Theme: Public Service
George Abed Oral History Interview
Life history interview conducted by Janice Dilg.
December 16, 2014
George Abed (b. 1938), a native of Jordan, attended Oregon State from 1958-1962, graduating
with a degree in General Social Science. During his undergraduate years, Abed was
heavily involved with campus life and especially with student government, ultimately
serving as the school's first foreign-born student body president. After completing
a Ph.D. in Economics, Abed went on to a lengthy and multifaceted career in international
development and public policy, including more than two decades spent working for the
International Monetary Fund. The founder and former director of the Palestine Welfare
Association, Abed is also a former head of the Palestine Monetary Authority, which
he oversaw for two years at the invitation of Mahmoud Abbas, the President of the
State of Palestine. Abed's interview focuses on his Oregon State years, his career
in public policy, and his association with development efforts all across the Middle
East.
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.
Mike Beilstein Oral History Interview
Life history interview conducted by Chris Petersen.
July 7, 2016
Mike Beilstein (b. 1951) is an OSU alum who was a member of the university's first
undergraduate cohort in Biochemistry & Biophysics, completing his degree in 1973.
After a two-year stint in the Peace Corps and two additional years of work and political
engagement in the Washington, D.C. area, Beilstein returned to Corvallis and spent
the next two decades researching selenium deficiency in the laboratory of Philip Whanger,
an OSU professor of Agricultural Chemistry. In the early 1990s, Beilstein also returned
to political activism, helping to lead a successful living wage campaign and ultimately
serving for six terms as a member of the Corvallis city council. Retired from OSU
in 2007, Beilstein is heavily involved with a number of environmental and social justice
groups including, for a number of years, an annual trip to Cuba in protest of the
United States trade and travel ban. His interview details his OSU student experience
in the early 1970s; the influential two years that he spent as a Peace Corps volunteer
in Lesotho; his research career at Oregon State; and his years of political activism
and public service.
Yvenson Bernard Oral History Interview
Life history interview conducted by Chris Petersen.
September 12, 2014
Yvenson Bernard (b. 1984) attended OSU from 2003-2007, majoring in Merchandising Management
and starting for three years at running back for the football team. Known for his
versatility and toughness as a football player, Bernard finished his career second
on the school's list for career yards rushing and third in career touchdowns. The
son of Haitian immigrants, Bernard also made news in 2010 by organizing a major relief
effort in response to the earthquake that devastated Haiti on January 12th of that
year. His interview focuses on his upbringing in Florida, his experiences as a student
athlete at OSU, his outreach work in Haiti, and the importance that family has played
throughout his life.
The Books for Birmingham Project
An interview with Carlton Olson and Alice Rader, conducted by Mike Dicianna.
March 20, 2014
In January and February 1964, Oregon State University students collected over 14,000
books for transport and deposit at the Miles College library in Birmingham, Alabama.
Miles College was the primary four-year college available to African-American youth
hailing from the Birmingham area, yet its library was so inadequate that the school
risked losing its accreditation. The Books for Birmingham project was a highly visible
instance of OSU student participation in the Civil Rights Movement. In this interview,
two students fundamental to the initiative, Alice (Elle) Rader and Carlton Olson,
share their memories of the project and of subsequent civil rights and anti-war activism
on the OSU campus and beyond.
Knute Buehler Oral History Interviews
Two life history interviews conducted by Janice Dilg.
August 2014 - August 2015
Knute Buehler (b. 1964), a native of Roseburg, Oregon, attended Oregon State University
from 1982 to 1986, where he played on the baseball team and graduated with a B.S.
in Microbiology. Following the completion of his studies at OSU, Buehler was selected
as a Rhodes Scholar, the first in OSU history. He completed his Oxford M.A. in Politics
and Economics and went on to earn to earn an M.D. from Johns Hopkins University. Buehler
now practices as an orthopedic surgeon in Bend, Oregon, and is active in both statewide
and national politics. Over two interviews, Buehler discusses on his life at OSU,
his experiences at Oxford, his medical training and career, and his interest in politics.
Karyle Butcher Oral History Interview
Life history interview conducted by Janice Dilg.
