UCAM
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
Richard Vasey
Academic Coach
Richard Vasey holds a B.S. in Communication from the University of Wyoming and an M.A. in Communication from the University of Colorado-Denver. With a diverse range of experience in student support, Richard is dedicated to empowering students and helping them develop skills that enable them to grow academically and socially. Richard is also an assistant coach for the SOU Women’s Basketball team and enjoys the connections with students across many areas of the college.
Favorite part of SOU: The welcoming environment that provides students the opportunity to discover their interests and find their people.
Likes: The outdoors, travel, sports, spending time with family
Dislikes: Being stuck in traffic, lotion on my hands
Quirky skill or talent: Useless trivia
Favorite animal: Any raptor (falcons, eagles, hawks, etc…)
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
Janet Brownell
Academic Coach
Janet Brownell is a UCLA graduate with a BA in Psychology. After college, she worked as a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) at a learning center in Massachusetts, providing individualized support to young adults in both academic and life skills. She brings this experience to her work at UCAM, where she continues to support students in developing effective strategies for learning, resilience, and independence. Janet views college as a holistic experience that supports not just academic success, but also personal development, identity, and meaningful connections.
Favorite part of SOU: The culture of acceptance among students
Likes: Anything miniature, purple, doing deep dives on any topic, crocheting
Dislikes: Microfiber towels, room temperature drinks, potholes, cliffhangers
Quirky skill or talent: Training my cat Elvis
Favorite Animal: runner ducks
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.
Favorite part of SOU: The communities you can find and form
Likes: animals, Legos, shopping, and really good anime
Dislikes: spiders, big open bodies of water, warm milk, and cake
Quirky skill or talent: Being good at ceramics and most art mediums
Favorite video game: Sims 4 (I have spent over 900 hours playing it)
Favorite animal: Either a raccoon or cows
Gabby Saint-Loubert-Bié
UCAM Student Mentor
Hello everyone! My name is Gabby Saint-Loubert-Bié, and I am a rising sophomore at Southern Oregon University. Alongside my studies, I’ve gained valuable experience working as a kitchen camp assistant for two summers, where I developed teamwork skills and learned how much positivity and humor can shape a strong community.
Favorite part of SOU: Its welcoming atmosphere and beautiful campus, which make each day inspiring and full of opportunities
Likes: Outside of school, I enjoy biking, reading, exploring vintage shops, and spending time with friends.
Dislikes: I’m not a big fan of rudeness, long waits, disorganized things, or loud noises.
Quirky skill or talent: A quirky skill I have is juggling three balls, which always gets a smile.
Favorite video game: My favorite video game is Minecraft because I love the creativity it allows.
Favorite animal: My favorite animal is the Doberman for their loyalty and energy.
Ash Merriam
UCAM Student Mentor
I am currently working towards my BFA in Costume Production. This is my fourth year at UCAM. I have been navigating having a disability in school since before college. I enjoy making things (think sewing, knitting, applique, etc.).
Likes: I like reading, especially fantasy, sci-fi, and anything queer (doubly so if it is queer fantasy or sci-fi.); I have two cats and like them very much.
Dislikes: Going to the movies (though I enjoy watching them at home); I hate quinoa, will not eat it; AI
Favorite video game: AutoCAD (lol)
Favorite animal: Opossum