
Where Beavers Gather
By Kip Carlson
By Scholle McFarland
1960s
Wayne Chambers, ’63, owner of W&J Orchards, Inc., was featured in the Corvallis Gazette-Times in a story about his decades as a hazelnut grower and his role helping OSU researchers develop trees that could resist eastern filbert blight.
1970s
Dean Fassnidge, ’76, retired after 24 years of teaching science in the Beaverton School District. During his tenure, he was honored as a state finalist for the Presidential Award in Teaching (2014) and received certification to borrow lunar samples from NASA to share with his students.
1980s
Diane Braun Brown, ’80, recently retired and returned to Oregon after 23 years as a clinical pharmacist at Wellstar Spalding Regional Hospital in Griffin, Georgia, where she managed their ambulatory anticoagulation clinic. Prior to moving to Georgia, she spent 20 years as a director of pharmacy in Madras, Oregon.
Jeff Clawson, ’88, M.S. ’94, brewery pilot plant manager for the College of Agricultural Sciences, and LaRae Wallace, ’92, fiscal coordinator for the Division of Research and Innovation, were both honored with OSU’s Exemplary Employee Award.
Suzanne Simard, M.S. ’89, Ph.D. ’95, author and professor of forest ecology at the University of British Columbia, received the 2024 Canadian Institute of Forestry award for her groundbreaking research on forest ecosystems, particularly mycorrhizal networks.
Howard C. Yang, M.S. ’87, Ph.D. ’89, chairman, CEO and chief scientist of Montage Technology Company, was inducted into Oregon State’s Engineering Hall of Fame. Yang was among the first integrated circuit designers to return to his native country from Silicon Valley when China’s high-tech industry was still in its infancy. He co-founded China’s first venture capital-funded company, later co-founding Montage Technology.
Adam D. Smith, ’00
Brigadier General Adam D. Smith (at center, with his family) was appointed the adjutant general — or chief administrative officer — of the U.S. Army. As the nation’s 64th adjutant general, he now oversees human resources policies, programs and services to maintain Army readiness. He also assumes the roles of the Military Postal Service Agency executive director and commanding general of the U.S. Army Physical Disability Agency.
Courtesy of Adam Smith
1990s
Dr. Scott Bender, ’92, D.V.M. ’95, published a chapter in the book Wild Carnivores of New Mexico, published by University of New Mexico Press.
Barbara Lagerquist, M.S. ’98, research coordinator at the Marine Mammal Institute, was awarded OSU’s Exceptional Leadership in Safety Award.
Toby Luther, ’96, CEO of Lone Rock Resources, and Camille Palmer, ’97, associate professor and associate school head of the School of Nuclear Science and Engineering, were selected by Governor Tina Kotek for service on the Oregon State University Board of Trustees, with formal confirmation by the Oregon Senate in October.
Susan Shaw, MAIS ’97, professor of women, gender and sexuality, was honored with OSU’s 2024 International Service Award for expanding Oregon State’s global reach and reputation through teaching, research and service.
Seth Warren, ’98, published his second collection of poetry, Road Sodas: Evocative and Obscure, available through Amazon and at Powell’s Books.
2000s
Derek Anderson, ’05, Darwin Barney, ’08, Jacoby Ellsbury, ’07, Robbie Findley, ’07, Joey Hansen, ’02, Saori Haruguchi, ’10, