Amy Belcastro
Professor
PhD, Educational Policy, University of California, Davis, 2009; MA, in Education, California State University, Sacramento, 1996; BA, History, University of California, Santa Cruz, 1988
Dr. Belcastro has been at ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø since 2001. Prior to coming to ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø, she worked as a member of the research and development team for the California Department of Education. She also taught in alternative education as well as teaching Social Studies, Language Arts, Multiple Subjects, and being a Title I Reading Specialist. Her professional areas of research include education policy; higher education retention and success of historically underserved populations; K-12 curriculum and assessment policy; social-emotional learning; and issues of social justice and democratic schools.
Office:Â Education/Psychology 134
Phone: 541.552.8245
E-Mail: belcasta@sou.edu
Tanya Blakeley
Instructor
MS, Education, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 1998; BS, Education, Texas Christian University, 1997
Tanya Blakeley has been with ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø since 2009. Prior to moving to Oregon, she worked as a classroom teacher in grades 5-12, with an emphasis in English and Social Studies at the secondary level in both traditional and charter schools. Additionally, she has extensive experience in various non-profit organizations in areas of education and program coordination. Tanya models an inclusive classroom and believes in building a supportive learning community for ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø students.
Office:Â EP 112
Phone: 541.552.8095
E-Mail: blakeleyt@sou.edu
Amanda Casto
Assistant Professor of Education
PhD, Curriculum & Instruction, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 2019; MSEd, Curriculum, Instruction, & Assessment, Walden University, 2010; BA, Social Studies, Madonna University, 2007
Dr. Casto began teaching at ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø in 2019. Prior to that, she devoted 12 years to teaching students in grades K-8 and improving the quality of instruction for students in North Carolina. She has taught in a variety of K-8 settings throughout her professional journey, including traditional public, STEM magnet, private, and charter schools. Dr. Casto is most passionate about topics in education related to the themes of STEM education, multicultural education, and the professional development of preservice and inservice teachers.
Office:Â Education/Psychology 126
Phone: 541.552.7051
E-Mail: castoa@sou.edu
Dr. Teresa Coker
Assistant Professor – Education
Dr. Coker is co-coordinator of the Environmental Education Graduate Program at ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø, and she teaches in both the Environmental Education program and the School of Education. Teresa approaches education through an equity lens, continually seeking to make education accessible and attainable for all. She has experience working in both nonformal and formal education settings. Her nonformal environmental education experience includes teaching at Sandy Creek Nature Center, the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont, and the Urban Tree House Project. Her formal education background includes elementary teaching and faculty positions at other institutions. In addition to her educational experience, her research interests have led her to examine program evaluation for nonformal organizations.
Office: Education 136/Science 226
Phone: 541.552.6871
E-Mail: cokert1@sou.edu
William Greene
Professor
PhD, Educational Psychology, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1998; MA, Education, California State University, Fresno, 1992; BA, English Literature with a Multiple Subjects Teaching Credential, California State University, Fresno, 1981
Dr. Greene has taught in a variety of grade levels and cultural contexts that include California, Hawaii, and American Samoa. He came to Oregon in the fall of 1998 to help launch the newly established Master of Arts in Teaching program at ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø. His current teaching and scholarship focus on holistic education and human development.
Office:Â Education/Psychology 120
Phone: 541.552.6921
E-Mail: greenew@sou.edu
Younghee Kim
Professor
PhD, Early Intervention and Early Childhood Special Education, University of Oregon, 1996
Dr. Kim taught in the School of Education at Oregon State University from 1996-99 and worked as a child development specialist during the years 1990-96. Dr. Kim has been teaching in the Early Childhood Development and Elementary Education programs in the School of Education at ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø since 1999. Her scholarship includes holistic teaching and learning, core reflection approach to teaching, contemplative education, and linking play to practice.
Office:Â Education/Psychology 122
Phone: 541.552.8247
E-Mail: kimy@sou.edu
Jesse Longhurst
Associate Professor, Department Chair
PhD, Curriculum and Instruction, New Mexico State University, 2014; MA, Education, ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø, 1999; BA, Theater, Lewis and Clark, 1997
Dr. Longhurst has been with ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø since 2011 and with the School of Education since 2014. Her research interests include rural education, teacher education and the role of place, class and culture in schooling. Before coming to ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø, Dr. Longhurst was a high school language arts, drama and social studies teacher as well as community college writing instructor.
