Alumni News

Many thanks to the alumni featured here for sending us news of careers, families, retirement! Send your update and a photo to Pat Newport at pat.newport@oregonstate.edu or 125 Women's Building, Corvallis, OR 97331-6102. 

1930s

1940s

1950s

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s 

 

1930s

Thanks to a generosity of Gene Beach '35 General Home Economics, two outstanding graduate students recently received support for their research in 2004. Cory Bolkan, a PhD student in the Gerontology Program is studying mental health and aging under the direction of Dr. Karen Hooker in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences. Michelle Yan is studying the effects of diet and nutrition on cancer. She will be advised in her research my Dr. Emily Ho in the Department of Nutrition and Food Management. Both students were selected for their scholarship, dedication, and the critical nature of their research. The Gene Beach Scholarship will be awarded annually.

 

Barbara (Burtis) Peck '32Barbara (Burtis) PeckThanks to Barbara (Burtis) Peck '32, student teachers in the college's Physical Education Teacher Education (PETE) program can assess school children's performance "on-the-fly" by using Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs). OSU graduates and elementary physical education teachers Michael Alvick '96, Brian Babbit '91, and Justin Peeler '00, designed assessment tools to be used with PDAs that allow teachers to collect data during class. The data can then be easily downloaded and managed by teachers. Mrs. Peck gave a gift to the college that supported the purchase of 12 PDAs for training future teachers in the PETE program in the uses of PDAs. "I gave the gift in memory of my sister Helen Perry who brought me to Oregon by train in 1927 from South Dakota," Barbara said. "Helen worked in the PE department at OAC and was responsible for guiding me in my education in Home Economics and Education. When I decided to give a gift, this program seemed like a natural to honor Helen. "

 

1940s
Betty (Baldwin) Cilker '46 Home Economics"I have always been grateful for my OSU education, and have used it every day of my life," said Betty (Baldwin) Cilker '46 Home Economics. "Education was important in my family, and they sacrificed to send me to OSU. My education has meant everything to me. It's enhanced my life in many ways. George and I have been fortunate to provide our children and grandchildren with the education they wanted and now we are happy to be able to pass this opportunity on to others who need support. I think so highly of OSU that this seemed like the perfect way to give back." George asked Betty what she wanted for their anniversary this year. "A scholarship," she replied. Betty's anniversary gift will fund two scholarships for full-time undergraduate students majoring in Nutrition and Food Management, Human Development and Family Studies, or Apparel, Interiors, Housing, and Merchandising. The renewable scholarships will support two Oregon residents who choose to pursue additional minors or double majors and those with financial need. Last fall the Cilkers hosted a college reception at the Los Altos Country Club in California for area alumni to meet Tammy Bray. "She gave an electrifying talk. We are fortunate to have her as our dean," said Betty. George established a lumber and building materials business in Sunnyvale, now managed by their three sons. Betty and George spend their time traveling and enjoying their 10 grandchildren.

 

(L-R) Joan (Baker) Engberg, Barbara Bruck (Herd) Krieg, Bernice Lucy
(Schaad) Worth, and Betty Lu (Nixon) Johnstone Anderson on the beach
in Newport, 1943.(L-R) Miss Arnold, Joan, Betty Lu, Bernice, and BarbaraThese 1945 Home Economics graduates have fond and humorous memories of their trip to the beach. “Bernice’s mom had a farm so she got gas ration coupons and Barbara’s husband was in the service so we took his car,” recalled Joan (Baker) Engberg of her 1943 trip to Newport with Bernice Lucy (Schaad) Worth, who passed away in 2003, Betty Lu (Nixon) Johnstone Anderson, now living in Salem, and Barbara Bruck (Herd) Krieg, who is in Portland. “We took our friend, home ec teacher, and advisor Miss Arnold as a ‘chaperone’,” Barbara chuckled. “I remember learning to drive on that trip...we even had to push the car over a hill!” After graduating, Joan took a job as a dietician at Massachusetts General where “A small group of us, including Bernice, met and bonded, and through the years, we have kept in touch.” Back on the west coast, she worked at Scripps clinic before marrying and starting her family with Jarl, ’45 Engineering. They live in Portola Valley, California and enjoy travel abroad. They have two daughters and two grandchildren. Betty Lu enjoyed two careers – one as a women’s page writer for the Beach Babes 2005Oregonian and another as associate librarian for Western Seminary in Portland. Her husband Herb, a Baptist minister, teaches at Western Baptist College in Salem. “My journalism training at OSU was the foundation for my interests,” said Betty Lu, who has six grown step-children and two grandchildren. In November 2005, she and Herb plan to lead a tour to Egypt, Jordan and Israel. Barbara was widowed with three small children then remarried and added six more to her family with Bill Krieg ’51, Business. “Fifty years of owning and operating our own concrete and asphalt paving business has been the defining fact of my life,” said Barbara. They have 14 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. “Many are in Oregon and Washington, so we get to see them a lot,” said Barbara. She and Bill are also avid travelers.

