Marc Overbeck brings extensive experience with state and federal executive and legislative work

By Holly Dillemuth, Ashland.news

Southern Oregon University has a new advocate in Salem and Washington, D.C.

Marc Overbeck has been hired as SOU’s director of government relations. SOU announced his selection on Feb. 13 and he will start in Ashland in March. SOU’s government relations director is the university’s primary liaison with state and federal lawmakers, and advocates for the university on matters involving higher education policy and funding.

Jeanne Stallman retired at the end of 2023 as associate vice president for government relations, said Joe Mosley, SOU director of community and media relations, via email.

“The position was reposted at the director level rather than the AVP (assistant vice president) level, as part of the commitment during last year’s cost management efforts to reduce the number of positions in the upper-most administrative levels,” Mosley said.

Overbeck has served for the past 12 years in a variety of legislative and policy roles for the Oregon Health Authority. He has also served in a variety of policy-related roles over the past 30 years, including positions with the Oregon Department of Human Services, the Governor’s Child Care Commission, the Oregon Governor’s Office and as a legislative aide. In his current role as the federally designated director for Oregon’s Primary Care Office, Overbeck has provided insight and direction to state and federal policymakers and helped guide distribution of millions of dollars in government funding.

“I’m thrilled and honored to join the team at Southern Oregon University,” Overbeck said, in a news release. “As a third-generation Oregonian with ties to the southern Oregon area, it’s really special to me to give back. I’m excited to bring my decades of governmental, political and policy experience to an institution I truly believe in.”

The position includes lobbying for SOU, but also has a variety of moving parts.

The role helps SOU coordinate with state and federal legislators, as well as keeping updated on proposed or pending legislation that could affect SOU.

“Oregon’s public universities are still highly dependent on state appropriations — even though the ratio of state funding versus tuition revenue has flipped over the last 20 years or so,” Mosley said.

Mosley noted that it used to be two-thirds state funding and one-third tuition that funded higher education, but now it is approximately the opposite: two-thirds tuition, one-third state funding.

“That’s why SOU is leading the way with entrepreneurial efforts to broaden revenue sources, such as solar and senior living,” Mosley said.

Overbeck said he was particularly drawn to SOU by the university’s emphasis on entrepreneurial spirit and innovation as it looks beyond higher education’s traditional, two-pronged financial reliance on state appropriations and tuition revenue. SOU says it has addressed the issue of cost management, is expanding its efforts to secure funding from external granting agencies and organizations, and is leveraging an ongoing surge in philanthropic support. The university is also a pioneer in revenue-generating projects that include solar power generation, construction of a senior living facility and creation of a university business district.

“I’m very inspired by President (Rick) Bailey’s vision of a university of the future,” Overbeck said. “At a time of social division, the opportunity to create and foster a place where all students, faculty and community members can belong is special.

“Something wonderful is happening at Southern Oregon University under President Bailey’s leadership, and I’m honored to be a part of it.”

Overbeck received his bachelor’s degree in political science and philosophy from Willamette University, and was named a Hansard Scholar at the University of London. He also received a Hammer Award from then-Vice President Al Gore — a recognition of work that results in a government that works better and costs less. 

Reach Ashland.news reporter Holly Dillemuth at hollyd@ashland.news.