Bill Thorndike (1953 – 2025)
William D. “Bill” Thorndike, Jr., a third-generation Rogue Valley resident, was born on December 15, 1953, and passed away on February 14, 2025, while vacationing with his wife Angela at their cottage on Whidbey Island, Washington.
An inaugural member of the Board of Trustees of Southern Oregon University, Bill also served as the first chair of the board at its inception in 2015. Reelected by his peers to two more terms as chair, the university and the board benefited greatly from his leadership. Bill was twice reappointed to the SOU Board of Trustees by the Oregon governor and served dutifully until his passing in February 2025. He was the 1996 recipient of the SOU President’s Medal – recipients of the medal are recognized for their exemplary service to the university and community, and for demonstrating compassion, integrity, generosity, leadership and courage. He also served as a member of the SOU Foundation Board of Trustees. Named for the Thorndike family, the Thorndike Art Gallery at SOU is indicative of the indelible mark he left on the university.
About the Board
Meet the Trustees
Sheila Clough
Board Chair
Chair, Executive and Audit Committee
Sheila Clough is the chief executive officer of Mercy Flights, a Southern Oregon-based provider of medical treatment and transport services. Prior to this, she served as the chief executive officer of Asante Ashland Community Hospital and has worked as a healthcare executive for nearly 20 years.
Prior to joining Asante, Clough served in a progression of leadership roles from 1998 through 2013 with Ministry Howard Young Health Care in Woodruff, Wisconsin, eventually rising to the role of president and chief operating officer.
Dr. Richard J. Bailey, Jr.
SOU President
President Richard J. Bailey, Jr., joined SOU in January 2022, after overseeing the resurgence of Northern New Mexico College during five-plus years as president. He previously completed a 24-year career in the U.S. Air Force, retiring as a full colonel and command pilot with more than 3,500 flying hours. Dr. Bailey earned accolades on and off campus while at Northern New Mexico College, increasing enrollment by more than 20 percent, cutting student loan defaults by more than 50 percent and more than doubling the college’s graduation rate – all without an increase in tuition rates.
Brent Barry
Brent Barry currently serves as the superintendent of the Phoenix-Talent School District, a position he has held since 2017. He has worked in the K-12 school district for nearly 20 years in numerous positions – from teacher and athletic director to assistant principal and school principal – and is now, its chief executive.
Iris Maria Chavez
Iris Maria Chávez is a government affairs, community engagement, and communications professional. With over 15 years of experience working with advocacy organizations and think tanks to advance state and federal policy, Iris Maria is focused on improving outcomes for communities and increasing government accountability.
As part of this work, she has successfully built issue advocacy campaigns with a variety of advocacy and civil rights organizations across the country leading to bipartisan legislation providing critical investments in education, public safety, and child welfare.
Shaun Franks
Board Vice Chair
Shaun Franks is a business and residential solar advisor at True South Solar, a local SOU alum-owned solar company. For over 10 years he has been involved with solar projects beginning at Southern Oregon University where he studied business administration, environmental studies, and corporate sustainability. While at SOU, he was involved in student government as the director of sustainability. He led the establishment of the SOU Green Fund which invests student dollars in local water, energy, and campus sustainability projects. The Green Fund has established multiple solar installations on campus, launched the SOU Farm, and continues to fund student projects.
Ryan Goodrich
Ryan Goodrich is a Freshman at SOU who comes from a long lineage of alumni and is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in accounting. He was born and raised in southern Oregon (specifically Medford) and grew up attending SOU basketball games to watch North Medford alumni play.
Ryan currently works for a local nonprofit by coaching and refereeing youth basketball. When he’s not coaching or in class, he may be found at the football field where he is a member of the lacrosse program.
Debra Fee Jing Lee
Debra Fee Jing Lee was born in Toisan, China. She immigrated with her family to Providence, RI in 1956. She earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Rhode Island and a juris doctorate from Antioch School of Law in Washington, D.C.
