MONMOUTH, Ore. – Western Oregon University Vice President of Student Affairs, Tina Fuchs, recently named Jamiere Abney as the university’s Director of Admissions, effective June 30.

“Jamiere is a high-level strategic thinker with a strong enrollment management background. Jamiere’s depth of knowledge and experience in Admissions will contribute greatly to the work already being accomplished by our Admissions team,” said Fuchs. “We are excited to have Jamiere join the WOU community, and lead the office of Admissions.”

Jamiere Abney is currently serving in the role of Associate Dean of Admissions and Coordinator of Outreach for Opportunity and Inclusion at Colgate University. He leads Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) strategies for the admissions process. Through his leadership, Colgate enrolled its most diverse first-year class in its 200-year history in the fall of 2021. Abney is a Willamette University alumni, graduating with a degree in Psychology and a minor in Economics. He began his higher education career at his alma mater with the Undergraduate Office of Admissions as Assistant Director of Admissions.

“I am very excited to join the Western Oregon Community. For my family and I, the return to the Willamette Valley comes at the perfect time. The energy I felt on campus during my interview with students, staff, and faculty was wonderful. It was great to learn about the interest in educating more people to see Western Oregon as an option for their postsecondary education experience,” said Abney. “Further, as a place emphasizing its diverse community as it works to be recognized as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), I feel my successes in application growth, strategic planning for Equity and Inclusion, and developing new communication strategies, will be a great fit for my new role.”

A first-generation and Pell-eligible college graduate, Abney has sought opportunities to be a reliable support for young people seeking achievement and access to opportunity. Jamiere built on this goal, earning a Master’s in Education at Harvard Graduate School of Education. He has been a guest on multiple podcasts, including Black and Highly Dangerous and On the Mic with Ray White, hosted by fellow Willamette alum, Raymond White. Currently, Abney is a candidate for a Doctor of Education (EdD) at the University of Pennsylvania, studying in the Higher Education Management Program.

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About Western Oregon University

Western Oregon University, founded in 1856 in Monmouth, is the state’s oldest public university. Serving about 4,000 students, WOU is a mid-sized, NCAA Division II institution with about 70% of the student population being from Oregon. A significant portion of attendees are members of under-represented groups, veterans, or non-traditional students. WOU is Oregon’s campus of choice for those seeking a transformative education in a supportive, student-centered learning community where classes are taught by faculty. Together we succeed.

MONMOUTH, Ore. –  On April 26th, 2023, Western Oregon University hosted its 2nd Annual Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) Summit. The first Summit, in April 2022, focused on developing a shared understanding of what it means to be a federally-designated HSI.

This year’s Summit, Making Conexiones, expanded and continued to provide a space for our university community, including our state and national partners, to provide multiple perspectives and help us learn from each other. The list included Oregon HECC, Excelencia in Education, Chemeketa Community College, Portland State University, University of Oregon, Oregon Institute of Technology, and many more. 

“For this Summit, Western Oregon decided to invite leaders from around the state to participate. We wanted collective voices from political leaders, K-12 leaders, and higher education leaders,” said President Jesse Peters. He emphasized the fact that Western Oregon is the four-year public institution that is the closest to achieving the HSI federal designation. “We want to put ourselves in the best position to serve our students in the best ways, and we do that by fostering good strategies through conversations with partners.”

Western Oregon’s goal was to focus on bringing together the campus, the community, and both regional and national partners to discuss what it means to become an HSI and why it is so critically important to the success of Latino/a/x students, our university, and the greater community. Currently, Western Oregon’s student body is made up of 21.9% Latino/a/x students.

“Western Oregon becoming an HSI would better help represent and serve the Hispanic and Latino/a/x community on campus, as well as the community that surrounds Western Oregon like families of Hispanic and First-Generation students at Western Oregon,” says Julieta Alarcon, a freshman at Western, who participated in this year’s Summit. “This would provide tons of opportunities for students and better support not only for Hispanic and Latino/a/x students on campus but provide a better educational experience for everyone.” 

A federal designation nationally signifies Western Oregon’s commitment to supporting and adapting to meet the ever-changing needs of our students. This also allows Western Oregon to apply for federal funds to expand educational opportunities and improve retention and success rates for Latino/a/x students and creates the roadmap for serving underrepresented students in higher education. These funds would also allow Western Oregon to expand and enhance academic offerings, program quality, and institutional stability that support Latino/a/x students and other underrepresented students.

Western Oregon will continue to build on the foundation that we set these last two years and expand the collaboration to better support our communities and students. 

About Western Oregon University

Western Oregon University, founded in 1856 in Monmouth, is the state’s oldest public university. Serving about 4,000 students, WOU is a mid-sized, NCAA Division II institution with about 70% of the student population being from Oregon. A significant portion of attendees are members of under-represented groups, veterans, or non-traditional students. WOU is Oregon’s campus of choice for those seeking a transformative education in a supportive, student-centered learning community where classes are taught by faculty. Together we succeed.

Media Contact
Brittany Kima, Public Information Officer
503-838-8065 | kimab@wou.edu

MONMOUTH, Ore. – Western Oregon University President, Jesse Peters, recently named Ricardo Lujan Valerio as the university’s Director of Government Relations, effective January 16th.

“I am pleased to welcome Rico to the leadership team at Western. Not only does he have key experience, he is also a first-generation college graduate of a regional university. He understands the importance of higher education to the future of Oregon and its citizens,” said Peters.

Rico joins with a wealth of experiences with governmental entities in Oregon and has a passion for issues in higher education. He also has the experience and skills to play as a powerful advocate for WOU with the state legislature. 

Most recently, he was the Policy Director for the City of Portland. Prior to that, he has been the Director of Advocacy for the Latino Network, a Policy Associate for the American Civil Liberties Union, and a Legislative Director for the Oregon Student Association. He also currently served as a Commissioner for the Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC). 

“I’m excited to join Western Oregon University in this capacity. My introduction to state advocacy started in higher education and I’m glad to be back to this policy field full-time. I’m a strong believer in collaborative success and look forward to working with faculty, staff, and students to create a collective agenda and partner with external stakeholders to meet the needs of our state.” said Lujan Valerio.

Rico holds an Associate of Science degree from Rogue Community College, a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Southern Oregon University, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from Southern Oregon University. 

About Western Oregon University

Western Oregon University, founded in 1856 in Monmouth, is the state’s oldest public university. Serving about 4,000 students, WOU is a mid-sized, NCAA Division II institution with about 70% of the student population being from Oregon. A significant portion of attendees are members of under-represented groups, veterans, or non-traditional students. WOU is Oregon’s campus of choice for those seeking a transformative education in a supportive, student-centered learning community where classes are taught by faculty. Together we succeed.

Media contact
Brittany Kima, Public Information Officer 
503-838-8065 | kimab@wou.edu