Dec 9, 2024 | Alumni, News, Student Success
Southwestern’s newest degree program, Associate of Applied Science in Human Services, will graduate its first cohort of students this spring. Already, they are planning their future careers and how they want to serve the community. What draws people into the Human Services field? Some answers might surprise you.
Anna (Carder) Perry – Coos Campus
Anna Perry once thought she’d like to be a teacher. She tried college in 1989 enrolling in fall term at SWOCC. But life just didn’t cooperate for her to continue. It was after working for many years in the school districts, assisting children dealing with disabilities and behavior challenges, that she took the leap. Those years spent at the South Coast Educational Service District and the North Bend School District fueled her hunger to figure out what a child needs. “Behavior became my curiosity!” Perry said.
Born in Japan to an American dad and Japanese mother, at 10 Anna immigrated to Oregon. She ended up in the foster care system. She would spend the next seven years bouncing between eight different homes. Sometimes she was removed from a living situation without any explanation. A case worker would pick her up from school and take her to a new home. “I felt a lot of embarrassment. Wondering what was wrong with me that people didn’t want me,” she remembers. “But as I matured, I tried to take with me one positive lesson learned from each home situation and use it in my life.”
Ultimately, these experiences led Anna into a career working to understand and help children.
“My degree is a goal I finally see coming to light. Now I want to go back to working with kids locally and bringing all that I’ve learned to the community I love.”
“I’ve been really impressed with how my schoolwork and classes have organically complimented each other. From my Interpersonal Communications class with Dr. Ali Mageehon to Psychology with Cheryl Davies, and my Human Services classes with Dr. Lewis. They really have this curriculum figured out! They have the right people with the right experience sharing their knowledge.”
“My education at SWOCC has given me confidence. I understand so much more, and I have grown with new skills, knowledge, and experience all centered around mental health and behavioral issues.”
Ashley Cook – Curry Campus
The day we interviewed Ashley Cook for this feature coincidentally happened to be a significant milestone in her life. Nine years ago, she got clean, after spending more than half of her life struggling with addiction. To get away from a bad situation in California, family members helped her start over in Brookings.
Homeless, with only a backpack and a skateboard, it’s here she found St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church – which proved to be a pivotal connection for her. She started engaging at the church, getting meals, showers, and volunteering for whatever needed to be done. Eventually, she landed a job cleaning hotel rooms.
Slowly, slowly she got her life back: a driver’s license, a place to live, her kids! Narcotics anonymous was her main support resource. One of their mottoes resonated with her, “we only keep what we have by giving it away.” After losing both her father and brother in drug-related deaths, Ashley gained a new perspective and felt compelled by a desire to give back and be of service to others.
So, she signed up for school. “I knew I wanted to do something useful, but I was scared to change. I’m too old. It’s too hard, I would think.”
“I want to be the person for struggling teens that I wish I had when I was their age.”
Eventually Ashley met with Val Cowan, the Curry Campus Academic Advisor. When Val learned about Ashley’s background, and desire to become a drug and alcohol counselor, she knew the Human Services degree would be a perfect match.
Have there been challenges? Of course. “I would be feeling down on myself. This is hard. I’m not doing well . . . then I’d turn in a paper and get an A and think, ‘Wow, I can do this.’ I also struggled with using technology. I wasn’t tech savvy, so I had to learn all of that, too. But John and Val at the Curry Campus were always there for me. And Dr. Lewis is amazing!”
“Now I’m addicted to learning and I want to keep going, perhaps earn my bachelor’s so I can work with young adults or at-risk teens. I’m ready!”
Whether working with individuals facing mental health challenges, addiction, families in crisis, or marginalized communities, social workers and counselors play a crucial role in supporting and empowering people to overcome obstacles and build better futures. Southwestern is committed to educating these future professionals!
To learn more about the Human Services degree contact Dr. Jenn Lewis at 541-888-7249 or by email at jennifer.lewis@socc.edu.
