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--> --> Brimmer lands SOU vice president post By Maggie McGehee Ashland Daily Tidings Following a nationwide search, Southern Oregon University President Elisabeth Zinser has tapped Diane Brimmer of New Mexico Highlands University as SOU's new vice president of student affairs. "She is very, very highly qualified," Zinser said Wednesday. "She had the most experience with student affairs and has worked in student life, but also has been responsible for enrollment retention. She had the most diverse and richest experience." Adding to the reasons why she selected Brimmer for the No. 2 position at SOU, Zinser alluded to Brimmer's work understanding the multiple cultures and needs of the student body at NMHU, which has an Hispanic population of about 60 percent. "We at Southern want to be more and more understanding to the needs of that population," Zinser said. "I am also very impressed with what she has been doing nationally and locally. It's important to have a vice president who still finds the time to be engaged in the community. She is a splendid role model for student leadership." Brimmer received a bachelor of science degree from Oakland University in Michigan, a master's degree in education from Loyola University and a doctorate of philosophy degree from Michigan State University. At NMHU, Brimmer has served as the vice president and dean of students since 1997. Brimmer is also the recipient of many awards, including the "Most Helpful NMHU Employee" award in the spring of 2001. She has also served as vice president of the Boys and Girls Club of America Advisory Board and has been a member of a New Mexico arts council, an economic development commission, a local Girl Scouts unit and a local Habitat for Humanity chapter. Brimmer was chosen from a pool of about 34 applicants from across the nation, according to Lara Mann, who chaired the SOU search committee. The charge of the search committee was to review applications, interview candidates and present a list of desirable candidates to Zinser. From there, Zinser researched the finalists further, conducted more reference checks and made her decision. "The committee is pleased with the decision," Mann said. "Here at SOU the vice president of student affairs has a complex role, with 19 departments that the person is responsible for. (Brimmer) really was the most experienced with the various departments ... Also, I was impressed with her dedication to student affairs. "This is what she wants to do - work in student affairs at the vice president position," Mann said. Brimmer will take her post on Feb. 1, 2002, replacing Phil Campbell who returned to the university from retirement to serve in the interim after Ivan Gorne left SOU to take a position in Washington. Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing