UCAM

Our Coaches

Meet SOU’s UCAM Coaches

UCAM coaches are a diverse team of dedicated professionals committed to helping students thrive. Trusting relationships, whether with a coach, tutor, or peer mentor, are at the heart of every interaction.

Jade Severson

Lead Academic Coach

Jade Severson graduated from Linfield College, where she earned a BA in anthropology. She has worked in education ever since teaching at a binational school on the Czech/German border as a Fulbright Scholar. Her experiences living and working in Germany, France, and Peru inform how she supports students in their transition to living on campus. She enjoys utilizing her knowledge of learning differences, neurodivergency, psychology, and social theory to have rich conversations with students that develop their self-awareness and advocacy skills.

Favorite part of SOU: The sense of camaraderie and belonging in the UCAM study room

Likes: Crunchy peanut butter, mountain lakes, the smell of libraries, Beethoven’s piano sonatas

Dislikes: Sirens, social media, temperatures below 60 degrees, being without a book

Quirky skill or talent: Being a polyglot

Favorite animal: Tortoiseshell cats

Jane Brockman

Writing Coach

Jane Brockman earned her B.A. in Journalism from the University of Minnesota and her M.A. in Adult Education from Southern Oregon University. Over the years, she has worked as a freelance magazine writer, ELL tutor and teacher, writing and math tutor, and humanities instructor. She especially values supporting students who struggle with writing, encouraging them to experiment with strategies that can strengthen their skills. Jane is passionate about empowering individuals to think critically and reflectively, moving beyond surface-level understanding. She believes higher education is a vital and transformative opportunity for all young adults.

Favorite Part of SOU: The small-town campus climate

Likes: nature, ballroom dancing, international travel, reading

Dislikes: alarm clocks, long goodbyes, uptight drivers

Quirky skill or talent: rescuing spiders

Favorite animal: snakes

Melissa Lapides

Substitute UCAM Coach

Melissa Lapides graduated with an ASN from Glendale College and a BS in Applied Management from Azusa Pacific University. She has worked in several positions as a Registered Nurse in California including adult and pediatric ICU, Case Management and Quality Management. When her son was diagnosed with ADHD and Learning Differences, Melissa delved headlong into learning everything she could about ADHD and learning challenges, and it became her mission to make sure that her son received the best education possible. This led to her desire to help others with ADHD, and she became a certified ADHD and Executive Functioning Coach. She loves working with college students to help them reach their full potential.

Favorite part of SOU: Feels like family

Likes: Coffee, hiking, knitting, reading, chocolate, mountain biking, laughing with good friends

Dislikes: Earthquakes, hot days, power outages

Quirky skill or talent: Mirror writing like Leonardo da VinciFavorite animal: Horses

Faith Nguyen

UCAM Student Mentor

My name is Faith, and I am currently a student at SOU in my sophomore year. My experience going to SOU has had a lot of ups and downs that have changed me as a person in many ways. Throughout it all, I have had some amazing experiences and people enter my life and show me unconditional support.