WolfBytes 2026 September

Western Oregon University’s Newsletter: September 2026

Dear Community,


Fall term starts next week and if you have been near campus lately, you can feel it. There is an energy that never gets old. Many of our students are already back, and our university is buzzing with excitement.

Move-In Day was a success, and I want to thank the faculty, staff, and volunteers who showed up to make one of the most important days of our students’ lives feel like coming home. You are the reason families trust Western with the people they love most. I also had the pleasure of meeting many of our new students and their families and welcoming many of our returning Wolves.

This fall is packed with events that reflect everything that makes this place special: Community, pride, excellence, and the unique energy that only our Wolfpack can bring. We have something for everyone, and I am inviting you to join us.

Homecoming is around the corner, and this year’s lineup is one you don’t want to miss. We will welcome an indigenous jazz performance by Quinn Carson, celebrate and honor the Wolves who have made us proud at the Athletics Hall of Fame, cheer on our Wolves at the homecoming football tailgate and game, cheer for our men’s and women’s soccer teams, dedicate the Ruth Lautenbach Hall, and enjoy the annual bonfire.

I am especially looking forward to welcoming Lily Eskelsen García to campus as part of our Jensen Lecture Series. A former Teacher of the Year, president of the National Education Association, and a tireless champion for students and educators everywhere, Lily is exactly the kind of voice our community needs to hear.

And for those of you who like to run for a good cause, our Veterans Resource Center Run N’ Ruck 5K Race is a great opportunity to show up for the individuals who have served our country while also showing off your Wolf Pride.

Check out the full events calendar below and find the ones that speak to you. Western is at its best when we are together. I look forward to seeing you on campus.

We. Are. Wolves.

Jesse Peters, President
Western Oregon University

Support our students today!

