MONMOUTH, Ore. – Western Oregon University President, Jesse Peters, recently named Ricardo Lujan Valerio as the university’s Director of Government Relations, effective January 16th.

“I am pleased to welcome Rico to the leadership team at Western. Not only does he have key experience, he is also a first-generation college graduate of a regional university. He understands the importance of higher education to the future of Oregon and its citizens,” said Peters.

Rico joins with a wealth of experiences with governmental entities in Oregon and has a passion for issues in higher education. He also has the experience and skills to play as a powerful advocate for WOU with the state legislature. 

Most recently, he was the Policy Director for the City of Portland. Prior to that, he has been the Director of Advocacy for the Latino Network, a Policy Associate for the American Civil Liberties Union, and a Legislative Director for the Oregon Student Association. He also currently served as a Commissioner for the Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC). 

“I’m excited to join Western Oregon University in this capacity. My introduction to state advocacy started in higher education and I’m glad to be back to this policy field full-time. I’m a strong believer in collaborative success and look forward to working with faculty, staff, and students to create a collective agenda and partner with external stakeholders to meet the needs of our state.” said Lujan Valerio.

Rico holds an Associate of Science degree from Rogue Community College, a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Southern Oregon University, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from Southern Oregon University. 

About Western Oregon University

Western Oregon University, founded in 1856 in Monmouth, is the state’s oldest public university. Serving about 4,000 students, WOU is a mid-sized, NCAA Division II institution with about 70% of the student population being from Oregon. A significant portion of attendees are members of under-represented groups, veterans, or non-traditional students. WOU is Oregon’s campus of choice for those seeking a transformative education in a supportive, student-centered learning community where classes are taught by faculty. Together we succeed.

Media contact
Brittany Kima, Public Information Officer 
503-838-8065 | kimab@wou.edu