Sustainability at Southern Oregon University
Becs Walker
Director of Sustainability, Southern Oregon University
Becs Walker is the Director of Sustainability at Southern Oregon University, where she also serves as the Operations Director for the Institute of Applied Sustainability. In her role, she leads projects that advance campus resilience, reduce utility costs, and strengthen the university’s long-term sustainability strategy. Becs has successfully secured more than $5 million in grants to support SOU’s sustainability and resilience initiatives.
Becs moved to the U.S. from Scotland in 2019 after a 15-year career at the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA). As Head of Waste and Resources, she managed five national teams responsible for implementing European, UK, and Scottish legislation, and collaborated with the Scottish Government to develop world-leading climate change and circular economy policies. Becs has a Bachelor of Science in Applied Biology and a Masters of Science in Environmental Technology. Becs also serves on the board of Bike Shasta, where she values partnership-driven work to advocate for mountain bike trails and community well-being.
E-Mail: walkerr6@sou.edu
Kira Welch
Managing Director, Institute for Applied Sustainability
Kira (she/her) provides guidance and support in cultivating partnerships and building capacity within the growing Institute. As a dedicated alumna, Kira’s journey in Southern Oregon began at SOU, where she instilled a foundation in leadership and a passion for sustainability and inclusivity. She has expanded on these throughout her career while she developed her skills in project management, program development, and communication. Collaborative by nature, Kira looks forward to working with the community, faculty, staff, and students to propel the Institute to new heights.
E-Mail: welchk1@sou.edu
Daniel Kreiman
Sustainability Coordinator, Sustainability Office
Daniel joined the team in 2024 from York, Pennsylvania. He plays a key role in our campus operations. He manages the student team at the recycling center, leads data collection for our greenhouse gas inventory, organizes our Tree/Bee Campus committee, and tracks utility usage and solar energy production across campus.
Additionally, he researches future-focused projects like electric vehicle infrastructure, waste reduction strategies, sustainable purchasing, energy efficiency, and energy related behaviors.
He earned a BA in Environmental Science and Sustainability from Allegheny College (PA), and a Masters in Environmental Science and Sustainability from Miami University (OH).
E-Mail: kreimand@sou.edu
Bret Anderson, Ph.D.
Faculty and Academic Director, Institute for Applied Sustainability
Professor of Economics
Earlier in his career Dr. Anderson published several scholarly articles on the subject of global growth and labor market inequalities. However, since the twin crises of the wildfires and pandemic impacted the region, his research, teaching, and community advancement efforts have shifted into the areas of economic readiness and democratization of the local economy. Professor Anderson considers his expertise as being a facilitator of place-based solutions.
To that end, Professor Anderson and several committed community members created the Local Innovation Lab in partnership with Southern Oregon University. The Local Innovation Lab is a community-based, college-to-career mentorship program that aims to empower our future entrepreneurs and leaders.
Professor Anderson believes that economics, alongside many of the social sciences, is able to help construct the needed institutional frameworks and narratives that can open our collective imaginations for creating local and sustainable solutions for society’s grand problems.
E-Mail: andersob6@sou.edu
Vincent M. Smith, Ph.D.
Dean, College of Natural and Social Sciences
Vincent M. Smith Dean of the School of Natural and Social Sciences at Southern Oregon University. He previously served as Chair of the Environmental Science & Policy Department and held a joint teaching appointment specializing in sustainable food systems, agroecology, and environmental sociology. He earned his BA in plant ecology from Truman State University, his MS in environmental science from Oregon State University, and his PhD in interdisciplinary environmental studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He additionally serves as the Director of the SOU Institute for Applied Sustainability and is the Director of The Farm at SOU. Dr. Smith also represents Southern Oregon University as a member of the Rogue Valley Food System Council, as a board member of the Rogue Basin Partnership, as a board member of Rusted Gate Farm, and serves on the environmental affairs committee of Mt. Ashland Ski Area. He lives in Ashland with his wife and three children where he enjoys exploring the beauty of Southern Oregon.
E-Mail: smithv3@sou.edu
Karyssa Badilla
Community Resilience and Leadership (CRL) Program Assistant
Karyssa (she/they) is an undergraduate in the Honors College at Southern Oregon University, where she studies Emerging Media and Digital Arts (EMDA). She loves learning about everything she can, but decided to follow her passions in graphic design, with a focus on marketing and brand design. When she is not hard at work designing things, Karyssa spends her time writing books and going out exploring the forests and lakes of Southern Oregon.
Maisie Bandel-Ramirez
Student Engagement Lead
Maisie (she/her) is a senior Honors scholar studying Economics and Power & Politics at Southern Oregon University. She is deeply passionate about community sustainability and civic engagement. Maisie has experience studying democracy globally in India and Jamaica which has fostered her interest in young voter civic engagement. In partnership with the IAS, Maisie works to connect SOU students with opportunities to engage with their community and make a tangible impact on the world around them.
Jessica (Jes) Muhlenkamp-Joranco
Student Engagement Lead
Jes (she/her) is an undergraduate student in the Honors College’s last cohort at Southern Oregon University. She is majoring in psychology with certifications in ASL and Spanish. Jes has a strong connection to nature and a passion for protecting our Mother Earth. In high school, she was the co-president of Ashland High School’s Climate Action Club for 3 years. Now, as part of the IAS, she brings her ideas and practices to educate and connect students in sustainable practices. Her other passions include dancing, backpacking, camping, singing, acting, cooking, and playing with her baby nephew!