Since 1989, Debra has served as the Executive Director of the Center for NonProfit Legal Services in Medford, OR. Prior to this, she practiced as a legal aid attorney in West Tennessee, Central Arkansas, and Jackson County. She has contributed innovative ideas to critical poverty issues, supported diversity, and increased access to justice.
Christina Maria Medina
As the Manager of Stakeholder Policy and Engagement for Pacific Power, she focuses on designing, delivering, and successfully implementing stakeholder input processes and outcomes in California, Oregon, and Washington. Fostering the development of new programs for low-income customer support, reducing energy burdens for vulnerable populations, and other ways to equitably distribute clean energy benefits to utility customers. In her role, Christina establishes and supports relationships with prominent public and private businesses, governmental organizations, and social and environmental justice groups.
Jason Mendoza
Jason Mendoza is an SOU alumnus, receiving his bachelor’s degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice seven years ago, and he held criminal justice positions in Jackson and Klamath counties before taking his current position with SOU’s University Housing.
Mendoza is a member of the city of Ashland’s Housing and Human Services Advisory Committee, which assesses and makes recommendations to the City Council on housing and human service needs. He is an advisor for both the SOU Ho`opa`a Hawai`i Club and Samoan Club, and is passionate about helping underrepresented populations – especially the Polynesian community.
Daniel P. Santos
After more than two decades of service to four Oregon governors, SOU alumnus Daniel P. Santos most recently served as associate dean for student affairs and administration at Willamette University College of Law. He oversaw student recruitment, student services, placement activities, and administrative duties at the law school.
Dr. Hala Schepmann
Hala Schepmann is a Professor of Chemistry at Southern Oregon University. Her research interests include natural products in drug discovery and the development of inclusive teaching strategies. Dr. Schepmann graduated summa cum laude from the University of Texas at Austin with a bachelor of science degree in chemistry. She holds an M.S. in organic chemistry from University of California, Berkeley and a Ph.D. in bioorganic chemistry from Rice University.
Garima Sharma
Garima Sharma is a junior in the SOU Honors College pursuing bachelor’s degrees in pre-nursing and healthcare administration with minors in health promotion and ethics.
She is the chief justice for the Associated Students of Southern Oregon University (ASSOU) where she helps to uphold student body rules and ensure that the student grievance process is ethical as well as prompt. She also works as an office assistant and event organizer in SOU’s Social Justice and Equality Center. Garima previously served as president of the Black Student Union and as a resident assistant in SOU’s Housing Department.
Elizabeth (Liz) Shelby
Elizabeth (Liz) Shelby is an experienced public higher education administrator and small business counselor. Before retiring after 25 years of service to Southern Oregon University, she was the chief of staff to three university presidents and she served six presidents as the university’s director of government relations. During her time as director of government Relations, Liz was involved with several significant transformations at SOU including the name change from Southern Oregon State College in 1997, and the change in governance to a public institution with an independent governing Board of Trustees in 2015.
Julissa Taitano
Julissa Taitano is a graduate student at SOU pursuing a master of science degree in education with a concentration in higher education leadership. She holds a graduate assistantship in SOU’s School of Education. As an aspiring educator, Ms. Taitano recognizes a systemic need for higher education institutions to embrace the urgency of being a catalyst for change.
Barry Thalden
Barry Thalden and his wife, Kathryn, moved to Ashland to retire in 2012. Almost immediately, they became immersed in making good things happen in the community. The Thaldens previously lived in Las Vegas where Barry was CEO of the architectural firm he founded in 1971 and guided for 43 years. Thalden Boyd Emery Architects, with offices in St. Louis, Tulsa, Phoenix and Las Vegas, specialized in designing large-scale projects, including resorts and casinos, throughout the United States.
Office of the Board of Trustees
The Office of the Board of Trustees is located at 1250 Siskiyou Blvd. in Churchill Hall, room 107.
Sabrina Prud’homme
Contact
SOU Board of Trustees
trustees@sou.edu
1250 Siskiyou Blvd.
Ashland, OR 97520
541.552.8055