Janet Nishihara Oral History Interview

Janet Nishihara discusses her transition from high school to college as an exciting opportunity while acknowledging several of her mentors at OSU. After highlighting various positions she has held at OSU, Nishihara relays her current position's job duties as interim associate provost for academic success and engagement and director of advising on campus. Regarding diversity, she discusses the changes she has seen at the university, which has improved in terms of student recruitment and retention. She brings attention to several important initiatives such as the Difference, Power, and Discrimination program and the cultural centers. Furthering this, Nishihara states what she believes to be OSU’s role in supporting staff and faculty of color within the Corvallis community. On a more personal level, Nishihara describes her role in supporting diversity as interacting with students and maintaining the momentum of change on campus. When discussing the numbers regarding diversity, Nishihara sees an increase in the university’s efforts to support students of color. This increase is, in part, due to the walk-out of black students in the 1960s that she chronicles as leading to the establishment of the Educational Opportunities Program (EOP). Immigrant acculturation is an issue she discusses before talking about the Asian Pacific Cultural Center, its start, its role, and its new location. Relating back to her career, Nishihara then talks about the role of EOP and TRIO. Before closing, Nishihara recounts some of her greatest challenges including adjusting to a bigger city and being a woman of color on campus as well as some of her accomplishments including the DPD and student successes.

Janet Nishihara is a third generation Japanese American who was born in 1959 in Ontario, Oregon. Growing up in the rural town of Veil, Oregon, Nishihara's high school did not provide many academic opportunities. She earned her bachelor's degree in English education from Oregon State University as well as her master's degree. She has held positions at the university such as a graduate teaching assistant, a writing instructor, an academic counselor, supervisor, and the director of the Educational Opportunities Program. Currently, her position is interim associate provost for academic success and engagement and director of advising on campus. Her current duties include: coordinating the work in regards to the first year experience, improving academic advising, and overseeing academic support programs for students.