Each month, newly-hired faculty, staff and GTFs are invited to share basic information with AroundtheO about their new positions at the UO and their occupational and/or educational backgrounds. The purpose is to introduce and welcome them to campus, and to enhance the university's sense of community.
This month:
Donna Batson
Donna Batson was hired in May as a fiscal analyst in the UO's Business Affairs Office. She has worked in accounting for 27 years, most recently for 19 years as a fiscal analyst at a barcode scanner manufacturer Datalogic in Eugene. Batson previously worked in public accounting with Coopers & Lybrand. She received degrees from the UO in accounting and from Arizona State University in secondary English education, and earned her certified public accountant license. In her spare time, Batson enjoys gardening, quilting, reading, spending time with her husband and visiting her four adult children.
Mandy Chong
Mandy Chong joined the UO's new Student Activities and Resource Center as the student activities coordinator in September. A UO alumn, Chong received a bachelor’s degree in Asian studies in 2000 and a master's degree in educational leadership with a focus in higher education administration in 2002. She has spent 11 years working in Student Affairs, most recently as the office coordinator in the Cultural Forum. Chong has been at every Oregon home game since 2003, but when she isn’t cheering for the Ducks she enjoys camping, ballet performances, sci-fi novels and travel.
Mark Diestler
Mark Diestler began in late September as the associate director for compliance in the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships. Prior to working at the UO, Diestler worked for six years as an institutional review specialist for the U.S. Department of Education and has worked in the financial aid industry for 12 years. He holds a master's degree in business administration from Washington State University and in his spare time he enjoys college sports, spending time with his family, playing basketball and working on independent films.
Will Glasson
Will Glasson was hired in October as the associate director of external relations at the UO Portland location. Glasson has been in the legal services industry for 15 years, mostly as a practicing attorney. Previously he owned a business change consultancy and also worked as the corporate counsel and director of compliance for C&K Market Inc., Oregon’s largest chain of independent grocery stores. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Case Western Reserve University and a doctorate from the UO School of Law. Glasson is also a devoted father who loves cycling, reading and writing.
Stephanie Hamington
Stephanie Hamington started in October as a financial aid counselor in the office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships. Hamington worked 2 years previously in financial aid and has 20 years experience in academic advising. Most recently she worked at the University of Colorado as an academic advisor for more than five years. Hamington attended California State University, where she received a bachelor’s and master's degrees in counseling with a higher education emphasis. Hamington is happy to be back in the Willamette Valley after working in Indiana and Colorado. She enjoys hiking with her husband and their dog, as well as spending time with their daughter, who is preparing for a graduate degree in music.
Connor Henderson
Connor Henderson joined the Lundquist College of Business as an assistant professor of marketing after recently completing his doctorate and master’s degree at the University of Washington. Henderson moved to Eugene along with his wife and young daughter. He also enjoys shooting hoops on the basketball court in his spare time.
Nathan Keffer
Nathan Keffer was hired in October as the program assistant at UO Emergency Management and Continuity. Keffer has four years' prior experience working as a readiness specialist at the American Red Cross in Eugene. He received his bachelor’s degree in history and Spanish from Ohio University. Keffer enjoys most outdoor activities in Oregon, specifically hiking, biking, Ultimate Frisbee and snowshoeing.
Heidemarie Laurent
Heidemarie Laurent was hired this fall as assistant professor in the psychology department after three years as psychology faculty at the University of Wyoming. Laurent holds a bachelor’s degree from Scripps College and a doctorate in clinical psychology at the University of Massachusetts. She is passionate about yoga, hiking and the study and execution of mindfulness meditation.
Rebecca Lewis
Rebecca Lewis joined the Department of Planning Public Policy and Management as an assistant professor this fall. She worked as an assistant professor in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at Florida State University for two years after completing her doctorate in urban and regional planning and design at the University of Maryland. Lewis spends her time outside of work training for triathlons, practicing yoga, hiking, skiing, following college sports and purveying Southern culture.
Stacey Marple
Stacey Marple joined Campus Operations as a payroll and HR support assistant in late August of this year. Marple has worked in similar positions for two years, most recently as a library assistant and volunteer coordinator at Creswell Library. Marple also holds a bachelor’s degree in community health education from PSU. When she isn’t working, Marple enjoys organic gardening, creative photography and mentoring former inmates during their re-entry into Lane County through Sponsors, Inc.
Chelsea Mattson
Chelsea Mattson was hired in August 2013 as a technology service desk coordinator for Information Services. Having previously worked for Electrical Geodesics, Inc., for 7 years, this is her first position in information technology and services. Mattson is a UO alumn and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. In her free time Mattson enjoys the outdoors, wandering around farmers’ markets and playing music with friends.
