Michelle Mudder, Program Coordinator
I was born and raised in Springfield, Oregon. Growing up, my family would make annual road trips to La Grande to visit family, where I have lived on and off for ten years. I moved here in 2010 to attend Eastern Oregon University (EOU) and play collegiate soccer. I love that Eastern Oregon offers blue skies most of the year, and I enjoy being active outdoors during all four seasons! I have an eight-year-old cocker/springer spaniel named Tilly, and she loves going on adventures with me.
As the Program Coordinator for NEOAHEC, I am responsible for informing communities in rural and underserved areas in Oregon about the pathway programming opportunities for students interested in pursuing a career in the healthcare field. A large part of my position includes planning and organizing annual programs such as the Virtual MedQuest, the Rural overnight camp in La Grande, the Frontier overnight camp in Crane, and the Juntos day camp in The Dalles. I will also be working with EOU host Investigators of Science (IOS), formerly Girls in Science, and to maintain the health speaker series as a resource to current students. I am looking forward to creating more collaborative partnerships and learning how to connect the rural counties of Oregon.
My primary education background is in communications, marketing, and leadership. My previous work experience varies from recruiting students to college, managing university social media accounts, overseeing student interns, and mentoring. My time as a camper and later as a junior and senior counselor for the Oregon Association of Student Councils (OASC) was life-changing and helped me grow both personally and professionally. I am excited to be a part of NEOAHEC's mission and eager to help the young people we work with build confidence and reach their long-term goals.