May 8, 2014
Karyle Butcher (b. 1942) was a member of the OSU Libraries faculty from 1981 to her
retirement in 2010, serving as University Librarian for the final fourteen years of
her career. As director of the OSU Libraries, Butcher oversaw a massive physical
expansion of the campus' main branch library, promoted a culture of scholarship and
innovation within the organization, and guided OSU Libraries to a position of leadership
within an information landscape rapidly transitioning from paper to electronic. During
Butcher's tenure as University Librarian, the University Archives and the OSU Press
- with Butcher serving as director - also came under the umbrella of the OSU Libraries.
Her interview traces her personal evolution as a librarian and as a leader, and also
documents the massive changes that came about during her years of association with
the OSU Libraries.
John Byrne Oral History Interviews
Four life history interviews conducted by Chris Petersen.
January - February 2014
John Byrne (b. 1928) has made an indelible impact on Oregon State University through
an association that has spanned over five decades. A trained geologist, Byrne arrived
in Corvallis in 1960 as one of Oregon State College's first faculty members in Oceanography.
Over time, Byrne assumed chairmanship of the Oceanography Department and later became
Dean of OSU's newly formed School of Oceanography. In 1976 Byrne moved into upper
administration, first as Dean of Research and later as Vice President for Research
and Graduate Studies. Following a three-year stint in Washington, D.C., where he
served as head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Byrne returned
to Corvallis as the twelfth President in OSU history. Byrne's presidency lasted from
1984-1995, a time period during which he did much to modernize university operations
amidst a budget crisis caused by significant reductions in state funding for higher
education. The Byrne oral history interviews trace the arc of his entire life, from
his childhood on Long Island to his graduate studies at USC, and on to his tenures
at Oregon State and with NOAA.
Margaret Carter Oral History Interview
Life history interview conducted by Janice Dilg.
April 18, 2016
Margaret Carter (b. 1935) is the first African American woman to hold elected office
in the Oregon legislature. First joining the Oregon House in 1984, Carter later served
in the state Senate, and was variously appointed as Senate President Pro Tempore and
chair of the Joint Budget Committee. In 2009 she left the Senate to work as Deputy
Director of the state's Department of Human Services, continuing with the department
until her retirement in 2014. Carter and her five children left their native Louisiana
in 1967, fleeing an abusive home environment. After obtaining a bachelor's degree
in Education from Portland State University in 1972, Carter enrolled in Oregon State
University's Portland-based master's in counseling degree program in 1973. Completing
this degree a year later, Carter found employment at Portland Community College, where
she worked as a counselor and as a faculty member for the next twenty-seven years.
Her interview focuses on her southern upbringing and her relocation to Oregon; her
educational experience at OSU; and a few highlights of her pioneering career in public
service.
Susan Castillo Oral History Interview
Life history interview conducted by Janice Dilg.
June 17, 2014
Susan Castillo (b. 1951) graduated from OSU in 1981, having returned to school at
the urging of OSU's Affirmative Action Director, Pearl Spears Gray, for whom Castillo
worked as a secretary. A Communications major, Castillo found employment as a news
reporter with KVAL-TV Eugene, and her coverage of the Oregon legislature sparked her
interest in running for office. In 1997 Castillo was elected to the state Senate,
and in the process became the first Hispanic woman to occupy an office in the state's
legislature. From 2003-2012, she also served as Superintendent of Public Instruction
in the Oregon Department of Education, where she advocated for students of color and
low-income families, among many other initiatives. Her interview focuses on her student
experience at OSU and the arc of her career in journalism and politics.
Emery Castle Oral History Interviews
Three life history interviews conducted by Chris Petersen.
October 14 - 15, 2014
Emery Castle (b. 1923), a widely respected agricultural economist, made a significant
impact on Oregon State University over four decades of service. At various points
the chair of the Agricultural Economics department, the Dean of the Graduate School,
and the head of the University Graduate Faculty of Economics, Castle was also one
of three co-chairs of the Commission on University Goals, a group that played an important
role in shaping the strategic agenda of the university in the early 1970s. A major
contributor to conversations on natural resources and the rural economy, Castle also
led a Washington, D.C.-based public policy think tank, Resources for the Future, from
1976-1986, before returning to Corvallis for the final seven years of his career.
In three interviews, Castle discusses his education and service during World War II;
his scholarly achievements in agricultural economics and rural studies; and his diversity
of experiences as an administrator in Corvallis and elsewhere.
Jenna Dorn Oral History Interview
Life history interview conducted by Chris Petersen.
