Shawn Sellers
Shawn Sellers
Adjunct Instructor
503-838-8985
sellerss@wou.edu

Master of Education , Health Promotion
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Master of Science; Health Education, Community Services
Western Oregon University
Associate of Arts
Chemeketa Community College

Professional:

I am committed to personal and social responsibility and have been involved with organizations and work which I believe reflect both my interests, skills and abilities, and commitment to community health and wellness. I completed my undergraduate work right here at WOU and had the privilege and luck to be introduced to some truly inspiring and motivating instructors and professors. I started teaching at University of Nevada, Las Vegas while simultaneously earning my M.Ed. and working as a graduate assistant in the UNLV Health and Wellness cluster as a case manager.

Upon graduation I returned to Central Oregon and resumed my work with Deschutes County and the Commission on Children and Families although in a different capacity than before. After my first child was born, I realized that as much as we love Central Oregon and the life we had there, we needed to be closer to grandparents and family. Upon returning to the Willamette Valley, I decided to pursue teaching in earnest, it seemed to be the most rewarding, meaningful, and congruent opportunity to affect change and be a part of “the solution”. I started at WOU and CCC, Yamhill in fall of 2008 and have enjoyed and treasured every minute. I love it at WOU and couldn’t imagine being anywhere else. I believe I have the best occupation in the world and recognize how fortunate I am to have found such an amazing academic home and family here at WOU.

My work focuses on understanding human behaviors, motivations, personal, familial, and societal impacts with regard to alcohol and other drugs, human sexuality, and relationships. There is so much interconnectedness, in these three topics in particular, and most of what I teach is underpinned with ideas and discourse which encompasses empathy, behavioral change motivations and theory, compassion, and humility. We are humans, health and wellness is a basic human right, not privileged or to be commodified.

Beyond “work”, I enjoy reading, traveling, playing games, camping, volunteering, talking politics, sparking controversial conversations, and spending time with friends and family. Because I have two small children, I get to do some of those things, once or twice a year, and find that doing absolutely nothing in 5 minute increments is almost as cool.

Courses taught:
Western Oregon University, Monmouth, OR
Human Sexuality
Alcohol and Other Drugs
Stress Management
Healthy Relationships
Chemeketa Community College, Yamhill Campus, McMinnville, OR
Alcohol and Other Drugs
Human Sexuality
Women’s Health Issues
Health and Fitness for Life
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Advanced First Aid/CPR

Link to Current Vita

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