Upcoming Events & Notable Dates

September 24: Smith Fine Arts Series: Gaby Moreno: Grammy and Latin Grammy–winning artist Gaby Moreno is a singer-songwriter and producer whose warm, soulful sound bridges English and Spanish. 7:30 p.m. Rice Auditorium. Get tickets.
September 25: Wolf Tracks Beer Launch: Join WOU Alumni for the return of Wolf Tracks, which is a fall collaboration between WOU, community partners, alumni, and friends. A portion of proceeds from each pint sold benefits WOU. Light refreshments provided. No-host event. Bring the family and help us kick off another great Wolves weekend! 5 p.m. Parallel 45 Brewing in Independence.
September 28: Hispanic Heritage Month HSI Football Tailgate. Come celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at the football tailgate in the stadium parking lot. Tailgate starts at 10 a.m.
September 29: Criminal Justice Science Division Open House. 12pm – 2pm. Second floor, Maaske Hall. 
October 9: Fall Preview Day: These events provide prospective and admitted students and their families with opportunities to explore campus, connect with faculty, staff, and current students, and learn more about the academic and student experience at WOU. Register to attend and Learn more
October 10: WOU/Write Place Sponsored Great Willamette Cleanup. Join us for the 2026 Great Willamette Cleanup effort. 9:30 a.m. to 12: 30 p.m. Meet near the boat ramp across from the Independence Sports Park. Register to attend and Learn more
October 21: Carnival & Paint the Wolf: Lawn adjacent from Campus Public Safety. 11 a.m. The Grove.
October 22: Jensen Lecture Series: Lily Eskelsen Garcia. Lily Eskelsen García is a teacher whose work in education spans from her beginning as a school lunch lady to being elected as the first Latina president of the largest union in the United States, the 3-million-member National Education Association. Register to attend.
October 23: Wolves on the Green Golf Tournament. Register to attend.
October 23: Athletics Hall of Fame. Register to attend.
October 23: Conferencia Voces de Cambia y Liderazgo (former CECLC). More Info.
October 23 – 24: Homecoming Events:
October 23: Homecoming Bonfire. 8 p.m.
October 24: Ruth Lautenbach Plaque Unveiling. Old PE Building. 10 a.m.
October 24: Men’s Soccer Kickoff. 10 a.m. Soccer field.October 24: Wolves Tailgate & Football Game. 1 p.m.
October 24: Women’s Soccer Kickoff. 7 p.m. Soccer field.
October 24: Smith Fine Arts Series: Quinn Carson. Indigenous Jazz. Quinn Carson is an accomplished trombonist, vocalist, and song writer. Born in Arkansas and a member of the Apache Tribe of Oklahoma, Carson is reshaping Native American music with the vibrant and experimental sound of his trombone. His work merges Apache songs with modern music to highlight the depth and beauty of indigenous melodies. Black Box Theater. Winters Building. 7:30 p.m. Get tickets.
October 31: Veteran’s Resource Center Run ‘N Ruck. 11:30 a.m. Run, walk, or ruck your way through this spooky 5K with your military community! Costumes are encouraged, but not required. All fitness levels are welcome & this event is free for all. Halloween costumes are encouraged. Meet at parking lot R outside the Health & Wellness Building. RSVP coming soon.
November 3 – 4: Choir Festival. All day taking place in the WUG.
November 12: Regional Alumni Event at Syndicate Wine Bar. Connect with fellow alumni and community at Syndicate Wine Bar, an alumni-owned business in Beaverton. Register to attend.
November 19: Student Recital. 11am ITC 211.
November 26 – 27: Thanksgiving Holiday. Campus closed.
December 9: Smith Fine Arts Series: The Slocan Ramblers: The Slocan Ramblers are Canada’s most celebrated bluegrass act. Rooted in tradition yet fearlessly creative, The Ramblers emerged from humble beginnings playing in Toronto’s rowdy bars to gracing the most storied stages of the genre – The Grand Ole Opry, MerleFest, Rockygrass and beyond.7:30 p.m. Rice Auditorium. Get tickets.
January 16 2027: Smith Fine Arts Series: BodyVox: Based in Portland, BodyVox’s movement surges from a fascination with the endless possibilities of the human body in motion. BodyVox builds upon a tradition of excellence with a unique voice that is equally influenced by its Northwest roots and world view.  7:30 p.m. Rice Auditorium.  Get tickets.
March 13 2027: Smith Fine Arts Series:Treasure Island Reimagined: Jane Hawkins and the Pirate’s Gold, a Live-Action Graphic Novel. In this adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic, three performers provide all the character voices and sound effects – live and in front of your eyes – as more than 1,200 hand-drawn comic book panels blast one by one on a huge screen to tell an on-the-edge-of-your-seat tale of danger and adventure for the kid in everyone. 7:30 p.m. Rice Auditorium. Get Tickets.
March 30 2027: Smith Fine Arts Series: Kalí Rodríguez-Peña & Mélange. Latin Grammy-nominated Cuban trumpeter and composer Kalí Rodríguez-Peña is one of the leading voices of a young generation of Cuban musicians living in New York City. His sound fuses the traditional motifs of his native Cuba with a passion for jazz classicism influenced by Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, and Freddie Hubbard. 7:30 p.m. Black Box Theater. Winters Building.  Get tickets.
April 23 2027: Smith Fine Arts Series: Moira Smiley. Singer/composer Moira Smiley brings vivid, embodied singing to stages tiny and grand, atop glaciers or in cozy kitchens from Trondheim to Tasmania. She has toured the world and recorded with many indie-pop favorites, including Tuneyards, Laurie Anderson, Shara Nova, and more. Long time Smith Fine Arts fans may recognize her as the singer for the legendary Irish-American supergroup, Solas. Get Tickets.
May 21 2027: Smith Fine Arts Series: Astral Mixtape: Astral Mixtape is a classical indie band that creates groundbreaking original music with classical instruments and electronics. Drawing from the exuberance of pop, the improvisational spirit of jazz, and the adventurous edge of contemporary music, they craft a sound unmistakably their own. Get Tickets.

Smith Fine Arts Series
Season Tickets

We are excited to share our 48th season of world-class performing arts with you! This season promises to be among the best yet, with six fantastic performances featuring bluegrass, Latin fusion, a brass quintet, and a little bit of everything in between. This season has something for everyone! Come as you are and experience the transformative power of music and dance with the Smith Fine Arts Series.

Get tickets now!

Wou Students and Family with Wolfie the mascot.

Show Your Wolf Pride: Get Your WOU Gear Online and Support Athletics

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LIly Eskelsen-Garcia

Jensen Lecture Seiries: Lily Eskelsen-Garcia on October 22

Lily Eskelsen García began her career as a school lunch lady and rose to become the first Latina president of the National Education Association, the nation’s largest union with 3 million members. A former Utah Teacher of the Year, she also served on President Barack Obama’s White House Commission for Education Excellence for Hispanics and founded Maestros Para Los Niños, a University of Utah scholarship for bilingual aspiring teachers. With her husband, Alberto Garcia, she created the bilingual book Rabble Rousers to raise funds for undocumented Dreamers. Lily believes educators have a sacred duty to care for the whole student, including mind, body, and character, and to fight for the promise of public education.