September 17, 2013
Jenna Dorn (b. 1950) graduated from OSU's Journalism department in 1973. Following
graduate study in public administration, Dorn began a long and successful career as
a public servant based in Washington, D.C. In the public sector, Dorn has served
as Assistant Secretary of Labor and head of the Federal Transit Administration, and
has held multiple positions in the U.S. Department of Transportation. She has also
provided leadership to the American Red Cross in the role of senior vice president
and has worked in similar capacities with the National Health Museum and the World
Bank. At the time of this interview, Dorn held the position of Chief Executive Officer
of the American Academy of Physician Assistants. Dorn's interview details her undergraduate
experience at OSU as well as her life in public service.
Jim Edmunson Oral History Interview
Life history interview conducted by Mike Dicianna.
November 10, 2014
Jim Edmunson (b. 1951) graduated from Oregon State University in 1973 with a bachelor's
degree in Liberal Studies. As an OSU undergraduate, Edmunson was heavily involved
with student journalism during a turbulent era in U.S. history. As news editor of
the Daily Barometer, Edmunson coordinated coverage of anti-war protests and the murder of OSU student
Nancy Wyckoff, among other topics. In 1983, following stints as a professional news
reporter and editor, Edmunson began a new career as a lawyer and political figure,
serving in the Oregon legislature from 1987-1995 and chairing the Democratic Party
of Oregon from 1999-2007. His interview focuses primarily on his undergraduate experience
with particular emphasis placed on his activities as a student journalist.
Tim Hall Oral History Interview
Life history interview conducted by Janice Dilg.
June 25, 2014
Tim Hall (b. 1955), a native of Los Angeles, attended Oregon State University from
1973-1978, graduating with a degree in Technical Journalism. Hall came to OSU during
a period of damaged relations between African American students and the OSU and Corvallis
communities. Hall has helped to rebuild these relationships, in part through his
contributions to the founding of the Black Cultural Center while a student at OSU,
and later through his service to the President's Board of Advisors for Minority Affairs.
His interview focuses on the challenges faced by black OSU students in the 1970s,
his experience of the African American student community that emerged during that
time, and the impact that OSU made upon him as he pursued a career in public relations.
Paula Hammond Oral History Interview
Life history interview conducted by Chris Petersen.
December 4, 2013
Paula Hammond (b. 1956), a native of Klamath Falls, attended Oregon State University
from 1974-1978, during which time she was one of eight undergraduate women in the
university's Civil Engineering program. Following graduation, Hammond began a thirty-year
career with the Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT), first as a field
engineer and later in administrative roles of increasing responsibility. In 2007
she was appointed Secretary of Transportation for Washington state, a position that
she held for six years until her retirement from WSDOT in 2013. Her interview focuses
on her undergraduate experience at OSU as one of a handful of women in engineering,
her career at WSDOT and her thoughts on the future of transportation.
Darlene Hooley Oral History Interview
Life history interview conducted by Janice Dilg.
February 3, 2014
Darlene Hooley (b. 1939) graduated from Oregon State University in 1961 with a bachelor's
degree in Physical Education. After fourteen years as a high school teacher, Hooley
entered the political arena, first as a member of the West Linn city council, followed
by stints in the Oregon legislature and on the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners.
In 1996 she was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Oregon's fifth district.
She served for six terms, retiring from political life in 2008. Her interview focuses
on her upbringing, her college years, her transition into public service and her experiences
in Washington, D.C.
A Century of Extension in the Klamath Basin
Five life history interviews conducted by Chris Petersen and Geoff Somnitz.
July 2015 - March 2016
The Klamath Basin has been home to OSU Extension and Experiment Station activities
for more than one-hundred years. In July 2015, four interviews conducted at the Klamath
Basin Research and Extension Center traced this history, with particular emphasis
placed on the work of legendary Extension Agent Charlie Henderson (1892-1969), as
well as that of Extension Veterinarian Guy Reynolds (1920-1995). Each of these sessions,
as well as a fifth interview conducted in March 2016, touches upon the impact that
Extension and Experiment Station work has made on the region and provides perspective
on the challenges and opportunities facing the Klamath Basin today. Of particular
interest are the interviewees' thoughts on the water crisis that crippled the area
in 2001, making national headlines in the process. Interviewees include Linda Weider,
Sen. Doug Whitsett, Rodney Todd, Jean Pinniger, and Ron Hathaway.
Jane Lubchenco Oral History Interviews
Two life history interviews conducted by Janice Dilg.
