Civic Engagement
About us:
Brittany Depew, Environmental & Community Engagement Coordinator
Brittany was born and raised outside Denver, Colorado, and completed her BA in Liberal Arts at Colorado State University. After graduation, she lived abroad and traveled the globe, immersed in diverse cultures and learning about herself along the way. Upon returning to the States, she moved to Portland, where she fell in love with bikes, gardening, buying locally and the beauty of the Pacific Northwest. After a number of years enjoying the NW from behind cafe countertops, Brittany returned to school at Portland State University, where she received her MA in Sustainability Education. She feels extremely fortunate that her job search landed her in Ashland and she has loved every minute of her time at SOU. She looks forward to exploring the entire Rogue Valley with her husband and their two dogs.
She can be reached at either depewb@sou.edu or 541-552-6454.
Sophia Mantheakis, Hunger & Homelessness Alleviation Coordinator
Sophia was born in Medford, OR, and she grew up in the Applegate along the river. She attended high school in Medford, and she graduated with honors from Southern Oregon University with a degree in Sociology and a minor in Women's Studies. She has worked in non-profit organizations since she was 14, and she is excited to focus on issues of hunger and homelessness with students at SOU after working as a student with the resource centers, the Gender Sexuality Union, student government, and the Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies program.
In her spare time, she can be found hula hooping, learning trapeze, dancing, writing poetry, and hiking the White Rabbit trail.
She can be reached at either mantheaks@sou.edu or 541-552-8039.
Megan Ziemer, Student Civic Engagement Coordinator
Born in Grants Pass, OR, Megan has lived along the west coast her whole life. After graduating from Brookings-Harbor High School in 2010, she came to Southern Oregon University. Studying Business Management, she hopes to one day use her degree in everyday life. A sophomore at SOU, she is busy with classes, work and friends. Volunteering since she can remember, she has been involved with many organizations, including Girl Scouts and serving dinner to those in need, among others.
When not busy you can find her watching one of her many movies, swinging on the swings or learning how to whistle.
She can be reached at ziemerm@sou.edu.
Kate Lundquist, Student Civic Engagement Coordinator
Kate grew up in Jacksonville, OR. After high school she left for Eugene to pursue a BA in Anthropology at University of Oregon, where she also worked with incoming freshmen and volunteered around campus and Eugene. She graduated in 2011 and spent some time in Portland before moving back to the Valley to work in non-profits and apply for grad school. She's attending SOU to pursue her MA in the Masters of Interdisciplinary Studies program, focusing on socio-cultural studies in education and non-profit management. She hopes to work with non-profits focusing on access to education.
When she manages to grab some spare time between readings for grad school, she can be found reading something fictional in a coffee shop, enjoying the gorgeous nature of Oregon, or having a movie night with her roommates at home.
She can be reached at lundquisk@sou.edu.