Read what our featured students have to say about their instructor Dr. Lewis:
“Professor Lewis is the heart and soul of my decision to continue my education. Her kindness, caring heart, and dedication have surpassed my expectations. I want to thank her for her compassion as we’ve navigated many challenging subjects.” – Anna Perry
“She’s an amazing teacher bringing tons of experience with her. She’s very supportive and understanding. She’s always there encouraging me when I am struggling with an assignment or just in general. She makes everyone feel included and doesn’t want to leave anybody behind.” – Ashley Cook
Dec 9, 2024 | Community, Curry Campus, News
Jeremy Skinner never imagined himself volunteering on the SWOCC Board of Education. These days he is attending meetings, learning about fiscal policies and strategizing on community college issues and advocacy.
“I signed on because I believe in what the college is doing and believe it is doing a good job. I would like to contribute to that,” Jeremy said.
His path to SWOCC actually started in 1979. He was born in Gold Beach. A lot of people who have children here, just assume they will move away when they finish high school. Jeremy did. They hope their children will move back, but most never do, except Jeremy.
After high school and thinking he would go into science, as a botanist, he moved away for college. First to attend Portland State and then University of Washington, and there switched to a different science – library science. That led him to a job working with archives and rare books. He wasn’t particularly happy, and he and his wife, Phoebe, a teacher, decided to move closer to family. He got the job managing the Gold Beach Public Library.
When you live in a small town, you get asked to volunteer. He started on the College’s budget committee and before long agreed to fill a vacancy on the SWOCC Board. He believes the College is an economic driver, particularly in training the health care workforce.
“The demographics have changed a lot since I grew up. When I was growing up, the graduating class at Gold Beach High School was 70. Now it’s 30 or 35,” he said. “There are fewer families that have middle class jobs.”
He likes that SWOCC has a campus in Curry and provides a way for young people to train for better jobs that help them afford to live here. He wants to see even more connection between the College and high schools. It helps young people gain familiarity with college and job training, and be more confident.
Over time, more older people on fixed incomes have moved to the region, and Jeremy is one to ask: “How do we serve these folks? How do we include them?” He’s pleased to see the community education programs at the campus and in the future would like to see more engagement in arts and culture. He expects to have time to work on that. He’s not going anywhere.
“I want to have a job that impacts people on a daily basis. I want to give back to the community in the work I do. It’s not a chore. It’s fun. And, it’s a beautiful place, too.”
Dec 6, 2024 | Community, News
COOS BAY, OR – Southwestern Oregon Community College invites 5th to 12th grade students to join us for STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) Club for Girls “Go for Launch!” on Tuesday, January 28, 2025. This science-immersion event will be from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm in Umpqua Hall, on the Coos Campus, 1988 Newmark Ave., Coos Bay. This is a FREE program.
Students will engage with professors in hands-on activities across multiple scientific disciplines to explore how different fields of science work together to complete a mission to send astronauts into space.
Activities will include working alongside the College’s SPEAR Student Researchers, who are involved in various STEAM projects. There will also be an opportunity to experience the planetarium show “Apollo & Beyond – Conquering Gravity” in our new Discovery Dome Planetarium. This digital theater space immerses students in a show that takes them on an adventure.
The STEAM Club for Girls focuses on supporting and encouraging girls through their STEAM educational journey. We also share books, podcasts, and other helpful resources focused on girls in science. Girls who participate in this program can stay connected online where we continue to mentor and share quarterly news and activities with them.
STEAM education projects help students visualize career pathways in science, technology, engineering, and math. The “A” adds in the arts, such as humanities, dance, drama, visual arts, and design. When people learn in all these areas together, they gain soft skills that can help grow ability in out-of-the-box thinking and collaboration.
Register soon as spots are limited. For more information on this event, registration, and other upcoming events, contact Krystal Hopper Meyers, STEAM Pathways Assistant, at 541-888-7416, or krystal.hopper@socc.edu.