 

Phyllis Christensen Edy Grey, '47Phyllis Christensen Edy Grey, '47 Home Economics Foods, fondly remembers "living in 'Practise House' on 26th with Marie Ledbetter, our advisor. During our week to cook, we invited Dean Milam for dinner!" Phyllis married her high school sweetheart, Don Edy '50, they moved to Portland and had two children, Mark '71 and Susan (Lewis & Clark '77). Phyllis taught English at Astoria High School for 19 years. Don passed away after 47 years of marriage and three yeas later, Phyllis married Jack Grey '50. They divide their time between homes in Portland, Astoria, and the Hood Canal. "Throughout my life," Phyllis recalls, "my sorority (AXO) has given me lifelong friends. I've also been active in AAUW, PEO and other organizations. OSU was the start for me, but the ultimate results are the many wonderful friends that still surround me!"

"In the 58 years since graduation I have reinvented myself many times," wrote Dorothy (Maag) Hatton '45 Merchandising. "I have been a technologist for a oil company, wife, mother, volunteer, instructor in organic chemistry, expatriate wife of Royal Dutch Shell executive in Mombassa, Kenya, and senior biochemist for NASA." Dorothy walks at 6 a.m. and swims laps every day. "It's really important for my attitude! Long ago when I was at OSU, I took a gym class every quarter and learned to golf, fence, dive, and jump off a spring board over a horse!"

Audrey (Johnson) '45During a recent campus visit Audrey (Johnson) '45, Home Economics, and her husband, John "Jed" Dunn '43 Agricultural Engineering, dropped by Milam Hall for a visit. "We celebrated our 60th anniversary last November with four generations - our daughter Joyce, and children Sarah and Jack from San Luis Obispo and our son Jack Jr., his wife Tara and children Jeffrey and Ashley who live in Santa Maria. "Audrey, who minored in recreation, worked in that field during our early years," recalled John. "Her greatest career goal was raising our two fine children." John Sr. worked in agricultural engineering and retired at Cal Poly after 24-1/2 years of teaching.

 

Rose KraftRose Kraft, '40 Home Economics Education (pictured with great grandson Liam), and Walter (OSU German Professor Emeritus) were recently featured in the Corvallis paper for the moving and remodeling of their historic home in 1975. Rose was credited with saving the Woodcock House, built in 1879, which features dozens of Afghan rugs that she purchased while on a Fulbright Fellowship in Afghanistan. An avid community supporter, Rose volunteers at the Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center, is on the Board of Trustees as well as the committee to raise funds for the Mario Pastega Guest House. She supports the OSU Symphony, the Robert Walls vocal music activities and the OSU Folk Club. She is a charter member of the Smithsonian National Museum of the the American Indian, a Wellspring Society member, and a member of the Asia Society. She and her husband enjoy regular gatherings with a gourmet dinner group. Synergies feature on Rose Kraft

Julianne (Wise) Phinney BS '41, MS '43 Home Economics visited our dean recently and recalled "Maude Wilson and I started the Housing program in '45 when OSU was just one of three colleges doing housing research. Our first classes, Organization and Use of Housing Space, Housing Planning in Relation to Function, and Functional Design of the Dwelling, drew people from Maine to California. In those days, there were no design standards for things like working surfaces, so we worked on establishing those. They were exciting days!" Julianne went on to teach for 28 years in everything from kindergarten to college. "I loved teaching. One of my greatest joys has been having students contact me 30 to 40 years after graduation and let me know I made a difference in their lives. I'm still a member of Columbia Health, am an enamel artist, and will be publishing a fairly small book of poetry this fall. I just celebrated my 90th birthday and am enjoying flower and vegetable gardening with my husband and visits with our daughter. I feel very blessed to be active and well. "

 

Jean RothAnother ardent supporter of OSU and the Corvallis community is Jean Starker Roth, '42 Home Economics Education, whose list of accomplishments and projects continues to grow. She and her late husband, Kermit, '48, long supported OSU academic, athletic and activity programs. And three of their four children are OSU graduates. Jean has been a dedicated volunteer and supporter of 4-H programs, a member of the OSU Libraries Advisory Council, co-chair of the Ralph Hull Heart Center and she helped realize the vision of the Mercedes Bates Family Study Center and remodeling of Milam Hall at OSU. She was named to the OSU Presidents Club Most Honored Members in 2000 for her meritorious services advancing OSU and in 2001 she received the E.B. Lemon Award, the Alumni Association's highest honor.

 

1950s
Sue (Gallo) Coleman, ’58In October, Sue (Gallo) Coleman, ’58, hosted a weekend reunion of the 1954 Kappa Alpha Theta pledge class at OSU at her home in Pebble Beach, California. Dean Tammy Bray dropped in to give the OSU grads an update on our “new” college and enjoy the alumni camaraderie. Sue and her husband, Jim, ’58 Business, have eight children, 26 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. Sue has been buying antiques in Europe since 1984 and selling them since 1996 in her business Garden Court Antiques at the San Francisco Design Center. “I make three to four trips a year buying English, French, and Italian pieces,” she said. She and Jim have a home in Modesto decorated solely with 18th century antiques and the home in Pebble Beach with 17th century antiques. Sue said her Theta reunion (see page 3) “was filled with such precious, unforgettable moments I will always remember and hold close to my heart.” Sally Edmiston wrote, “To think 15 women came and had fun, laughing and sharing their lives. The neat thing about it was that it seemed like we had never been apart. Our friendships will go on forever and never be taken away.” Sue Coleman (right) visited campus for the Council of Regents meeting and stopped by the Women ’s Building for a visit with Dean Bray.

