SOU faculty
Southern Oregon University has employed many outstanding faculty members since its original establishment in 1872. Among them are many women who have worked tirelessly to provide comprehensive education, foster a safe and productive learning environment, and expand professional and educational opportunities for students. Special Collections would like to thank all the women, gender nonconforming, and genderqueer faculty who work hard for the benefit of the students and the university. Featured below are three short biographical sketches about a small selection of these faculty members.
This is the picture on the front of Betty Laduke's business card. It features her sitting in front of one of her paintings.
Betty LaDuke is an internationally renowned artist, activist, and former art professor at Southern Oregon College. She’s traveled to places like Africa, Latin America, India, and China, and she wrote and illustrated several books on social issues and politics in art about the places she visited. Much of her work centers around providing visibility for women and their struggles around the world. LaDuke’s art has been featured on the covers of several books—most of which are focused on women’s studies—and she’s donated many of her pieces to public institutions in Southern Oregon.
Watch an interview conducted by Stories of Southern Oregon featuring Betty LaDuke here.
Research more on the Betty LaDuke collection here.
This is the front cover of the May 14, 1993, issue of The Oregonian. It features a picture of Betty LaDuke standing to the left of her painting "Cameroon Corn Mothers."
This is a print of Betty LaDuke's acrylic painting "Africa: Osun Magic." It features an African woman surrounded by various animals.
This is an article from the April 1, 1986, issue of The Oregonian entitled "Latin art reflects political lifestyle." It details Betty LaDuke's travels to Chile, Nicaragua, and Haiti and the consequential women-centered art she's been inspired to create. The article also includes a picture of her painting.
This is the first page of issue three of the third Friday edition of The Siskiyou (released 1/21/1972). This page features a black and white drawing by Betty LaDuke entitled "Daemonic Wanderers."
This is an image of Barbara Irwin during her SODA Stories of Southern Oregon interview.
Barbara Irwin worked as a faculty member for the Southern Oregon College Nursing Program, which offered students an Associate’s Degree. When she started, the program was located in a small cottage behind the school’s science building, and she was one of only six faculty members. Barbara played an important role at the college, and she later helped integrate the RN to BSN program.
Watch an interview conducted by Stories of Southern Oregon featuring Barbara Irwin here.
This is an image of Señora Chela Tapp-Kocks during her SODA Stories of Southern Oregon interview.
Señora Chela Tapp-Kocks began teaching Spanish and French at Southern Oregon College in 1967, where she enjoyed conducting early-morning classes. After deciding to stay at SOC instead of pursuing a doctorate, she collaborated with Native American students to create an open dialogue about local issues. Señora Chela was also instrumental in partnering Ashland and Guanajuato as sister cities and SOC and Universidad de Guanajuato as sister universities. She taught Spanish at the university for over thirty years.
Watch an interview conducted by Stories of Southern Oregon featuring Señora Chela here.