Director of Academic Innovation

Michael Reis currently serves as the Director of Academic Innovation where he collaborates with faculty and staff to create transformational, student-centered learning experiences. Before joining WOU, Michael held leadership positions in academic affairs and organizational effectiveness, with a particular emphasis on launching new academic programs and faculty development initiatives, at Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Minnesota. Earlier in his career, he directed programming for queer and questioning youth and K-12 academic success programs. Michael is passionate about improving campus climate, fostering collaboration through shared governance, and identifying institutional supports and structures that support a thriving university community. Michael is originally from southeastern Minnesota and comes to Oregon by way of Chicago, Berkeley, Philadelphia, Minneapolis, and Richmond, Virginia. He currently resides in Corvallis. He is married to Nyssa Towsley, a research administrator at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. They share their home with a poorly behaved dog and a better-behaved cat.

Email: reism@wou.edu