 

Kathleen (Dwyer) DuyckIn a recent chat with Kathleen (Dwyer) Duyck '54, Home Economics, we learned that she has had multiple careers... public assistance worker, adoption and foster home worker, mother to three, grandmother to five, cellist and award winning poet! "I was principal cellist with the Scottsdale Arizona Symphony for many years, but fibromyalgia forced me to retire in 1980. This big change sparked my interest in poetry - my mother was a poetry enthusiast, and she planted that seed for me." Kathleen has received numerous honors for her poetry and was named an International Poet of Merit for the Year 2002 by the International Society of Poets. "I'm now writing poetry about my wonderful grandchildren." And they must provide great inspiration...Kathleen was selected for the Who's Who of Poetry for some of her poems.

 

Pat Green ‘53Pat Green ‘53 hosted a regular gathering of Home Economists in Homemaking at her Portland home in May with Tammy Bray as the guest of honor. Alumnae included Sue (Morgan) Goff ’53, Jane (Connell) Melhuish ’54, Jan (Jaross) Theisen ’62, Joanne (Perry) Nieswander ’53, Helen Wrolstad ’53, Carol Inman ’58, Pat (Loehner) Werth ’53, Marilyn (Melson) Stevenson ’50, Grace (Connell) Scott ’53, Shirley (Allen) Schulstad ’50, Tricia (Maguire) Marco ’65, Judy (Carnahan) Meneghin ’68, Nancy (Farrell) Prewitt ’68, Jo Taylor-Peck ’63, and Claudia (Yunker) Watson ’56.

 

Marilyn StevensonMary Adams"I always followed in her footsteps," said Marilyn (Melson) Stevenson '50, MS '53 Home Economics Education. "No, SHE was the one who got things done," countered and Mary (Huemann) Adams '49 Home Economics, when the women recently met to discuss preservation of Hawthorne Suite. In the 1970s they were both president of the Home Economics Alumni Board--Mary first, then Marilyn. "The associate dean, Elaine Carlson, suggested we raise money for a home ec suite and although we were a bit incredulous, we had a strong board so jumped right in," recalls Marilyn. "The project was charmed from the beginning. Among all those involved there was amazing luck, determination, vision, excitement, commitment to OSU, and great fund-raising skills." They hired Mirza Dickel, one of Portland's finest designers, and on a budget of $55,000 created Hawthorne Suite in Milam Hall. It was named after then-dean Betty Hawthorne. The suite, used for meetings and entertaining, was created as a first-class teaching tool in a traditional, classic style and was filled with antiques and fine furniture, many of which were donated by Portland area companies. "We wanted something that represented gracious living," said Mary.

 

Ann Streissguth"I remember my days at OSC with great nostalgia," writes Ann (Roth) Streissguth, '54 Home Economics Education. "I have been on the faculty of the University of Washington Medical School since 1964 and since 1972 have been studying Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure on offspring development. I run the Fetal Alcohol and Drug Unit in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences." A clinical and developmental psychologist with a specialty in behavioral teratology, Ann received her MS from UC Berkeley and PhD from the University of Washington. She has published over 200 papers, three books and a teaching curriculum on Alcohol and Pregnancy.

 

1960s

Toni BetschartAntoinette "Toni" Betschart MS '66 Human Nutrition, PhD '71 Cornell, biochemistry and nutrition, is area director for the eight-state Pacific West area of the USDA Agricultural Research Service in Albany, CA. A recognized authority on the nutritional value of cereal grains and legumes, Toni was on a nutritionist team for an AID grant to nutritionally improve wheat-based foods in developing countries. That resulted in a four-year government-to-government project in Bolivia. Among her many awards, Toni has received the Woman in Science and Engineering Award as the outstanding woman scientist in the federal government, was named outstanding alumna at UC Davis, and received the presidential rank award for meritorious service, given for excellence in public service.

 

Dean Bray and Kay Bishop (right) enjoyed the rodeo at the Pendleton Round-Up.A longtime supporter of OSU, Kay Bishop, ’64 Clothing and Textiles, gives her time to the family business and to causes around the world. She’s part of the sixth generation of Bishops that owns Pendleton Woolen Mills. “It was founded in 1863 and is still family owned and operated,” she said. “We’re based in Portland, have 53 stores around the country and a new line of home products.” Kay was actively involved in fundraising for the Bates Family Study Center at OSU and continues to generously support the college. She’s very involved in the Episcopal Church Foundation and is President of the San Francisco Girls Chorus, and travels extensively, often in Africa where she is part of an organization working to save cheetahs around the world.