Nov 25, 2024 | Curry Campus, Curry News, News, OCCI News
Winter Term 2024-25 is quickly approaching! Classes start January 6, 2025. Below are instructions about how to register. If you are experiencing any issues registering after reading the below, please contact us:
- Coos Campus Students: Call 541-888-7352 or Email
- Curry Campus Students: Call 541-813-1677 or Email
REGISTRATION FOR DEGREE OR CERTIFICATE SEEKING STUDENTS:
If you are already a current/admitted student, below are instructions on registering.
Not a current or admitted student? You’ll need to first complete an Application for Admission to Southwestern** – Submit your application by December 18 to ensure processing prior to the holiday closure. Not sure whether or not you’re an admitted student? Contact us using the information above! (**Note: If you’re a community member simply looking to take a credit class for fun or personal enrichment, you’ll complete the Community Education and Personal Enrichment Form in lieu of the Application for Admission).
Winter Term 2024-25 credit classes begin January 6, 2025. Registration for credit classes is available November 4, 2024 – January 8, 2025 (from January 9-15, 2025, you will first need instructor consent to register for a class). To register:
- First clear with your advisor! If you’re unsure who your advisor is, you may call 541-888-7405 or schedule an advising meeting. Curry Campus students call 541-813-1667.
- Login to myLakerLink using your student ID and password.
- Search for courses to add under the “2024-2025 Winter Term” drop down.
REGISTRATION FOR COMMUNITY CLASSES (COMMUNITY EDUCATION):
Winter Term 2024-25 community education class registration opens December 11, 2024 at 8:00 a.m. To register, follow the instructions on the top of the community class page.
WINTERSESSION REGISTRATION:
Wintersession classes are fully online–choose from six different four-week classes that take place over the winter break: December 9, 2024 – January 6, 2025. Registration is available through December 9, 2024 (December 9th is also the first day of classes). For all the details and to register for these fast-track classes, follow the instructions HERE.
As a reminder, all academic term dates and other important milestones may be found on the Academic Calendar. Click on the “2024-25 Academic Calendar” button for a .pdf version, or click on the “categories” button and filter for “instructional calendar” to view the online version.
Nov 25, 2024 | Community, News, OCCI News
Celebrate the holiday season while supporting a great cause! Oregon Coast Culinary Institute (OCCI) invites the community to purchase festive stollen, handmade by OCCI chefs, from December 7–20, 2024. Proceeds will benefit the culinary competition team, helping these aspiring chefs showcase their skills on a national stage.
What is stollen?
Stollen is a traditional German holiday bread filled with dried fruits, nuts, and almond paste, dusted with powdered sugar for a festive, snowy finish. Known for its rich, slightly sweet flavor, it’s a perfect addition to your holiday table!
Meet-and-Greet Kickoff Event
Join OCCI chefs on December 7 from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. for a special kickoff event:
- When: December 7, 2024, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
- Where: Past to Present Emporium, 281 South Broadway, Coos Bay
- What: Meet OCCI’s chef instructors, sample holiday treats, and shop for stollen, sea glass crystal candy by Chef Laura Williams, and pastries by Chef Alison Murphy
Sales will continue through December 20th, so there’s plenty of time to grab delicious handmade treats for your holiday celebrations.
For more information and to purchase stollen, call 541-808-9553.
Nov 12, 2024 | Alumni, Community, News
COOS BAY, OR – Southwestern Oregon Community College is excited to announce the acquisition of a ‘new to us’ Fire Truck generously donated by the Charleston Rural Fire Protection District under the leadership of Chief Mick Sneddon, 2010 Southwestern Distinguished Alum.
The Charleston Rural Fire Protection District donated a 1991 Pierce Arrow Fire Engine to Southwestern’s Fire Science Program, replacing a similar engine owned by the College.
The newer engine is in superior condition and has several upgrades such as LED exterior lighting, enhanced access to the interior pump assembly, aluminum wheels, and new tires. The engine has been maintained and tested to industry standards throughout its years of operation. The staff at Charleston Fire worked hard to clean and polish the engine, replaced some of the valving, and cleaned up the piping around the fire pump.
