Notable Alumni of Southern Oregon University

Kelly Townsend 1968–

Former Arizona state senator and representative

Also attended: Arizona State University-Tempe

Juan Carlos Romero Hicks 1955–

Mexican senator, former CONACyT director

Jose Luis Romero Hicks 1957–

Mexican lawyer and politician

Also attended: Lawrence University

Steve M. Thompson 1944–

Alaska state representative and retired businessman

Jason Atkinson 1970–

Oregon Republican state senator

Also attended: Willamette University

Virginia Linder 1953–

Former Oregon Supreme Court justice

Also attended: Willamette University

Robert Dolan 1929–2016

Coastal geology professor at University of Virginia

Also attended: Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College, Oregon State University

Ty Burrell 1967–

Actor known as Phil Dunphy in Modern Family

Also attended: University of Oregon, The Pennsylvania State University, The Pennsylvania State University

Joel David Moore 1977–

Actor and director

Also attended: Mt Hood Community College

Kim Rhodes 1969–

Actress known for Supernatural and The Suite Life

Also attended: Temple University

Todd Field 1964–

Filmmaker who directed In the Bedroom and Tár

Also attended: American Film Institute Conservatory, Mt Hood Community College

Rob Simonsen 1978–

Film composer and conductor

Also attended: University of Oregon, Portland State University

D'Arcy Carden 1980–

Actress known for The Good Place

Kyra Zagorsky 1976–

Film and television actress

Also attended: University of California-Irvine

Spouse: Patrick Sabongui (University of California-Irvine)

Nico Santos 1979–

Actor in Crazy Rich Asians and Superstore

Rick Bartow 1946–2016

Wiyot painter and sculptor from Oregon

Also attended: Western Oregon University

Rick Story 1984–

Retired mixed martial artist

Aldrick Rosas 1994–

Former NFL placekicker

Mike Whitehead 1981–

Former mixed martial artist who fought in the UFC

Also attended: North Idaho College

Austin Vanderford 1990–

UFC middleweight mixed martial artist

Mark Helfrich 1973–

Former University of Oregon head football coach

Mary Perry 1943–2012

Volleyball player at the 1964 and 1968 Olympics

Child: Katy Perry (Santa Barbara City College)

Agnes Baker Pilgrim 1924–2019

Native American spiritual elder of the Takelma

Ellen Bernstein 1953–2024

Rabbi, environmentalist and founder of Shomrei Adamah

Master of Science · Biology

Also attended: San Francisco State University, Hebrew College