EOU’s New President Shares Excitement in Joining the La Grande Community
By Garrett Christensen on Tuesday, May 23rd, 2023 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
LA GRANDE – On May 9, 2023, Eastern Oregon University’s Board of Trustees officially named Dr. Kelly A. Ryan, Ph.D. as EOU’s thirteenth president. On Friday, May 19, both the public and students had the opportunity to meet Ryan in person as part of her first formal visit to La Grande. During the public reception that afternoon, Elkhorn Media Group caught up with Ryan and got her thoughts on the new position and her soon to be new home.
For those unfamiliar, Dr. Kelly A. Ryan currently serves as the Interim Chancellor at Indiana University Southeast and brings with her a history of both administrative and academic work. Though traveling through Western Oregon from time to time, the president’s position represents her first long term foray into the state and, according to her, the initial job interview at EOU was actually her first time even visiting Eastern Oregon. As to why she pursued the position with no prior connection to the area, she clarified:
“The position came to my desk, and it looked like a really great opportunity because the missions are aligned really well with my own personal values and principals in higher ed. I’m very interested in trying to expand that American Dream of college going, and the best way to do that is through places like EOU, campuses that are accessible, affordable, with faculty and staff engaged in building relationships with students. I just sort of recognized that, and I want to be part of places like that.”
Now that she has found a place like that, Eastern Oregon has seemingly already made a positive impression, with Ryan commenting on the friendliness of the community, the campus’s dedication toward its long-term goals and, most strikingly, the beauty of the local environment. As Ryan herself stated, “I know you guys hear that all the time, but it really is special here. There’s something special here.” Ryan has also been busy meeting with students, learning about the impact the university has had on them and seeing some of their work firsthand during symposium.
As for what’s next, Ryan will continue to fulfil her interim position for several more weeks before transferring fully to EOU. When asked what she was most looking forward to as part of her new position, she gave a response that will sound familiar to both locals and new arrivals alike:
“Getting a house. It’s a real challenge here. It’s like a rite of passage is the way I’m starting to see it. It’s like, I’m becoming a member of this community by going through the torture of becoming a member of this community.”
Don’t confuse this remark for a pessimistic personality, as EOU’s new president is anything but pessimistic in her goals and intentions for the university. In her own words:
“I have a sense of humor. That’s important to know. I do laugh, and I’m kidding, and it is a joke. Don’t take everything I say seriously. I like to have fun, I’m a normal human. I do think having a sense of humor is a normal part of life and I do hope people are willing to banter with me.”
Joking aside though, Ryan made a point that she wants to make every effort to “listen and learn,” both with her fellow administrators and the student body. This is reflective of the challenges presented by the transition between roles. Though Ryan is more than confident she’s qualified for the new position, she noted that it requires both more direct communication and a greater focus long-term decision making, summarizing her thoughts as:
“The best way to make a mistake is to come in and think you have all the answers. The truth is, I’m new to this campus and I’m new to this community. Unless I take time to learn what’s happened in the past and what’s going on in the present, I’m going to trip over myself and I’m not going to make good decisions. I’ve got to focus on that, but I’ve got to tell you, I’m going to be very, very interested and engaged with making sure students who come here are successful and stay here, making sure this campus is as engaged with the community as they can be in sustainable ways, and then of course working on enrolment.”
