ANNUAL REPORT
Southern Oregon University
2025 Impact of Giving
Through the generosity of our donors, SOU delivers a dynamic, supportive environment that ignites intellectual curiosity and transforms student potential into professional achievement.
Here’s How You Gave in 2025
$14.5
Million Dollars Raised
29%
Private Support to Scholarships
22%
General Fund
$4.5 Million
in Scholarships
3,000
Total Donors
68% of Donors
are Individuals
You Supported Student Academics
In 2025, donors gave $4.5 in scholarships, a significant increase over last year. Behind every great achievement is a community that believed it was possible. Our scholarships connect generous donors with students ready to make their mark. By removing barriers to excellence, donors launch careers and support lifelong passion.
Learn more about the impact of scholarship funds on the academic journeys of students during the 2024-2025 academic year.
You Gave to Future Business Leaders
For the Naumes family, agriculture and community have been inseparable since 1907. Today, Mike and Laura Naumes are translating their family’s intergenerational success in Oregon’s pear and wine industries into a powerful engine for social mobility.
By establishing an endowed scholarship at SOU, they are specifically championing first-generation and Latinx students who demonstrate leadership potential. Their gift invests in the future of the Rogue Valley economy and the next generation of business pioneers.
Read the Naumes’ inspiring giving story here.
You Invested in Student Potential
The general fund is the heartbeat of SOU, providing the essential flexibility to address unforeseen challenges and fund new initiatives that traditional budgets can’t cover.
Our donor community increasingly recognizes the power of this agility: in 2025, donors directed 22% of their total giving to the general fund, ensuring the university remains nimble and responsive. Your unrestricted gifts provide a vote of confidence that allows our students and faculty to excel, no matter what the future holds.
To learn about impact of this support, review our stories of impact.
You Supported First Generation Students
For Lee Erickson ’71, a single recruiting visit on the SOU campus sparked a distinguished 30-year career with the Oregon State Police. From his early days as the first head RA in Greensprings to managing field operations for the entire state, Lee’s journey has been defined by the values of hard work and self-reliance he learned at SOU.
Lee and his wife Connie are paying that opportunity forward through an endowed scholarship for Criminology and Criminal Justice. By supporting first-generation and underrepresented students, they are paving the way for a new generation of thoughtful, dedicated leaders in public safety.
Read the full profile of Lee and Connie Erickson here.
You Contributed to Global Exchange Programs
For Matt Essieh ’82 MBA ’84, a journey that began in a rural farming village in Ghana led to the founding of a premier financial technology firm in Oregon. Along the way, SOU served as the “great equalizer,” where he met his wife, Emmanuella ’82, and discovered a world of diverse perspectives in the halls of Aspen Hall.
The Essieh family is honoring that experience by establishing a historic exchange program between Ghana and SOU—the first of its kind. By fostering cross-cultural collaboration, they are ensuring that the next generation of students can expand their worldviews and solve global problems together.
Read the full story here.
You Funded Student Support Services
For Ashland residents Ron and Katharine Lang, philanthropy is about nourishing the whole student. From funding the SOU Farm kitchen and a new Outdoor Adventure bike fleet to establishing the Lang Scholar Program within UCAM, the Langs invest in the intersection of mentorship, health, and hands-on learning.
Inspired by a family legacy of education and a deep sense of gratitude, Ron and Katharine are dedicated to removing barriers for students—ensuring that every scholar has the mentorship and the physical well-being needed to achieve their dreams.
Read their story here.
You Contributed to Faculty Success
Since 1959, the Carpenter Foundation has served as a cornerstone of support for Southern Oregon University. What began with the visionary philanthropy of Helen and Alfred Carpenter has evolved into a multi-generational legacy that empowers SOU faculty to bring world-class expertise back to the Rogue Valley.
By funding professional development and original research across every discipline—from theater to environmental science—the Foundation ensures that SOU’s educators remain at the forefront of their fields. This enduring partnership doesn’t just fund grants; it enriches the entire academic fabric of Southern Oregon.
Learn more about the Carpenter Foundation’s commitment to faculty success here.