I am pleased to welcome two new student interns to the Rural Engagement & Vitality Center. Indiana “Indy” Gauthier, a freshman from Keizer majoring in Communications and Public Relations, brings a strong curiosity about the world and an interest in learning across cultures. Indy’s parents graduated from EOU and we are thrilled to welcome her to our team to support the Urban Rural Ambassadors Program next spring and promote REV events and opportunities to REV’s partners across our service region and the EOU community.

Omdi Skebong, a freshman from Medalaii, Koror, Palau, is majoring in Politics, Policy, and Public Administration with minors in Communication Studies and Sociology/Anthropology, and is deeply interested in public service, policy development, and environmental sustainability. Omdi is working with Professor Daniel Costie to support ongoing facilitation of the Blues Intergovernmental Council Forest Plan Revision. It is exciting to have students working alongside our team again, contributing meaningfully to our work while gaining practical, hands-on experience that connects their academic interests to real-world challenges. 

As we close out 2025, I’m proud of the progress REV has made. None of it would be possible without our dedicated team members Terri, Carter, and Eric, our interns, our phenomenal RARE placement Kristen, our board, our funders and donors, and our partners across the state. Eric Carlson recently celebrated his first year with REV, and his impact has been felt deeply through his work to sustain our outdoor youth education programs. His leadership has strengthened pathways for students to connect with place, learning, and opportunity. Carter Gudell continues to expand REV’s reach as an Ecosystem Builder with the Frontier Innovation Hub, forging new relationships wherever he goes and ensuring rural entrepreneurs are better connected to the resources, partners, and networks they need to grow. Terri Kaiser’s continued investment in building new skills has helped us tell our story more clearly and consistently, ensuring our partners, funders, and communities understand not just what we do, but why it matters.

For rural Oregon, this year required constant adjustment, as nonprofits, universities, and families navigated shifting conditions with limited margin for error. Our rural communities are resilient, but they are also more exposed to risk, often lacking the financial and human capital needed to recover at the same pace as larger or more resourced places. Against that backdrop, it was especially meaningful to witness the outpouring of support for rural communities from organizations such as Roundhouse, The Ford Family Foundation, the Nonprofit Association of Oregon, Meyer Memorial Trust, and so many others. In hard moments like we’ve witnessed this year, community is not a luxury, it’s essential. 

If you are like me, you embrace the demands and challenges that come with building community and we wear many hats as a result. To all of you carrying that weight, I encourage you to take some time to rest and recharge. I know it can be difficult to unplug during the busy  holiday season, but it’s important to take a moment to breathe, reflect, and recharge. I am deeply grateful that I was able to step away at points this year and return with renewed energy to further REV’s vision of an Eastern Oregon with the talent, capacity, and resources to sustain thriving and prosperous communities.