Charleston Fire has been providing maintenance and repairs to the current Fire Science Program engine since it was purchased through grants from local fire agencies and fire associations. We’re happy to confirm that Charleston Fire has agreed to continue this invaluable servicing of the new engine.
The upgraded engine from Charleston Fire & Rescue gives the Southwestern Fire Science program a functional and appealing vehicle. It will serve as a key training tool and help attract and retain students. This engine exchange is a win-win. An increase in students in the Southwestern Fire Science program provides local fire agencies with more resources for their firefighter training programs.
You’ll find more information about our Fire Science program in our eCatalog. To learn more about becoming a student call or text 541-240-8227.
Photo left to right: Dean Daniel Koopman, Chief Mick Sneddon, Captain Russell Shield, President Patty Scott, Fire Science Instructor Mike Seldon, Vice President of Instruction Ali Mageehon.
Nov 8, 2024 | Community, Curry Campus
Brookings, OR – Southwestern Oregon Community College is hosting Mushroom Identification workshops in Brookings and Port Orford. The workshops are scheduled to meet November 15 and 16, 2024 in Brookings and November 16 and 17, 2024 in Port Orford. The class will be taught by mycologist Bob Burch.
Positive identification of local edible and non-edible species — as well as favorable locations, preparation, and preservation methods — will be covered during the evening lecture. The group will participate in a field trip the next day to hunt for wild mushrooms. After the field trip, students will have an opportunity to taste the mushrooms. Registered students may bring mushrooms to the class for identification.
The Brookings class is scheduled to begin with a lecture from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. on Friday, November 15 at Southwestern’s Curry Campus, followed by a field trip from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 16. The Brookings field trip is under a Special Use Permit with the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest.
The Port Orford class will begin with a lecture from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 16 at the Port Orford American Legion Hall, followed by a field trip from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 17.
The cost of the workshop is $55. Space is limited so pre-registration is required. For more information or to register, those interested can contact Southwestern’s Curry Campus at 541-813-1667.
Nov 7, 2024 | OCCI News
Join us at OCCI (1988 Newmark Ave., Coos Bay) on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024 from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. for a pop-up sale! We’ll be offering delicious pizza, salads, pastries and more!
POP-UP SALE: PIZZA & MORE
All Pizza’s are $12:
- Cheese Supreme (Mozzarella, Ricotta, Parmesan with Red Sauce and Basil)
- Meat Head (Sausage, Pepperoni, Chorizos, Red Sauce)
- Mushroom Sampler (Selection of Roasted Mushrooms with Truffle Cream)
- Vineyard (Oregon Blue Cheese, Cranberry, Caramelized Onion, Almonds Arugula & Hot Honey)
All Salads are $12:
- Italian (Mixed Greens, Salami, Peppers, Onions, Olives, Tomatoes, Italian Dressing)
- Caesar Salad (Served Classic Fashion)
- Winter Kale (Mixed baby kale, apple, bacon, onion& fried quinoa, balsamic dressing)
Other Options:
- Assorted Pastries – $3
- Cappuccino – $3
- Single Shot Espresso – $1
- Cup of Coffee – $2
- Soft Drink – $2
We hope to see you there! Questions? Email or call: 541-888-7309.
Oct 29, 2024 | Curry Campus, News
COOS BAY, OR – Southwestern Oregon Community College is offering students a chance to take fast-track classes during the winter holiday. These “Wintersession” classes will be fully online, allowing students to work on a schedule that fits their needs. The classes start Monday, December 9, 2024, and end Monday, January 6, 2025. Registration for these classes opens Monday, November 4, 2024.
These classes are ideal for students who need prerequisite courses or who want to accelerate their time to completion, maximize enrollment if they are part-time, or return to or maintain athletic eligibility.
“We’ve heard from our students that they would like options to accelerate learning. Southwestern is committed to our students’ success and completion, which is why we are making these classes available. A fast-track, four-week online class is rigorous, hard work. The College is here to support students who want an extra opportunity to excel,” shared Ali Mageehon, Vice President of Instruction and Student Services at Southwestern.