October 2014 - April 2015
Jane Lubchenco (b. 1947), Distinguished Professor of Zoology, is among the most accomplished
scientists to have ever served as a member of the OSU faculty. Professors in the
Zoology Department since 1977, Lubchenco and her husband, Bruce Menge, have contributed
greatly to the scientific understanding of marine ecosystems around the world. Since
the late 1980s, Lubchenco has also been actively involved in the formation of science
policy, especially as it relates to the nation's coastlines and oceanic environments.
In 2009 Lubchenco was confirmed as the first female head of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, a post that she held until 2013. Her interviews discuss
the arc of her education, her career path, highlights of her research program, her
increasing interest in public policy, and her tenure as leader of NOAA.
Bill Lunch Oral History Interviews
Two life history interviews conducted by Chris Petersen.
March 2015
Bill Lunch (b. 1949) was a member of the OSU Political Science department from 1984
to his retirement in 2011, serving as chair of the department for his final eight
years on faculty. For the majority of his time at Oregon State, Lunch also worked
as a political commentator for Oregon Public Broadcasting, filing reports and offering
his opinions on regional political affairs, and regularly appearing on both radio
and television. Over two interviews, Lunch describes the ways in which this dual
career evolved and flourished over the course of nearly three decades at Oregon State.
He also offers his opinions on numerous individuals who have made a major impact on
the university, and shares his perspective on the resignation of Governor John Kitzhaber,
which took place just one month before these interviews.
An Oral History of the OSC Class of 1959
An interview with Jim and Jane Schaeffer, Harley Smith and Dave Socolofsky, conducted
by Mike Dicianna.
February 14, 2014
The Class of 1959 alumni interviewed here relate their experiences in student government,
running on the "Shamrock Party" ticket. The participants likewise relay their memories
of campus life in the late 1950s, with special focus upon athletics, military training
and, of course, student politics. Three of the interviewees held student offices
in 1958 and 1959, and all four participated in ROTC. Jane Saling was the first female
to take military training classes at Oregon State College and Harley Smith drafted
the Student Senate petition to rename Oregon State College as Oregon State University.
The participants are also responsible for donating and installing the Trysting Tree
sculpture in the Memorial Union lounge that bears its name.
The OSU Extension Service Centennial Oral History Collection
Sixteen life history interviews conducted by Elizabeth Uhlig.
August 2007 - June 2009
In anticipation of its centennial in 2011, the Oregon State University Extension Service
interviewed several of its emeritus faculty in 2007, 2008, and 2009. These interviews
help to tell the story of Extension in Oregon over a fifty-year period following World
War II, and cover topics including agriculture, 4-H, home economics, energy, community
development, Sea Grant, communications, administration, and support. The interviewees
who are included in the collection that is presented here are: Roberta Anderson, Len
Calvert, Dean Frischknecht, John Hansen, Bob Jacobson, Duane Johnson, Alberta Johnston,
Harold Kerr, Glenn Klein, Linda Modrell, Owen Osborne, Jack Ross, Jane Schroeder,
Walt and Sally Schroeder, Greg Tillson, and Tom Zinn.
Bob Schoning Oral History Interview
Life history interview conducted by Mike Dicianna.
November 5, 2014
Bob Schoning (b. 1923) spent over fifty years working as a fisheries biologist and
policymaker at various levels of government. A nationally ranked handball player for
much of his life, Schoning also served his country as a Marine during World War II
and the Korean War, and was honored with the Bronze Star for his courage on the battlefield.
As director of the National Marine Fisheries Service, Schoning was heavily involved
with the crafting of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act,
an important piece of legislation which established a 200-mile fishery conservation
zone buffering the shorelines of the United States. Schoning spent four years as a
visiting professor with OSU's Fisheries and Wildlife Department and another sixteen
years on the advisory board of the Coastal Oregon Marine Experiment Station. His interview
focuses on his military service; his work as a fisheries policymaker; and his multiple
associations with OSU.
Loretta Smith Oral History Interview
Life history interview conducted by Janice Dilg.
January 21, 2015
Loretta Smith (b. 1966) graduated from OSU in 1987. A Broadcast Communications major,
Smith was involved with KBVR television and radio during her student years, and also
developed close ties to the university's Educational Opportunities Program. Following
the completion of her degree, Smith spent twenty-one years working in the office of
Oregon Congressman Ron Wyden, first as a receptionist and later as a community liasion
and staff manager. In 2010 Smith successfully ran for election to the Multnomah County
Board of Commissioners, a position to which she was re-elected in 2014. In her interview,
Smith discusses her college experience at OSU, her political education as a member
of Wyden's staff, and her own career as a public servant.