 

Campbell'sDoug Campbell PhD '72 Chemistry, wrote on behalf of his wife, Carol (Paris) Campbell, '66- Apparel Design, whose Aunt (and former Home Ec faculty member) Marie Ledbetter was a instrumental in helping Carol realize her dream of owning and managing her own business, McGlasson's Stationery, a Hallmark Gold Crown store in LaGrande. Carol helped create an annual scholarship in "Auntie 'Rie's" name. Carol is active in PEO and committed to OSU's Giving Ciricle (see page 11). She is working with the local United Methodist committee which provides leadership for the Pathways student group at Eastern Oregon. Carol and Doug have two daughters and a grandson.

 

Rainy Husband ’63In February, Rainy Husband ’63, hosted a gathering of OSU alums, members of the East Lake Washington Home Economists, in her and Jim’s (BS ’63, MS ’65 Engineering) new home in Redmond, Washington. Guests met Tammy Bray, got an update on the “new” college, and reconnected with classmates over lunch. Pictured clockwise from bottom left: Carolyn (Kollas) Bertsch ’56, Margaret (Roe) Van Cise ’57, Lorraine “Rainy” (Fries) Husband ’63, Tammy Bray, Bev (Waverly) Postlewaite ’51 and Lorelee (Perry) Hedlund ’60.

 

Barbara (Altpeter) Nordquist, BS '62Barbara (Altpeter) Nordquist, BS '62, Home Economics, MS Cornell University, '63 PhD, USIU '69 recently retired as Professor Emerita from Howard University after 40 years of University teaching. Barbara found her field of textiles and clothing changed from home economics to human ecology to liberal arts to fine arts, ending up in arts and sciences! Books on pattern making, traditional textiles and dress, and one on African American dress are part of her resume along with the usual journal articles and work with ITAA. Dr. Nordquist established an extensive collection of traditional textiles and dress at Howard and a collection of American dress. She writes from Bethesda, Maryland that "Life is now consumed by babysitting grandchildren in the DC area, Kansas City and Boston." Barbara and her husband Myron '62, Liberal Arts, love to travel to their summer home in Montana and around the world.

 

Carol Peterson“Winnefred continues to be an inspiration for me,” said Carol (Flood) Peterson, BS’60, Home Economics Communications in a recent conversation about visiting with Winnefred Fulmer, long time Home Economics advisor. “As my advisor, she was always there to support me and offer me good counsel. We have remained friends…she has been a lifelong blessing. At 95 and still going strong, Winnefred is my mentor for aging gracefully!”Carol thanks Winnefred for encouraging her to apply for her first job at Sunset magazine as a food writer. “I didn’t think I was qualified, but Winnefred insisted I apply and I got the position. It turned out to be a great starting place.” Carol went on to become a food stylist, and travels the globe cooking and styling food for menus, advertisements, labels, and commercials in the US, Canada, and Australia, working with major ad agencies and studios. Her clients include Pillsbury, Boston Market, Dole, Stouffer’s, Chili’s, Fancy Feast, and Perkins Restaurants. She occasionally styles food for the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. She speaks at food conventions and teaches food styling. Visit www.petersonfooddesign.com to find out more about her business. After 40 years in her career, Carol says she wants to pull back and spend more time with her husband Richard, BS ’53 Agricultural Science. “We want to travel, garden and entertain more. I’m looking forward to cooking for the fun of it!” Carol and Richard live in Glendale, California, and have two sons, Alan, who works in computer security for large companies, and Clark, a movie producer with Monster among his credits.

 

BraywithAlumni

(L-R) Former Home Economics Head Advisor (1958-1982) Winnefred Fulmer, Dean Tammy Bray, and Home Economics Alumni Carol (Flood) Peterson '60 and Connie (Shupe) Plants '46 recently gathered at the "OSU Fun in the Sun" event in Palm Springs.

Jean (Farnham) Rehn, BS ’63, Home Economics and Communications recently wrote “Every time I see a black and orange OSU hat or sweatshirt, I ask ‘Are you a Beaver?’ Here in the Midwest, we sometimes run into those Oklahoma State Cowboys!” Jean and her husband Wayne live in Genesco, Illinois, where they operate a veterinary clinic. They have two children and five grandchildren who live nearby. “Through the years, my OSU education has been a great reward I have shared with my family and my community,” said Jean who has helped establish and run programs for pre-schoolers, volunteers for education and home food delivery for seniors in the Alpha-Woodhill community. She’s been active judging 4-H, food, and garden projects at local county fairs. “At my 40th class reunion last fall, I had the pleasure of meeting Dean Tammy Bray and learning about our ‘new college’… and I can assure you all that the buildings, curriculum and students are in good hands!”

 

Patty (Hammond) ReillyPatty (Hammond) Reilly, BS '67, Home Economics Education, MA '69, taught home economics and health for 32 years in the Lake Oswego, Oregon school district and retired in 2000. "The highlight of my retirement has been fascinating world travel to Africa, China nd Central Europe," she wrote. She just launched a business to help women downsize and reorganize space. "It's been an excellent use of my home economics training at OSU! Both May DuBois and Isabella McQuestan had a great impact on me." Patty has two grown sons, Shane ('01 Linfield) and Jesse '04, Exercise and Sport Science, an honors grad who served on the Human Services Leadership Team for our College.

