1. What do Oprah Winfrey and our very own Vice President for Student Services at EOU, Xavier Romano,
have in common? They were both part of TRiO Programs during their educational journey. These two
individuals are among many TRiO alums who were able to use the support provided by Federal TRiO
Programs to make their educational dreams a reality, despite the various hurdles they faced at the outset.
"TRiO was my touchstone during my undergraduate years. It was the one place where I could be myself,
relax and not worry about what others thought of me or my place at the University. With time I would check
in less often but then the Director would quite literally track me down to check-in with me. Oddly our
conversations were less about my academics and more about life and adjusting to a place so far away—both in
distance and in culture. Little did I know how important this "reaching out" would mean to me. Strange that
in hindsight when I think about when I had lost confidence, felt alone or simply lost that I would always return
to my base at TRiO. TRiO made a difference then as it will now," said Romano.
Continued Page 2
TRiO—Accelerating Holistic Student Success
BROUGHT TO
YOU BY THE EOU
CAREER CENTER
INLOW 109
(541) 962-3711
Fall 2015Eastern Oregon University
Mountaineer Family
Network
Special Points of
Interest:
 EOU Launches TRiO
 Mountaineers on the
Move
 Changing the
Conversation: Diversity,
Inclusion and Equity
When Michael Williams began
building his TRiO team, he knew that
finding the right staff was his most
important move as he re-launched the
program. Williams had to look no
further than EOU’s own Jessalyn
Smith. “As a first-generation student,
she understands some of the
struggles TRiO students face,” said
Williams.
Smith brings a passion for student
success, student learning and teaching
to the TRiO team. She has cultivated
her passion for students on the court
as an assistant coach for the
Mountaineers Volleyball team that
topped its 25-6 season record with a
conference title and berth into the
NAIA Conference Championship
pool. Smith is a 2015 graduate of
EOU and is set to complete her MBA
the Summer of 2016.
Justin Chin
Director of Career Services
(541) 962-3090
jchin@eou.edu
From Volleyball Court to Classroom: Jessalyn Smith Joins TRiO
TRiO Launches 1-2
Smith Joins TriO 1
To Your Health 2
Mountaineers on
the Move
3
Changing the
Conversation
3
Calendar of
Events
4

2. Eastern Oregon University is now part of this
nation-wide network of support programs that have
a long history of success. TRiO began in the late
1960’s with just three programs (hence the name
TRiO), and has since multiplied into a total of seven
programs that each serve a slightly different
underrepresented population. What all these
programs have in common is a mission to support
historically underrepresented students in education
attain their goals of college graduation or even
graduate school.
The U.S. Department of Education has recently
awarded a five-year grant for $2.2 million to the
Eastern Oregon University TRiO Student Support
Services Program, set to serve 160 students each
year. The TRiO program design encourages and
supports eligible students through a structured
program that includes personalized services such as
tutoring, supportive guidance and counseling,
academic advising, college success workshops,
university field trips, technology and financial
literacy. This type of holistic student support has
shown success in increasing the retention and
graduation rates of participants.
Michael Williams, Director of Student Support
Services stated, “As a TRiO alum, I know what this
program is capable of doing. We are much more
than a program for helping students who are
struggling academically; we are a program that gives
students support in a way that few other programs
can, with an approach that takes into account the
whole student. One thing we know is that education
is the road to independence, and in that effort, TRiO
programs are the most successful federal initiatives
to help our students become the best that they can.”
The EOU TRiO SSS Program has hit the ground
running and is currently serving students and
accepting applications for new participants on a
rolling basis. All students who believe they may
benefit from these support systems are encouraged
to apply.
To be considered for SSS, a student must be a U.S.
citizen, national, or meet the residence requirements
for federal student aid and be enrolled or accepted
for enrollment at EOU.
Students must also meet one of the following
requirements:
(neither parent has a baccalaureate degree).
For more information about the program or how to
apply, please visit www. eou.edu/sss.
Naomi Tuinstra
Advising Specialist Student Support Services/TRiO
(541) 962-3077
ntuinstra@eou.edu
TRiO—Accelerating Holistic Student Success
Page 2 Mountaineer Family Network
Staff and providers at the EOU Student Health Center
wish to extend a welcome to campus and our program.
The Student Health Center offers a wide variety of health
services to students. The mission of the Student Health
Center is to support academic pursuits by fostering
physical and psychological wellness and by promoting
healthy lifestyles among EOU students.
The clinic is staffed by Office Manager Carol Grubbe
and Office Specialist Melanie Grubbe and providers Vicki
Hill Brown, Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and Ginny
Elder FNP,, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.
FNPs are licensed to treat common acute and chronic
problems, to write prescriptions and order diagnostic
tests.
The clinic also offers immunizations, such as Hepatitis
B, tetanus and MMR. The Nurse Practitioners provide
health education, physical examinations for sports or
travel, female annual PAP exams and STD checks for
both males and females. The clinic maintains a small
formulary of prescription and over the counter
medications at low cost, as well as contraceptive supplies.
The cost for most services is covered through student fees
paid each term with the exception of some medications,
immunizations and labs.
——————————————————————
Ginny Elder
Clinical Director EOU Student Health
(541) 962-3524
shc@eou.edu
To Your Health: Connecting with Student Health Center