Cliff Trow Oral History Interview
Life history interview conducted by Janice Dilg.
December 13, 2013
Cliff Trow (b. 1929), a native of Kansas, spent thirty-one years on the OSU History
faculty, receiving the Organization of American Historians' Binkley-Stephenson Award
in 1972. In addition to his academic career, Trow - who has been involved in Democratic
Party politics since the late 1950s - was elected to the state Senate in 1974 and
represented District 18 until his retirement from office in 2003. A champion of education
in Oregon, Trow served on a number of committees, including periods chairing the Senate
Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Education Committee. He was also elected President
Pro Tempore of the Senate for 1981-1983. His interview focuses on his career at OSU
and in politics, and his long and fruitful marriage to Jo Anne Trow, herself a former
member of the OSU President's cabinet and a respected public figure.
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.
Tony Van Vliet Oral History Interview
Life history interview conducted by Janice Dilg.
November 14, 2013
Tony Van Vliet (b. 1930) is both an alum and an emeritus member of the OSU faculty.
Van Vliet studied Forestry at Oregon State College, graduating with a B.S. in 1952
and attaining a master's degree in Forest Products in 1958. He began his teaching
career in 1955, a tenure that lasted until 1990 and included thirty-five years on
faculty in the College of Forestry. From 1971-1978, Van Vliet was also involved with
the university's Career Planning and Placement Center, serving as Director from 1978
until his retirement from OSU. Van Vliet likewise built a second career as a legislator
in the Oregon House of Representatives. A moderate Republican, Van Vliet served in
Salem from 1974-1995, during which time he focused on support for education and revision
of the state's tax system. His interview focuses on his background and early years,
his experiences as an OSC student, his memories of working in the legislature, and
his successful advocacy of the Corvallis Riverfront project.
Warren Washington Oral History Interview
Life history interview conducted by Chris Petersen.
May 29, 2015
Warren Washington (b. 1936) earned two degrees from Oregon State College, completing
a B.S. in Physics in 1958 and, two years later, a M.S. in General Science with a concentration
on meteorology. Washington subsequently went on to a career at the National Center
for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) that has spanned more than five decades, a time period
during which he has established himself as a leading thinker on climate modeling.
An adviser to five different presidential administrations, Washington received the
2010 National Medal of Science for his achievements as a scientist and administrator.
Washington and his colleagues at NCAR also made fundamental contributions to the work
of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a body that was awarded the Nobel
Peace Prize in 2007 for its efforts to create an "ever-broader informed consensus
about the connection between human activities and global warming." Washington's interview
focuses on his experience as an African American youth growing up in Oregon; the progression
of his research in the atmospheric sciences; his experiences operating in Washington,
D.C.; and his thoughts on the issue of climate change.
Mary Yates Oral History Interview
Life history interview conducted by Chris Petersen.
May 15, 2014
Mary (Carlin) Yates (b. 1946), a Portland native, attended Oregon State University
from 1964-1968, majoring in English. In 1980, following a brief teaching career and
graduate work in Asian Studies, Yates entered the diplomatic corps, beginning with
an assignment in South Korea as Public Affairs Officer. Over the course of a career
in public service that ultimately spanned more than thirty years, Yates served as
U.S. ambassador to Ghana and Burundi, as well as National Security Advisor on African
issues to the Obama White House. She likewise occupied posts in the Philippines, France,
Zaire and Sudan. Her interview focuses on her memories of Oregon State, her diplomatic
training, the numerous positions that she occupied within the Foreign Service, and
the details of daily life while living abroad.
Russ Youmans Oral History Interview
Life history interview conducted by Mike Dicianna.
May 7, 2015
Russ Youmans (b. 1936) joined the OSU faculty in 1966 as a researcher and Extension
liaison operating out of the Agricultural Economics department. From 1977 to his retirement
in 1999, Youmans headed the Western Regional Development Center (WRDC), a federally
funded organization based at OSU and charged with linking land grant universities
with local policymakers to more effectively address issues of socio-economic development
in rural communities. As director, Youmans oversaw a wide swath of activities focusing
on, among other issues, health care, economic progress, and leadership education in
rural areas all across the western United States. His interview recounts his own rural
upbringing and education in agricultural economics; the creation and mission of the
WRDC; and the many activities with which he was involved as center director.