The Oregon State University Sesquicentennial Oral History Project

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Theme: Industrial Engineering

Sami Al-AbdRabbuh Oral History Interview - September 13, 2016

Sami Al-AbdRabbuh Oral History Interview

Life history interview conducted by Chris Petersen.
September 13, 2016
Sami Al-AbdRabbuh (b. 1987) is a Ph.D. student in OSU's Industrial Engineering program who completed his master's degree within the program in 2015. The CEO of a small start-up company, Al-AbdRabbuh has also been active in both student government and state politics, running as the Progressive Party candidate for state representative during the 2016 election cycle. Al-AbdRabbuh was born in the United States and raised in Saudi Arabia, and in his interview he provides perspective on the Muslim and Muslim American experience in both the U.S. and the Middle East. His academic and entrepreneurial pursuits as well as his community service projects are likewise included as secondary topics.

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Ken Austin Oral History Interview - March 24, 2015

Ken Austin Oral History Interview

Life history interview conducted by Mike Dicianna and Chris Petersen.
March 24, 2015
Ken Austin (b. 1931) attended Oregon State College from 1949-1953, graduating with a degree in Industrial Engineering. While at OSC, Austin became the first Benny Beaver mascot, wearing a costume of his own design and construction, and entertaining fans with antics that often incorporated a starter's pistol that he wore on his hip. Following the completion of his studies and a stint in the Air Force, Austin worked eight jobs in eight years before launching his own business, Austin Dental Equipment Company, or A-dec. Mechanically inclined and a habitual tinkerer, Austin's innovations revolutionized the practice of dentistry and fueled dizzying growth for A-dec. Later on, Ken and his wife Joan became heavily involved in numerous philanthropic endeavors, generously supporting several programs at OSU and providing the lead gift for a new home for the College of Business, Austin Hall. Austin's interview focuses on his life-long interest in machinery, his rich undergraduate experience at OSC, the creation and growth of A-dec, and his family's experiences in philanthropy.

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