Office:Â Education/Psychology 113
Phone: 541.552.6312
E-Mail: longhursj@sou.edu
Somer Matthews
Assistant Professor
PhD, Special Education and Educational Research Methodology, University of North Carolina Greensboro; M.Ed, Special Education, Western Carolina University; B.S. Special Education – General Curriculum, Adapted Curriculum, Elementary Education, and Reading
Somer Matthews is the Special Education and MAT Year 1 Coordinator in the School of Education. Dr. Matthews is a recent addition to ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø, joining us in July of 2024 and bringing expertise in Special Education. Prior to ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø, Dr. Matthews spent time as a K-12 special education and Elementary regular education teacher, ranging from a STEM specialist, to inclusion, to self-contained settings. She has taught in Hawaii, Japan, and Virginia. Her research interests include sexuality and sexual education for students with disabilities, Universal Design for Learning, and any research that invites the participants into collaboration: Nothing about us without us!
Office:Â Education/Psychology 111
Phone: 541.552.6514
E-Mail: matthewss@sou.edu
Renee Owen
Assistant Professor
EdD, Organizational and Adult Learning and Development, Columbia University Teachers College, 2019; Certificate in Executive Non-Profit Management, Duke University Fuqua School of Business; MA Educational Leadership, University of Colorado, Denver, 2007; BFA University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 1990
Dr. Owen is a scholar-practitioner in adult education and leadership in education and business. In education, she is Coordinator of the Principal Administrator Licensure (PAL) program at ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø, transforming teachers into change-leaders, prepared to re-imagine K-12 education and develop schools into thriving communities.
With more than two decades of experience as a school leader in public and private schools, Renee uses a holistic, ecological approach toward closing the opportunity gap and uplifting the human spirit. She also brings her experience and scholarship forward as Senior Editor for the Holistic Education Review (HER), a facet of the Center for Holistic Education, located at ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø. Regionally, she serves on the advisory board for the Southern Oregon Regional Educators Network (SOREN) promoting safety, significance, and belonging in our public schools.
Internationally, Dr. Owen is the board facilitator for the International Transformative Learning Association (ITLA), and she consults with multinational corporations to develop leaders and improve team communication and inclusion. She is a futurist, currently working on an AI simulation project as a member of the Innovation Community at ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø. Her ongoing interests are in transformative learning, contemplative practices, the neuroscience of equity and belonging, and self-organizing governance.
Office: Education/Psychology 164B
Phone: 541.552.8422
E-Mail: owenr@sou.edu
Nigel Waterton
Assistant Professor
Ed.D, Curriculum and Instruction, Montana State University, 2016; MAT English and Secondary Teaching, University of Portland, 1994; BA, Philosophy & Theology, University of Portland, 1991.
Dr. Waterton taught secondary English in Colorado and Montana for fourteen years before working in teacher education at Montana State University in Bozeman. His areas of interest and research include rural teacher education, culturally sustaining education, narrative inquiry, English education, particularly writing pedagogies, and the National Writing Project’s influence on teachers and students.
Office:Â Education/Psychology 130
Phone: 541.552.6417
E-Mail: watertonn@sou.edu
Education Staff
Anita Caster
Graduate Administrative Services Coordinator
Master in Management, ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø, 2000; BA, Education (Elementary and Music), ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø, 1989
Office:Â Education/Psychology 130
Phone: 541.552.6996
E-Mail: caster@sou.edu
Miaya Dombroski
Clinical Practices Coordinator
BS, Psychology, 2016
Office:Â Education/Psychology 158
Phone: 541.552.6928
E-Mail: dombroskm@sou.edu
Mary Patridge
Student Success Coordinator
BS, Social Science, Western Oregon State College, 1989; EdM, College Student Services Administration, Oregon State University, 1992
In her role as Student Success Coordinator, Mary advises new and transfer students as they set a path toward reaching their educational and career goals. From taking the first steps of registration to finding footing in a major, Mary is dedicated to providing support and access to resources for Education, Health & Leadership students while always encouraging them to be leaders in their own lives. She is excited to be a part of the diverse, innovative and welcoming culture of ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø. A long-time resident of southern Oregon, Mary enjoys spending time with her family, theater, running and volunteering for creative organizations that serve children and teens.
Office:Â Education/Psychology 161
Phone: 541.552.7154
E-Mail: patridgm1@sou.edu
K.C. Sam
Distance Learning Transfer Specialist
Office:Â Education/Psychology 142
Phone: 541.552.6936
E-Mail: samk@sou.edu
Contact the School of Education
ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø Education Program
1250 Siskiyou Blvd.
Ashland, OR 97520
541.552.6936
– Questions About The ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø Education Program? –