 

Venesa (White) Strong ’64 Foods and NutritionVenesa (White) Strong ’64 Foods and Nutrition, built a strong foundation for her career including an OSU degree, dietetic internship at Massachusetts General in Boston and master’s degrees from Cornell (nutrition) and UCLA (business). She’s been at Cal Poly in San Louis Obispo for over 20 years teaching nutrition, dietetics and culinary management. She rounds out her schedule consulting at a nursing home to assure proper nutrition of residents and at a federal prison in Lompoc, working one-on-one with inmates who want to improve their diet and general health. She and her husband Les, a rocket scientist with Lockheed Martin, live in Santa Maria, California and enjoy international travel. They have two grown sons.

 

1970s
effrey
Clark, HSD, MEd'77 Health EducationJeffrey Clark, HSD, MEd'77 Health Education, currently teaches at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana and was recently promoted to Professor in the Department of Physiology and Health Science which offers programs in community health and school health education. Jeff also is the Project Director for Smokefree Indiana and the Indiana Hepatitis C Surveillance Project. Smokefree Indiana partners with community groups, universities, and organizations representing diverse populations to eliminate exposure to secondhand smoke, prevent youths from starting to smoke, promote quitting among adults and youth, and, eliminate tobacco-related health disparities. The Hepatitis C Surveillance Project tracks Hepatitis C infections in the state of Indiana and provides technical assistance to county health departments.

 

Linda (Turner) Griepentrog ’71After being editor of Sew News magazine for 19 years, Linda (Turner) Griepentrog ’71 Clothing & Textiles, took a career turn and started her own business, G Wiz Creative Services. Her business focuses on sewing-related activities - writing, editing teaching, and organizing international fabric shopping tours. She lives in Tualatin, Oregon with her husband Keith and two dogs, Winston and Riley.

 

Kathleen (Hansell) Hendrix, BS '74 Home Economics EducationKathleen (Hansell) Hendrix, BS '74 Home Economics Education, a teacher at Selah High School in Washington recently received national recognition as a Top Ten Teacher of the Year from the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences. Last year, she was named the Washington Family and Consumer Science Teacher of the Year. She was recognized for her innovative program "Training Tomorrow's Teacher/Leaders Today, Careers in Education Pathway." Kathleen is president-elect of the Washington Association of Family and Consumer Sciences. She was Oregon Home Economics Teacher of the Year in 1981 and Washington Home Economics Teacher of the year in 1994. She and her husband Frank have two grown children.

 

Gary Horvath '75, EdM"After graduating from OSU," wrote Gary Horvath '75, EdM, I worked as the Director of Racquet Sports for a five-star resort in Durango, Colorado and helped coach the men's and women's tennis teams at Fort Lewis College. I served on the Executive Committee for the United States Professional Tennis Association and on the Board of Directors for the American Platform Tennis Association. I received my MBA from University of Colorado in 1989 and since then been a volunteer assistant coach for the CU women's tennis team and worked as a marketing analyst for an international manufacturer in Denver. I currently work as a research associate in the Business Research Division of the Leeds School of Business. My wife and I have two daughters, Anastasia and Allyson, and live in Broomfield, Colorado. I remain active in tennis and platform tennis.

 

Sue Lehrman, ’72 Home EconomicAs president of The Graduate College of Union University, Sue Lehrman, ’72 Home Economics, has successfully blended her interests of public health and college administration. She earned her PhD in Pubic Health from UC Berkeley, then honed her management skills at a time when the strain on hospitals required mangers to be adept at leadership, strategic planning and financial management. She established a national reputation as a health services researcher, focusing on organizational evaluation. Sue joined Union in Schenectady, New York as a faculty member in health systems management, then in 1998 was named director of the MBA@ Union program, then Dean of Graduate Studies, and in 2003 she was named president of the new Graduate College. She was recently named a “Woman of Excellence” for her role in helping create the new school. Sue and her husband, Stuart, an art director at a bioresearch lab, have an 11-year-old son.

 

Aldo MelchioriAldo Melchiori, BS '78 Physical Education and Athletic Training, MS '79 PE, Arizona, enjoyed a full career in sports and is now a lawyer for the Judiciary Committee of the Washington State Senate specializing in criminal law and sentencing. In his early career, he worked as head trainer, men's swim coach and biomechanics instructor at University of Wisconsin-Stout, then went to work for the United States Sports Academy - one year in Bahrain as athletic trainer, one year in Malaysia and one in Saudi Arabia as commando physical fitness trainer for the Saudi Air Force. He got his PhD in Higher Ed Administration which he worked in for a while, then graduated from Seattle University School of Law. He and his wife Lori have been married 18 years.

 

Susan Parker, BA '74 Home Economics-Apparel DesignSusan Parker, BA '74 Home Economics-Apparel Design, is Vice President and Store Manger for Macy's West in Pleasanton, California and just celebrated 30 years with the company. She has been instrumental in creating an annual three-day study tour in San Francisco for OSU merchandising students that provides scholarships. Susan and her husband Brian Farrow have two children - Parker and Rachel, now in college. According to Leslie Davis Burns, Chair of the Department of Design and Human Environment, "Susan has been on our Advisory Board for 15 years and has promoted, and set the standard for, a philosophy of balance of work and family at Macy's which has led to many women being promoted up the ranks at Macy's."

