Life history interview conducted by Janice Dilg.
January 28, 2015Location: Valley Library, Oregon State University.
Phyllis Lee (b. 1936) was the first Director of OSU's Office of Multicultural Affairs, which was created in 1991 and charged with promoting diversity and improving the campus climate for students, faculty and staff of color. A graduate of OSU's doctoral program in Education and a former member of the university's Board of Visitors, Lee spearheaded a number of outreach and curricular activities meant to promote dialogue on issues of diversity, both in the classroom and in the community. Lee retired from OSU in 2003. One year later, President Ed Ray created the Phyllis S. Lee Award, which is presented annually and honors a member of the OSU community who exemplifies Lee's commitment and dedication to social justice and to the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Her interview focuses on her education, her long commitment to diversity issues, and her many activities as Director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs.