Chief of staff for late State Sen. Alan Bates shifts to SOU government relations

NEWS RELEASE (online at https://goo.gl/IAIPcv)
(Ashland, Ore.) — Julie McFadden, who served most recently as chief of staff to the late State Sen. Alan Bates, has been hired to serve as Southern Oregon University’s liaison with state and federal lawmakers. She began work at the university on Monday.
As SOU’s new Director of Government Relations, McFadden will work with elected officials, legislative staff members and others on measures that will benefit the university, its students and the state of Oregon.
“I look forward to helping deliver the messages that higher education is vitally important to Oregon’s future, and our region relies absolutely on what SOU produces – about a thousand graduates each year who are well-prepared to innovate and lead,” McFadden said.
She has spent the past two years as Bates’ chief of staff and served as a field organizer to promote state and local measures.  McFadden’s previous experience includes work as a teacher, executive director of a non-profit and geriatric care manager.
“Working with Senator Bates was an honor, filled with learning and growth opportunities,” she said. “He embodied integrity and commitment to service; he saw us as people first and politics after. I strive to bring what I learned from him, as a legislator and a person, to all my work.”
As the head of Bates’ legislative office, McFadden developed and maintained working relationships with state and federal legislators and administrative staff, lobbyists, union representatives, local leaders and other stakeholders. That position also involved researching policy concepts and law to ensure the passage of effective policies.
“I have enjoyed rich relationships in the Capital as well as in our local community,” she said. “I am proud to bring a pillar of my local community together with my Capital family.”
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Southern Oregon University provides outstanding student experiences, valued degrees, and successful graduates. SOU is known for excellence in faculty, intellectual creativity and rigor, quality and innovation in connected learning programs, and the educational benefits of its unique geographic location. SOU was the first university in Oregon—and one of the first in the nation—to offset 100 percent of its energy use with clean, renewable power. It is the first university in the nation to balance 100 percent of its water consumption. Visit sou.edu.