 

Connie WeaverConnie (Shelton) Weaver BS ’72, MS ’74, Foods and Nutrition, PhD Florida State University, is Distinguished Professor and Head of the Department of Foods & Nutrition at Purdue University. She is also Director of the NIH-funded Botanical Center to study dietary supplements containing polyphenolics for age-related diseases. Her research interests include mineral bioavailability, calcium metabolism, and bone health. Connie and her husband Lloyd, ’70 College of Science, spend winter vacations skiing with their three sons and summers in Oregon visiting family and friends. In a recent email, she wrote, “I maintain professional contacts and connections with retired faculty members at OSU and enjoy watching the progress being made there.”

 

Janet (Olson) Wheeler, BS ’79, Nutrition and Food Management”I am VP of Research and Development for the Specialty Potato Products division of ConAgra Foods (Lamb-Weston),” wrote Janet (Olson) Wheeler, BS ’79, Nutrition and Food Management. “We are headquartered in Boise, Idaho, and TriCities, Washington, have 15 manufacturing facilities worldwide, and we produce over 4 billion pounds of frozen potato products each year! I’m responsible for new product development, process technology engineering, nutrition and consumer services, and technical services. I started with Lamb-Weston right after graduation, and have held a variety of product development and nutrition services positions. In 2001, I became General Manager of one of our smaller business units and came back to R&D in 2003 in a newly created VP position. I grew up in Corvallis as part of a Beaver family Dad ’50, Mom ’69, Aunt and Uncle early 50’s, and sister-in-law ’75. My husband, Lee, and I own a vacation home in the San Juan Islands and spend all our free time boating, fishing, and crabbing.

 

1980s
Ann Adrian and Rachelle Daiker"We believe your children's environment should be a place to dream, play, and spend quality family time together," said Ann (Campbell) Adrian, '83 Merchandising owner "Goodnight Room," a children's furniture and accessory specialty store in Portland. After a merchandising management career with Nordstrom, Ann launched her own store concept to serve this special market niche. She has hired several OSU interior design grads as interns, including Rachelle (Rossman) Daiker '01 Interior Design , who is now store manager.

 

Meg Greiner"I have been teaching Elementary Physical Education for the past 17 years," wrote Meg Greiner, BS '86 Exercise and Sport Science, '93 PETE, "and am currently at Independence Elementary School in Oregon." She was the 2000 OAHPERD- Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year and the first and only National Board Certified Physical Educator in the state of Oregon. She currently serves on the National Association for Sport and Physical Education Council on Physical Education for Children, the Oregon Governor's Council for Sport and Physical Activity and as a Board member of the Council for Children's Expanded Physical Education. She has maintained her OSU connections by serving as a cooperating teacher for the graduate and undergraduate physical education teacher- education program.

 

PonzettiWe recently heard that Jim Ponzetti, PhD '84 Human Development and Family Studies, is Editor-in-Chief for the four-volume International Encyclopedia for Marriage and Family- published by Macmillan. Jim and his wife, Rosanne, BS '83 HDFS, MA '85 University of New Mexico Family Studies/Health Care Administration, now live in Longview, Washington where she is VP of Human Resources for Lower Columbia Region of Peace Health Systems and Jim commutes to University of British Columbia where he is on the faculty. Jim has held positions in gerontology, at Central Washington and Western Illinois Universities and founded the Oregon Family Nurturing Center, Inc., a nonprofit organization focused on family life education. Jim and Rosanne have four children.

 

 

 

1990s
Amy (Steinberg) Bauman ’93 MerchandisingAmy (Steinberg) Bauman ’93 Merchandising, got tired of jeans that didn’t fit, so she deigned her own, then realized “I can’t be the only one out there who can’t find jeans that fit.” The result? Louise Jeans, designed in Amy’s Columbia City home office, manufactured in Seattle and sold in Portland, Camas, Astoria and Port Townsend specialty stores. She designed the jeans for 30+ women “a curvier fit, cut fuller through the hip and thigh, with a contoured waistband. They’re figure flattering for every shape!” Amy is actively involved in the Portland fashion scene, participating in fashion shows to raise money for a variety of causes. She and her husband Phil enjoy hiking, biking and everything outdoors with their dog Odie.

 

Paul Brashnyk BS ’98 Health Care Administration, MPH ’00Paul Brashnyk BS ’98 Health Care Administration, MPH ’00, says he has “gotten the best out of OSU, and I’m glad I can return the favor.” In 1999, Corvallis Family Medicine made a recruiting visit to campus and Paul found the perfect job – Administrator of the independent family practice that has five doctors and one nurse practitioner. “My job is to assure that the practice runs efficiently and is meeting patient expectations,” explains Paul. He shares his expertise as adjunct faculty at OSU teaching Intro to Health Care Management and Intro to the US Health Care System each year. “Our practice takes advantage of having OSU nearby,” says Paul. “We place 10-12 interns each year who shadow doctors and nurses and get administrative experience.”