Join us October 22 at 7 p.m. in Rice Auditorium. RSVP to attend this no-cost event.

University News

Smith Fine Arts Series 2026 poster.49th Smith Fine Arts Serries launches featuring Grammy winners, bluegrass, dance and pirates

The 2026-2027 Smith Fine Arts Series kicks off this week at Rice Auditorium. This season opens with Gaby Moreno, the Grammy and Latin Grammy-winning singer-songwriter whose soulful sound has graced stages alongside Tracy Chapman and Mavis Staples. Next, Canada’s most celebrated bluegrass act The Slocan Ramblers will blow the roof off Rice Auditorium with roots music full of heart and guts in December. 

Get Tickets Now!

A group of graduating students throwing hats into the air.WOU Foundation releases annual impact report

The Western Oregon University Foundation has released its 2025-2026 Annual Impact Report. Like the institution it serves, the WOU Foundation makes a tremendous impact in the lives of students, helping them to earn their degrees while keeping costs manageable. Funds raised by the WOU Foundation directly benefit hundreds of WOU students, the vast majority of whom are from Oregon, and ensure that WOU remains a driver of regional economic growth and development.

Read More

Exterior of the Western Oregon University Foundation.WOU Foundation welcomes new members

The Western Oregon University Foundation welcomes four new members to its board of directors, effective July 1. The Foundation board serves as the governing body of the WOU Foundation, providing fiduciary oversight and strategic leadership in support of the university’s mission and long-term growth. The newest members bring a wealth of experience, deep ties to the WOU community, and a shared commitment to advancing opportunity for Western’s students and the communities it serves.

Read More

WOU Athletic Homegames

Stay up-to-date in Athletics. Check out the upcoming  fall schedule.
September 24: Men’s soccer vs Simon Fraser University at noon
September 24: Volleyball vs Central Washington University 7 p.m.
September 26: Cross Country vs Mike Johnson Classic
September 26: Men’s soccer vs Western Washington University 10 a.m.
September 26: Football vs Angelo State 1:05 p.m.
September 26: Volleyball vs Northwest Nazarene University 7 p.m.
October 1: Women’s soccer vs Western Washington University 2 p.m.
October 3: Women’s soccer vs Simon Fraser University 10 a.m.
October 8: Women’s soccer vs Seattle Pacific University 2 p.m.
October 8: Volleyball vs University of Alaska Anchorage 7 p.m.
October 10: Women’s soccer vs Saint Martin’s University 10 a.m.
October 10: Football vs Texas A&M University Kingsville 1:05 p.m.
October 10: Volleyball vs University of Alaska Fairbanks 7 p.m.
October 15: Men’s soccer vs Saint Martin’s University Noon
October 15: Volleyball vs Montana State University Billings 7 p.m.
October 17: Volleyball vs Seattle Pacific University 1 p.m.
October 17: Men’s soccer vs University of Jamestown 7 p.m.
October 22: Men’s soccer vs Seattle Pacific University Noon
October 22: Women’s soccer vs Northwest Nazarene University 2 p.m.
October 24: Women’s basketball vs Alumni game TBD
October 24: Men’s basketball vs Alumni game 10 a.m.
October 24: Men’s soccer vs Northwest Nazarene University 10 a.m.
October 24: Football vs Eastern New Mexico University 1:05 p.m.
October 24: Women’s soccer vs Central Washington University 7 p.m.
October 29: Volleyball vs Simon Fraser University 7 p.m.
October 31: Volleyball vs Western Washington University 1 p.m.
Catch up on the action with scores, photos, videos, and more on our social media channels (@wou_wolves) and website. If you can’t make it to the game, catch it live or replay it on YouTube.

Join the Emeritus Society

The Emeritus Society is a group of friends of WOU who enjoy learning new things and exploring the community. Benefits of membership include monthly meetings with interesting topics and engaging presenters, field trips, events, Emeritus Society newsletter, sports, performing arts schedules, and supporting WOU students through scholarships.

Become a member today!

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