UCAM
Meet SOU’s UCAM Coaches
UCAM coaches are from a variety of educational backgrounds, but all have a focus on student success. Each of our coaches is either currently a certified coach or is nearing completion of their certification.
Jane Brockman
Writing Tutor
Journalism, BA, University of Minnesota; Education, MEd, SOU
As a graduate of the University of Minnesota’s School of Journalism and SOU’s Master’s in Teaching program, Jane is a dedicated and experienced community college instructor with a passion for empowering students to achieve both personal and academic success. With 23 years of teaching experience, particularly in assisting students with learning disabilities, she thrives on guiding individuals toward their goals.
Having served in various roles at Rogue Community College in Medford, Oregon, including ESL, writing, and math instruction, Jane has honed her skills in facilitating learning across diverse subjects. Additionally, her extensive experience as a professional tutor in math, Spanish, and writing reflects her commitment to supporting students beyond the classroom.
Beyond academia, Jane leads a life filled with diverse interests. From exploring different cultures through world travel to embracing the tranquility of kayaking and hiking, she finds joy in discovering new experiences. Jane’s pursuits in genealogical research and ballroom dancing highlight her curiosity and passion for lifelong learning.
Isabel Furchner
UCAM Student Mentor
Isabel Furchner (they/he) is an SOU junior and the UCAM student mentor for this upcoming year. They are majoring in theater with a concentration in lighting design and planning to receive a minor in art. They are passionate about art, both on paper and in the theater. They love all animals, especially the creepy crawlies, and they enjoy spending their free time reading, drawing, or tending to their Minecraft farm.
Janet Brownell
Academic Coach
Janet Brownell is a graduate of UCLA, where she earned a BA in Psychology. After graduating, she worked as a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) at Nashoba Learning Group in Massachusetts. Janet has experience working with individuals who have disabilities in both academic and non-academic skills. She enjoys mentoring and is excited to work with students during their college journey.
Outside of work, Janet enjoys spending time in nature and going on hikes with her dog, Otis. She loves photography and playing tennis. When she is not spending time outside, she likes to bake, crochet, and watch crime documentaries.
Jade Severson
Lead Academic Coach
Jade Severson graduated from Linfield College, where she earned her BA in Anthropology and the German and Spanish languages. She taught at the secondary level at the Friedrich-Schiller-Gymnasium in Pirna, Germany, while on a Fulbright Scholarship. More recently, she worked for the Medford School District, providing one-on-one support for high school students with disabilities and English language learners. Prior to this, she worked in a behavior modification program for the Phoenix/Talent School District. She brings extensive experience with one-on-one mentoring and tutoring to the UCAM team.
Personally, Jade loves the outdoors and gets outside to hike and trail run whenever she can. When indoors, Jade spends much of her time playing the piano music of Rachmaninoff and Liszt, speaking foreign languages (especially Austrian dialects of German), and exploring Russian literature.
Richard Vasey
Academic Coach
Richard Vasey is a graduate of the University of Colorado-Denver, where he earned an MA in Communications. Following the completion of his graduate degree, he began a career in higher education as an academic advisor, career coach and eventually work in academic administration. He even spent a brief time as a UCAM coach in the very early years of the program. Prior to that, he completed his BS in Communication from the University of Wyoming and worked in a variety of jobs while attending graduate school. Most recently he has worked at St. Mary’s School in Medford as a teacher and coach. He is excited to be back with UCAM and looks forward to helping students build skills and confidence in order to achieve their personal and academic goals.
Personally, Richard loves the outdoors and especially backpacking. He also loves to travel and enjoys learning from and experiencing different cultures. When not enjoying any of these activities, you can find him coaching basketball and spending time with his family.