Theme: College Student Services Administration
Tana Atchley Oral History Interview
Life history interview conducted by Janice Dilg.
September 15, 2015
Tana Atchley (b. 1977) is a Modoc, Paiute and Karuk member of the Klamath Tribes,
who grew up in Sprague River, Oregon on what had once been the Klamath Indian Reservation.
After completing her undergraduate studies at the University of Oregon, Atchley pursued
a master's degree in College Student Services Administration at OSU, completing the
program in 2005. In the years since, she has worked as a counselor and advisor at
Portland State University, and has been deeply involved with salmon camps and other
forms of outreach to Oregon's tribal youth. Since 2013, Atchley has worked as the
tribal workforce development and outreach coordinator at the Columbia River Inter-Tribal
Fish Commission. Her interview focuses on her upbringing and tribal traditions; her
educational path and professional career; her engagement with young people; and her
reflections on the challenges and opportunities facing Native American communities
in Oregon.
Janet Nishihara Oral History Interview
Life history interview conducted by Chris Petersen.
September 2, 2015
Janet Nishihara (b. 1956) first came into contact with OSU as an undergraduate, majoring
in English Education and completing her degree in 1978. She returned to Oregon State
in 1980 as a master's degree student in the College Student Services Administration
program, a time period during which she also became involved with the Educational
Opportunities Program (EOP) at OSU. For more than three decades following, Nishihara
has played a central role in a wide variety of student support and diversity development
initiatives on campus. In 2009, after many years on staff, Nishihara was promoted
to director of EOP, the mission of which is to provide support for the personal and
academic development of traditionally underrepresented students at OSU. In her interview,
Nishihara reflects on her upbringing as a third generation Japanese-American raised
in rural eastern Oregon; discusses her multifaceted experiences as a student and faculty
member at OSU; and shares her perspective on diversity advancement at the university
from the mid-1970s to present day.
Larry Roper Oral History Interview
Life history interview conducted by Janice Dilg.
November 7, 2014
Larry Roper (b. 1953) served as Vice Provost for Student Affairs from 1995 to his
retirement from upper administration in 2014. During his years as Vice Provost, Roper
proved instrumental to a number of university initiatives, including the OSU "Campus
Compact," the development of the first-year experience program, and a university-wide
assessment effort. Roper, who is one of the first African American upper administrators
in Oregon State history, has also been central to a variety of diversity actions both
on campus and in the community. A faculty member in the OSU Ethnic Studies department,
Roper now directs both the College Student Services Administration program as well
as the undergraduate minor in Social Justice. His interview traces his progression
as a leader within academia; documents his activities and contacts at Oregon State;
and reflects on both the continuing issues and the gradual progress of diversity enhancement
at OSU.
Jo Anne Trow Oral History Interview
Life history interview conducted by Janice Dilg.
December 13, 2013
Jo Anne Trow (b. 1931) enjoyed a long and notable career at OSU, where she held numerous
positions in teaching and administration; among them, Trow was the university's last
Dean of Women and its first female Vice President. Over the course of her career,
Trow spearheaded work to address numerous issues of inequality faced by female faculty,
such as salary parity. These discussions and activities eventually led to the formation
of a new infrastructure to support women on campus, including the OSU Women's Network
and the Women's Center. With her husband Cliff Trow, an emeritus professor of History
and retired state Senator, Jo Anne has also been very active in the Corvallis community.
Her interview focuses on her upbringing and education, her career at OSU, the advancement
of equality initiatives on campus, and her volunteer work in retirement.