3. “We are a
program that
gives students
support in a way
that few other
programs can,
with an approach
that takes into
account the
whole student…
we know that
education is the
road to
independence”—
Michael Williams
TRiO Director
Page 3
Mountaineers on the Move: Brittany Hargrove
EOU Communications Senior and National Millennial Community Member Brittany Hargrove
finshed her capstone project by hosting native Oregonian and national radio personality Lars Larson
on campus in early May. “As a media arts and communication student and an avid political aficionado,
I cannot wait to hear what he has to say,” Hargrove added. “Conservative, liberal, or independent,
everyone in the audience will surely take something away from Lars’ speech.”
Over the past year, Brittany has also played an integral role in the creation and launch of EOU’s
chapter of the National Millennial Group. EOU is one of the original five universities from across
the nation to participate in the group. The EOU Millennial Community engages in career
development activities, including conference calls with top executives from the entertainment,
marketing and public relations industries. Along with participating in weekly Executive Calls, Brittany
and the EOU Millennial Community, Career Services Department and the College of Business
recently hosted Bill Imada, founder, Chairman and Chief Connectivity Officer of the IW Group to
engage students and present “Changing the Conversation” to an audience of students, faculty,
alumni and area employers.
Justin Chin
Director of Career Services
Inlow Hall 109
(541) 962-3090
jchin@eou.edu
Changing the Conversation: Diversity, Inclusion and Equity
In its effort to reach a wider and more diverse student
population, Gina Galaviz-Yap, Director of Admissions and
Donald Wolff, Interim Associate Provost, have reinvigorated
their efforts to make a presence for EOU along the I-5
Corridor. Galaviz-Yap recently hired Coty Lovelady to serve
as EOU’s Admission Counselor in the Portland-Metro area.
“Coty has played a key role in developing our presence with
the Portland-market. He is energetic and all students feel
welcomed by him.” Along with developing a ‘west-side’
presence, Galaviz-Yap has continued to foster and develop an
‘east-side’ focus by developing and launching Bienvenidos, a
dual language outreach program targeting high school Spanish
speaking families in rural eastern Oregon. To help support
Admissions’ charge to recruit underserved and diverse student
populations, Donald Wolff has also worked to support EOU’s
non-traditional and online students by further developing
regional centers across the state. “Many of our online
students are non-traditional—30 and older with career
experiences and families. We strive to give all of our students
a connection to the campus,” added Wolff. This work
reflects shifting paradigms for four-year universities not only
in demographics, and a new focus on retention, completion
and success.
With a focus on retention, completion and success, EOU
recently launched a credit-recovery pilot program. Susan
Whitelock recruited two other EOU faculty and staff
members to teach three on-campus weekend courses in which
students who were at-risk of failing enrolled to recover credits
and stay in satisfactory academic standing. “We want to give
our students a sense of belonging, hope and support” stated
Whitelock.
EOU students with support and mentorship of faculty and
staff have been at the forefront of changing the conversations
whether it is inviting Walidah Imarisha to campus to present,
the International Student Association’s Intercultural Dinner &
Show, hosting Lars Larson, the College of Education’s
Center for Culturally Responsive Practices or Janet Camp,
Coordinator International Student Services, connecting her
advisees to elementary, middle and high school students in La
Grande. Na Meng, MBA candidate from Xi’an, China, has
shared her mastery of Chinese ceremonies to EOU’s and La
Grande’s community. Tea culture originates from China and
is important for my culture. I hope that by sharing the
ceremony with students, La Grande will become more
interested in my country and its culture,” said Meng.
Academic, personal and career success is dependent upon
how we learn to navigate, engage and communicate in a
changing world. EOU’s students, faculty and staff are
empowering each other with the skills and arena to change the
course of the university and region.
Justin Chin
Director of Career Services
(541) 962-3090
jchin@eou.edu

4. Mountaineer Family Network
The Mountaineer Family Network is designated to help parents and other family members be informed
about matters of importance to EOU students and their families.
If you have any questions, please contract us at the Mountaineer Family Network:
Phone Number: 541-962-3672 or 800-452-8639
Email: mfngroup@eou.edu
Mailing Address: Eastern Oregon University
One University Boulevard
Inlow Hall 109
La Grande, OR 97850
For other news and events check out www.eou.edu/news/
Summer
Edition
 “My
Summer
Job”
 Gearing-Up
for the Fall
 Basecamp
Abroad