 

Stephanie GoecknerStephanie Goeckner '93 Apparel Design believes we need to appreciate children's preferences in clothes. "Children definitely have their own taste when it comes to color and style. What they wear is an important form of self expression and it's important that we value their opinions." Stephanie has been an apparel designer for Daisy Kingdom/Patty Reed Design in Portland since she graduated and generously makes time each year to share her industry experience with OSU apparel design students.

 

Alison and Nick GrossSince graduating, Nick Gross, ’96 Health Care Administration, has worked for Providence Health System. He’s currently Quality Improvement Coordinator managing the Providence Oregon Health Plan offering. Nick says, “I chose a career in health care because I really liked the thought of helping others – what I do brings this to life every day. I realize how precious our health care resources are and am proud to work for an organization that serves and advocates for our most vulnerable citizens.” Nick and his wife Alison have a three-year-old son Riley. Nick enjoys golfing, fly fishing and cheering on the Beavers.

 

Karen HerbaughKaren Herbaugh’s love of clothes and history helped land her a job at the American Textile History Museum in Lowell, Massachusetts in 1993. Karen, MA ’94 AIHM, recently wrote “I’m the curator of the clothing, textile and wooden tools and machinery collection. I received a travel grant from the Costume Society of America to continue my research on a series of 1950s fabrics and the clothing made from them. The fabrics were designed by fine artists who belonged to the Associated American Artists and for a few years created designs for the textile industry. My goal is document the relationships between artists, fabric producers, and clothing manufacturers. I feel deeply indebted to the AIHM department, especially for the guidance of Elaine Pedersen and Nancy Bryant, who are now colleagues and friends. I love to travel and my marriage to Richard Dubois last November was the perfect excuse for another trip! We recently returned from our honeymoon in New Zealand.”

 

Rochelle Rainey, MS ’97 Environmental Health Management, PhD ’03 Public Health, conducted her doctoral research Nepal, testing a low-cost appropriate technology for disinfecting drinking water in a small village. She continued working internationally in water and sanitation, most recently in Chad with the International Rescue Committee as the Environmental Health Manager in a camp of over 20,000 Sudanese refugees. “Although the conditions were difficult in Chad,” she says, “I had a strong foundation of interdisciplinary coursework and experience to guide planning and implementation of the health programs”. She adds “ ...all students should take a class in GIS!”. In January she will start a new position as a Johns Hopkins Health and Child Survival Fellow, based at the United States Agency for International Development’s Global Health Bureau as the Water, Sanitation, and Environmental Health Technical Advisor.

Breaking the gender barrier in the NFL

Ariko Iso treating an injured player.Ariko Iso '93, Exercise and Sport Science, says "luck and opportunity" landed her a job as the National Football League's first female athletic trainer. To hear her story, perseverance would have to be added. She has been with the Pittsburgh Steelers for a year, a job that fate played a hand in. At age 14, living in Japan, she injured her ACL and talked to collegiate athletic trainers as she recovered. Convinced this might be her life's work, she dreamed about college in the U.S.

 

After Ariko and her parents met then-Department Chair Dr. Chris Zauner who was lecturing in Japan, Ariko came to OSU, graduated in athletic training, then completed her master's at San Jose State. She worked as a trainer for college football and women's and men's basketball teams before making the NFL contact at a conference. Five years, several contacts, and two summer internships later, she became the first female assistant athletic trainer in the NFL. Ariko was back on campus in March to share her career story and expertise in lumbar/cervical spine injuries.

 

Steve McKenzieSteve McKenzie '98 EXSS is hippotherapy program director of the National Center for Equine Facilitated Therapy in Woodside, CA. Hippotherapy is a physical, occupational, and speech therapy treatment strategy that utilizes equine movement. NCEFT (www.nceft.org) provides education and training in mounted sports, horsemanship, athleticism, and teamwork, especially for children, and provides equine facilitated therapy for people with disabilities. Steve is also a member of the San Mateo County Sheriff's Mounted Search and Rescue Unit.

 

 

Joe Schomer '95, Health Care Administration"Since OSU, I have worked very hard to build a strong and meaningful healthcare career," wrote Joe Schomer '95, Health Care Administration. "After about six years of working on physician side, I moved to the insurance side of healthcare. I have greatly enjoyed the last three years working as a Senior Actuarial Analyst for Anthem BCBS. I am considered the ambassador of my department and was recently recognized as an outstanding performer in 2004. My passion and drive for healthcare has led me to take a formal role in giving back to the Denver community. As President of the largest committee at Anthem, I manage and participate in volunteer initiatives such a Junior Achievement, adoption of Montessori in poverty and United Way. Personally, my time and love is devoted to my fiancé and dog. We often take advantage of the beautiful Rocky Mountains by camping, hiking or visiting dog parks. I compete on a State ranked men's softball team, I occasionally get to use my single digit golf handicap and I recently ran the Bolder Boulder. Life is grand - and I credit OSU and Dr. Friedman for giving me the foundation. Go Beavs! "

 