Laurie Phillips
Laurie Phillips began this fall as an assistant professor of public relations in the School of Journalism and Communication. This is her first faculty position after completing her doctoral degree in August; previously Phillips was a doctoral fellow and lecturer at the University of North Carolina. She also holds a master’s degree in advertising from the University of Texas and a bachelor’s degree from Mary Washington College. A fan of UO sports, Phillips also enjoys traveling and wine tasting.
Brenda Porter
Brenda Porter now holds the title of executive administrative assistant to the AVP/COS of Student Affairs after being brought on in April. Porter has worked in similar positions for 12 years, most recently as a senior administrative assistant at LibertyBank for three yeas. Her favorite way to waste time is by spending it with her three young grandchildren. She also enjoys road trips with her husband, playing games with their family and reading.
Andrew Shiotani
Andrew Shiotani is the new assistant director for the Office of International Affairs/International Student and Scholar Services. Having worked in the same field for 10 years, he was previously employed as program coordinator for global engagement at Seattle University. Shiotani holds a bachelor’s degree in foreign service from Georgetown University and a master's degree in regional studies with a focus on East Asia from Harvard. Outside of work he enjoys movies, reading, hiking and walking.
Catherine Soutar
Catherine Soutar left her previous position as a space analyst and project planner for central administration and moved this October to the College of Arts and Sciences Dean’s Office. She will facilitate space management issues, space planning, coordination and management of CAS capital and renovation projects, and serve as a liaison for departmental moves. Soutar has spent 13 years in space management and project planning at UO; prior to that she worked in the capacity of design and project architect for private practices in British Columbia and Alberta, Canada. She received her master's degree in architecture from the UO and a bachelor’s degree from the University of British Columbia. Soutar enjoys traveling, art, hiking, yoga, photography and spending time with her husband and their two boys.
Julianna Sowash
Julianna Sowash recently began her new position as director of marketing and admissions in the Lundquist College of Business after 15 years as executive director. She holds an Oregon Executive Master of Business Administration.
Mark Stephan
Mark Stephan was hired in September at the School of Architecture and Allied Arts as a sculpture technician. Stephan has worked in this line of technical work and supervision for about seven years and recently received a master of fine arts degree from the UO. As an MFA candidate, he worked as a graduate teaching fellow at the UO, instructing courses including digital arts, sculpture and interdisciplinary CORE fundamentals. Stephan was also recently accepted to the KINO KINO Center for Arts and Film Residency Program in Sandres, Norway, which offers residency to professional artists.
Julie Sykes
Julie Sykes became director of the Center of Applied Second Language Studies and a faculty member of the Department of Romance Languages in August. Before coming to UO, Sykes worked as an assistant professor of applied linguistics and coordinator of the Spanish as a Second Language Program at University of New Mexico for six years. She holds a doctorate from the University of Minnesota and a master’s degree from Arizona State University. While off the clock, Sykes loves traveling, spending time with her family and eating great food.
Angie Towle
Angie Towle was hired in September as an accounting technician in the Department of Human Physiology. She has worked in accounting for almost 20 years, including 12 as an accounting associate at Levi Strauss. She studied at Lane Community College. Towle can be found on evenings and weekends at the Hult Center for the Performing Arts, where she works as a head usher. She also volunteers weekly at the Oregon Contemporary Theatre. When not working or volunteering, she enjoys knitting, crotcheting, camping, watching movies and spending time with friends and famly.
Raj Vable
Raj Vable began as undergraduate coordinator for the Environmental Studies Program at the start of fall term. He is happy to be contributing to the program in a new way since receiving his master's degree in environmental studies at UO. Most recently, Vable spent time in India as a Fullbright Scholar, working with rural non-governmental organizations to create conservation-based livelihoods. Vable is also cofounding two startups: Young Mountain Tea (www.youngmountaintea.com), which sells Indian specialty tea from responsible, small-scale organizations; the production of mechanical engineering textbooks written by his father, which will be offered at affordable rates to students in higher education.
Julie Weise
Julie Weise was hired in the fall as an assistant professor of history, following a search for a 20th century U.S. historian. She held a previous tenure-track position at California State University, where she worked as an assistant professor of international studies for four years. Weise holds a bachelor's degree, two master's degrees and a doctorate in history from Yale. Her non-academic interests include running and socializing.
Ryan Wilson
Ryan Wilson was hired in August as an associate professor in the Accounting Department. Wilson received his bachelor’s degree from the UO and a doctorate from the University of Washington. He last worked at the University of Iowa as an associate professor for six years before coming back to Oregon.
Mark Yuran
Mark Yuran joined the Office of Human Resources as the new chief human resources officer in October. He has 11 years of experience in similar positions, and recently worked for almost two years at Minnesota State University, Moorhead, also as the chief human resources officer. Yuran holds two bachelor’s degrees and a master's degree in Human Resources and Organizational Development from the University of West Georgia. He is currently working on a master's degree in business administration at the University of Notre Dame. Despite his love for learning, Yuran does make time for college football and travel off of the beaten path.
- by Chloe Huckins, UO Office of Strategic Communications intern