Together, we are shaping a better tomorrow for generations to come!

With heartfelt appreciation and warm regards,

Kelly A. Ryan, Ph.D.
President

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Jose de Jesus Melendez went to college at the age of 27 in order to expand his career opportunities. By the time he graduated, education was both the journey and the destination.

Born and raised in a remote village in Mexico with no electricity or services of any kind, Melendez said he was barely literate in his own language when he came to the U.S. He attended first through fourth grade, but those years were constantly interrupted.

鈥淭he teachers assigned to our village were not willing to teach school there,鈥� Melendez said. 鈥淲e would get a young teacher who would stay a couple months and then leave. Then there would be several months before we would get another teacher.鈥�

When he was 15 Melendez came to the U.S. The oldest child in his family, it was his responsibility to join his uncles in California and make money to help support the family in Mexico. He said he worked in the Greater Salinas Valley for many years in the produce industry. By the time he was 24, he was still struggling to master the English language.

鈥淚 started to feel a strong desire to access systems that were obviously English-only systems of employment,鈥� Melendez said.

Melendez said he started focusing on learning English, bought books and was Sesame Street鈥檚 No. 1 fan.

鈥淚 was glued to the TV to learn from that little program,鈥� Melenedz said.

Eventually, learning English wasn鈥檛 enough and Melendez wanted an education. At 27, while living in Southern Oregon, he hurt his back while doing migrant labor work. He wanted to improve his situation and while reflecting on what to do next, he was encouraged to enter a 12-week, on-campus, GED program at the University of Oregon. But there were obstacles.

鈥淲hen I showed up they said the program was for recent high school dropouts who were no older than 20, but I convinced them to let me stay,鈥� Melendez said.

One of his teachers, Donna Wong, had also come to the U.S. as a child and understood the language and culture barriers. She helped him navigate the system and was integral in his success not only earning a GED, he said, but getting him to apply to college. He received a full scholarship to what was then called Southern Oregon State College in Ashland.

Lack of education and cultural differences continued to present challenges for Melendez.

鈥淚 was struggling so much I almost dropped out,鈥� Melendez said. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 have the background to carry the class load.鈥�

While at Southern Oregon, his counselor helped him get into appropriate academic classes and steered him toward 91传媒 and its bilingual education minor. Melendez jumped at the suggestion, but what he expected to be a program taught in two languages turned out to be an English for Speakers of Other Languages minor. He felt isolated and again considered dropping out of school.

鈥淭he 91传媒 Ambassadors Coordinator, Mindy Morrison, told me, 鈥楴o, you are not leaving, end of story.鈥� She convinced me that going to college was the greatest missed opportunity I would ever have.鈥�

Morrison helped Melendez navigate a system that confused him and pointed him to the Learning Center and tutoring programs.

鈥淚 was their best customer, getting help with science, math, and geography,鈥� Melendez said.

With the transfer and the extra year of classes necessary to teach school, Melendez finished his degree in five years. During his student teaching stint in Ontario, he kept an eye out for a job working with second language learning students. He was hired to teach dual language split kindergarten and first grade classes.

鈥淭hey had a contract for me to sign before I finished student teaching,鈥� Melendez said.

There was a lot of regional interest in my teaching career. Local newspapers covered his first day in the classroom.

Education was no longer the path to a lifelong career for Melendez鈥攊t was the career and a calling as a student and a teacher. He taught elementary school for several years and earned a master鈥檚 degree in curriculum and instruction with emphasis on English Language Learner education.

Wanting to move into administration, Melendez earned another master鈥檚 degree in educational leadership. He became an elementary principal. Still hungry for learning, he went on to earn an Educational Specialist Degree, culminating with his superintendent credentials.

He helped open a new school in Mesa County in Colorado, then returned to the Northwest to serve the Meridian School District outside of Boise. His next stop was Washington state before coming to La Grande last year to head up the school district as its Director of Student Success.

He said the position is to assist families, connect them with community resources and help students be successful in La Grande鈥檚 K12 system.

鈥淥ur initiative is to create a culture of care,鈥� Melendez said. 鈥淲e make sure children are socially and emotionally healthy. We watch carefully and monitor when we include or exclude students and why.鈥�

The other part of his job is coaching the district鈥檚 elementary school principals.

鈥淚 really love that part,鈥� Melendez said. 鈥淲hen I was a school principal I needed coaches, too.鈥�

The successful lifelong learner and educator, Melendez said he had some discouragement along the way, but chose to focus on the positive reinforcement he received.

Melendez said , 鈥淧eople would ask, 鈥榃hy are you struggling here? You could go back to where you came from and you would be way better off.鈥� But I relied on the folks who gave me life and hope because they wanted what was best for me.鈥�

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“I lived 9 months in eastern Oregon and I got the opportunity to see biggest cities and how people are over there but in La Grande I鈥檝e met wonderful people, simple, friendly and humble. I never felt like I was not part of the community either at 91传媒 or in La Grande, people didn鈥檛 hesitate to help me. People never judged me and I always felt safe which is very important as a foreigner.
At the university first of all I really liked the teachers who are very close to you, you can communicate with them easily they are always happy to help when you have issues and they ask you questions to learn about your culture. So I loved that they were so open-minded, learning our culture without any judgements. Plus we were with the american students in the same class and they helped us and considered us as their equal.”

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Student Finds Success as Nightingale Gallery Director

Hadley Marshall, a junior from Burns, just wrapped up is her first year as Student Director for the Nightingale Gallery in Loso Hall. Through this hands-on experience, she’s discovered her ability to lead after embracing this position.

