Russ Yamada, bachelor's in General Science (1968), established the first endodontics practice in Corvallis
Mary Yates, bachelor's in English (1968), former U.S. Ambassador to Ghana and Burundi, National Security Advisor on African issues under the Obama administration
Tom Yates, one of the first computer programmers hired by OSU, Director of the OSU Computer Center (1976-1985)
Kong Zheng Yeang, undergraduate in Mechanical Engineering, international student from Malaysia
Harry Yeh, Professor of Civil Engineering, international authority on tsunamis
Russ Youmans, faculty member in the OSU Agricultural Economics department (1966-1999), head of the Western Regional Development Center (WRDC) (1977-1999)
Mai-Yee Yuan, undergraduate in Microbiology, internal coordinator for the Asian & Pacific Cultural Center
Minerva Zayas, graduate student in Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies, member of the Corvallis LGBTQ+ community and co-founder of the OSU Women of Color Caucus
Tom Zinn, OSU Extension Agent for Columbia, Gilliam and Wasco counties, Associate Director of the Extension Service (1962-1993)