This special Wintersession Term includes six, four-week classes:
- Interpersonal Communication (COMM 218Z, four credits)
- Life Span Development (PSY 237, three credits)
- Medical Terminology I (AH 111, three credits)
- Personal Health (HE 250, three credits)
- Sociology of Sport (SOC 208, three credits)
- World Mythology & Religion (HUM 206, three credits)
Students are responsible for tuition, fees, and cost of textbooks. All six classes are eligible for financial aid.
Registration for Wintersession opens November 4, 2024 and ends on December 9, 2024. Last day to drop with no grade and receive a full refund is December 10, 2024 by 5:00 pm. After this date students are not eligible for a refund.
Register for Wintersession classes via the myLakerLink portal. Search for courses under the “2024-2025 Wintersession Term” drop down.
Students can also register for courses at the Student Success Center in Stensland Hall on the Coos Campus (1988 Newmark Ave., Coos Bay), or at the Curry Campus front desk (96082 Lone Ranch Parkway, Brookings).
For more information or for help registering call the Student Success Center at 541-888-7352, or email firststop@socc.edu.
Oct 21, 2024 | Community, Curry Campus, News
COOS BAY, OR – Southwestern Oregon Community College invites the community to join us on Thursday, November 21, 2024 at 6:00 pm, for “The Physics of Anime” with Dr. Roman Gomez from Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), San Antonio, TX. Dr. Gomez will also be giving us an update on what he has been working on at SwRI! This is a free event; all ages are welcome.
Coos County residents can join us in-person in the Umpqua Hall lecture room (room 184) on the Coos Campus, 1988 Newmark Ave., Coos Bay.
Curry County residents can join us for a watch party in the Community Room on the Curry Campus, 96082 Lone Ranch Parkway, Brookings.
For those not able to attend in person the lecture will be streamed live on the College’s YouTube channel at: www.youtube.com/@southwesternOR/streams.
About the Lecture:
Anime is a medium that has recently become quite popular. Given its nation of origin, it introduces us to some very new concepts and ideas. Some religious and cultural concepts are distinctly Japanese and help broaden our social and cultural worldviews. However, while familiar, others may still be relatively new to many viewers, one of which is science. While some anime directly addresses scientific principles, others, especially those in the science fiction genre, introduce these concepts in their storytelling. Surprisingly, anime sometimes gets their physics right, giving us a vehicle for enjoyably discussing very complex concepts if we allow a few “miracles” to occur. This lecture will discuss some of these concepts in depth in a beginner-friendly way. It’s meant to be one one-part physics lecture, one one-part geek-out session, and a lot of fun, just like watching anime.
About the Presenter:
Roman Gomez has over 18 years of work experience in the field of space science and engineering. Roman has worked as a Lead Scientist at Southwest Research Institute since 2008, where they developed, calibrated, implemented, and analyzed data from plasma instruments on spacecraft. Roman was involved in projects such as the MMS-HPCA mission and the IES-Rosetta ion and electron spectrometer. Prior to that, they worked as a Research Scientist at the same institute, where they participated in the development of space plasma instrument prototypes and completed their PhD in space science and engineering. Roman also has experience as an Adjunct Professor of Physics at St. Mary’s University since 2018, where they teach physics courses. Roman has previously worked as an Adjunct Professor at Northwest Vista College, instructing students in astronomy and physics basics. Additionally, Roman served as a Graduate Research Assistant at Rice University, focusing on dark matter search and contributing to projects in gamma-ray and x-ray astronomy. Dr. Gomez has a Bachelor’s degree in Physics and Biology from Texas State University (1999-2002) and holds a Master of Science and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Physics from Rice University (2003-2011).
For more information about the lecture series contact Dr. Aaron Coyner, Associate Professor, Engineering and Physics at aaron.coyner@socc.edu or 541-888-7244.
For more information on upcoming lectures contact Krystal Hopper Meyers, STEAM Pathways Assistant, at 541-888-7416, or krystal.hopper@socc.edu.
To learn more about STEM degrees at Southwestern visit: https://www.socc.edu/programs-classes/stem/.