What have you learned about yourself?

鈥淚 have learned to lead a team, which is something I didn’t think I could do. I’ve been able to lead a team of attendants, and also communicate with visiting artists. When I leave this position, I want to be in a spot where I continue to develop those skills. This college fosters an environment where students can succeed. I think that will be a crucial skill moving forward in my professional and personal life. You learn so much, including how to work with visiting artists, and how to install work, that is something that most colleges don’t offer.鈥�

Why did you choose 91传媒?

鈥淚t鈥檚 a small school with a level of education that feels more like that of a private school. 91传媒 is an amazing fit for me. I love the community and the professors, my peers, and just all the opportunities.鈥�

How did you become the Student Director?

鈥淚 saw the opening for the position and as somebody who loves the arts and loves to be involved in the arts, decided to apply.鈥�

Would you recommend 91传媒 to others?

鈥淚 would absolutely recommend 91传媒 to others. This campus and this school, it’s just so unique!鈥�

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Building Lifelong Connections

Success can be measured in the many meaningful connections made during your college experience. Savannah and Naomi Potter found far more than academic success at 91传媒, where they built lifelong relationships that will extend well beyond graduation.

鈥淚 took full advantage of connecting and meeting people here, and I’m going to build on those relationships for the rest of my life,鈥� Savannah shared. 鈥淭hose are what are going to outlast my experience here.鈥�

Echoing her older sister鈥檚 sentiment, Naomi appreciates the meaningful and close-knit relationships with faculty at 91传媒.

鈥淭he small campus allows you to get close with the faculty, in a way you just can鈥檛 at a larger campus,鈥� Naomi said. 鈥淚t’s incredible the friendships you make with your professors. They will change your life, and that’s so different from a big campus.鈥�

Savannah agreed, adding that the faculty have made her experience phenomenal.

A Journey of Discovery and Growth

Savannah鈥檚 early experience was shaped by the pandemic and online classes at a community college. Her decision to transfer was influenced by convenience and 91传媒鈥檚 reputation. Raised in Baker City, she found the intimate environment provided a sense of community that was invaluable. Inspired by the science faculty, Savannah shifted her focus to chemistry.

鈥淔rom a very young age, I was always intrigued by science,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 was planning to become an ophthalmologist, but the encouragement from my chemistry professor changed my path.鈥�

Initially hesitant about attending college, Naomi found 91传媒鈥檚 unique charm irresistible.

鈥淚 didn’t initially want to go to college, and I certainly didn鈥檛 want to go to 91传媒 because it was so close to home. But it turned out to be the best decision of my life,鈥� Naomi admitted.

A Shared Passion

Coming from a musical family, the sisters often perform together both on and off campus, balancing their academic commitments with their love for music. When Professor of Music Peter Wordelman asked them to perform at a Board of Trustees meeting, they felt deeply honored.

鈥淥ur music faculty are exceptional. I changed my major to be more music-focused because of Peter,鈥� Naomi said. 鈥淗e has been such an inspiration, just like Savannah’s chemistry professors.鈥�

Savannah added, 鈥淢usic keeps me grounded when science gets crazy. My sister and I are almost always up for any gig or performance, and we love it.鈥�

Looking Forward

Naomi reflected more on the importance of savoring the college experience.

鈥淭hese were the most amazing years of my life, and they go by so fast. I try to slow down and enjoy them,鈥� she said.

Savannah encourages freshmen to explore various experiences. 鈥淚 had no plans to pursue chemistry initially, but by participating in the chemistry club during my first year, I discovered a genuine passion for it,鈥� she said.

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鈥淲e have a long, lovely list of the ways 91传媒 has impacted our life and our family,鈥� Phyllis Arnst said. 鈥淥ur journey started in Eastern Oregon in 1968 in Wallowa County and then to La Grande. The journey has been as beautiful as this region itself.鈥�

The couple met at Rocky Mountain College in Billings, Montana. Their relationship blossomed, leading to marriage and a move to Winifred, Montana where Fred took on roles as a head coach and PE teacher.

鈥淚 was taking summer classes at the University of Montana and met the superintendent for Wallowa County who told me about an opportunity.鈥�

After six wonderful years in Wallowa County, a new opportunity arose in La Grande.

鈥淣ot long after we moved to La Grande, I found a position with Eastern鈥揑 worked for three presidents, and three name changes,鈥� Phyllis said. 鈥淚 started working for a state college and retired from a university!鈥�

鈥淪o many of our children and grandchildren have attended Eastern and earned degrees here,鈥� Phyllis continued. 鈥淏ecause of our backgrounds and interests, it got us thinking about the type of students we want to support. We鈥檙e interested in supporting students who can use help, so we wanted to make sure our scholarship is renewable,鈥� Phyllis commented.

鈥淚t was important to us to establish rapport with students. Providing renewable scholarships makes the students feel good, knowing there are people out there who want to support their journey and help them succeed.鈥�

鈥淚t’s a big deal,鈥� Fred said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just one of the ways we can help students get through school鈥搕o be successful now, but also helping students succeed in life.鈥�

鈥�91传媒 does a good job helping students see the importance of philanthropy in their own lives and communities,鈥� Phyllis reflected. 鈥淚n our retirement years, we look back and see all of the benefits from our educational opportunities. We want to pay it forward, so students can have fulfilling and productive lives. It鈥檚 our hope they鈥檒l be inspired to one day give back to their own home communities.鈥�

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