Jason Wallis '95, MS Human PerformanceNathan Haines '04 and Corie Raquel '04, both Exercise and Sport ScienceFitness Over 50 is a booming business in Corvallis and founder/director Jason Wallis '95, MS Human Performance, provides a great place for his clients to exercise through classes, open gym, and sessions tailored to specific needs. All members receive personal training in Circuit Training, Cardio/Strength Conditioning, Abdominal & Low Back and Bone Bolstering. Nathan Haines '04 and Corie Raquel '04, both Exercise and Sport Science work at "FOF" as certified Older Adult Fitness Specialists. Jason and his wife Susan have a six-month old son Jaxon. Susan was the Human Performance lab coordinator at OSU from 1994-2002 and is now a Paramedic/Firefighter for the Albany Fire Department. Jason writes "We stay busy and fit introducing our son to the trails of McDonald Forest and Bald Hill with our three dogs. "

 

Jim WilsonIn 1982, after his junior year at OSU, Jim Wilson, BS '93 Exercise and Sport Science, MAT '95, left school to play pro baseball. He was with the Seattle Mariners and the Cleveland Indians, for a total of 13 years then "I decided to go back to school. I ran my course in baseball, we needed to pay the bills, and I had always wanted to be a teacher and coach." He's now in his eighth year as physical education and weight training instructor, head baseball coach, and assistant football coach at Fort Vancouver High School in Washington. Jim and Lisa (Shulz) BS '85 Business have five-year-old twin daughters.

 

2000s

Carrie BoneCarrie Bone, '01 Exercise and Sport Science, MS '03 University of Massachusetts-Amherst, was recently hired at St. Mary's College of Maryland as the assistant athletic trainer where she looks forward to "getting back to an academic setting. St. Mary's is a small D3 school in southern Maryland."

Jeff Hepler, MS ’01 Public HealthJeff Hepler, MS ’01 Public Health, writes from Kabul, Afghanistan “My full time job is in Emergency Management, and I specialize in disaster response. We work every day on a tour of duty, usually 12 hours or more. My job here is the Safety and Health Manager for the Afghanistan Engineer District. We are a mixture of soldiers, civilian engineers, and scientists working to rebuild Afghanistan roads, military bases, hospitals, schools, and water projects. One of my side jobs has been to assist USAID in a water and sanitation project that brings drinking water by tanker truck to the poorest villages. During one trip, a small boy (see photo) was brought to me with a head wound (there is no clinic or doctor). I have been a ski patrol medic for 15 years, and also a combat lifesaver, so it wasn’t a problem to help patch him up.”

 

Brian IrvingBrian Irving, '00 Exercise and Sport Science, is currently a third-year PhD student in Exercise Physiology at the University of Virginia. He's a National Institute of Health, Complementary and Alternative Medicine Predoctoral Fellow studying the effects of exercise training and diet on the prevention and treatment of the metabolic syndrome, type II diabetes mellitus, and coronary artery disease.

 

Jim Nusser“Because of my OSU degree, I have been able to land a new job that’s a huge career step for me,” wrote Jim Nusser, MS ’04 Environmental Health and Safety Management, in a recent email. Jim earned his degree while working full-time as a regulatory/safety officer. His new role as Loss Control Consultant with SAIF Corporation “offers more responsibility, bigger challenges, and a significant pay increase. Not only has the OSU program opened doors for me, I am confident that it has helped provide me with the skills, knowledge, and philosophy that will enable me to succeed in this new job.” Jim said he would be happy to share his positive experiences with recent grads (contact him at nusser@ efn.org). Jim and Kirstin have two daughters, Lauren (4) and Sonja (1), and live in Eugene. Jim enjoys “hiking, walking, biking and playing with blocks and drawing with crayons. ”

 

Neha Patel, MS ’03 Environmental Health ManagementNeha Patel, MS ’03 Environmental Health Management, is Program Manager at the Oregon Center for Environmental Health. The Center’s mission is to protect public health and the environment by promoting alternatives to the use, manufacture, release and disposal of toxic chemicals. Neha serves as project director for the Oregon Health Care Without Harm Campaign (HCWH) and regional coordinator for the Northwest Hospitals for a Healthy Environment. She is responsible for building collaborative partnerships with hospitals, health care associations and other organizations throughout the state. In 2001, Neha was awarded the City of Portland’s Pollution Prevention Award. Neha has an undergraduate degree from the University of Massachusetts in Environmental Toxicology. She has worked as an Environmental Specialist for Phillip Environmental, is a former Research Assistant for the Center for Research on Occupational and Environmental Toxicology at OHSU, and was a Lead Educator for the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry.

 

Neha lives with her husband Sam, an Animator, in Southeast Portland. They enjoy traveling, camping and fixing up older homes.

 

Whether you're fresh out of school--or fresh into retirement--we'd love to hear from you with news of your career, family, travels, hobbies. Please e-mail your update and a photo to pat.newport@oregonstate.edu or send the information to Pat Newport, 125 Women's Building, OSU, Corvallis, OR 97331-5109. We will gladly return photos. We hope you enjoy these stories of your fellow alumni from recent issues of Synergies, the newsletter of the College of Health and Human Sciences.

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