Dr. Tammy Bray became dean of the newly created College of Health and Human Sciences in March 2002. One of 11 colleges at OSU, the College of Health and Human Sciences combines the former College of Health and Human Performance and College of Home Economics and Education. Oregon State's strengths in health, human physiology, nutrition, human development, and design attracted Bray to the position. "This new, integrated college combines all of the essential elements needed to build an innovative, one-of-a-kind program dedicated to all aspects of human well-being. I am not aware of any university in the country that has undertaken to build such a program with this unique scope."
As a researcher, Bray has studied the role of antioxidants and oxidative stress in health and disease. She has researched gene expression and nutrition, and protein energy and malnutrition in children. During her career, she as attracted more than $8 million in research funding from the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and other sources. She is a frequent speaker at national and international conferences. Dean Bray has published more than one hundred articles in peer-reviewed journals and written two books, including a food guide for cancer patients, "Champions in the Kitchen - Good Food for Healthful Living." She practices what she preaches. As she and OSU Professor Emeritus Bill Winkler meet on campus each weekday morning at 5:30 a.m. for a power walk.

A native of Taiwan, Bray is a 1967 graduate of Fu-Jen University in Taipei. She has a master's degree in nutrition and a PhD in nutrition and biochemistry - both from Washington State University. She came to Oregon State University from Ohio State University where she developed a national reputation as a leader in studying the role of nutrition in the prevention of diabetes and other diseases. She was selected in 1995 to chair the Department of Nutrition and Food Management in addition to an appointment as a professor of medical biochemistry as well as director of the university's Ohio Bionutrition Research Initiative. In 1999 she became associate dean of the College of Human Ecology. Prior to Ohio State, Bray served on the faculty of the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada, for 17 years.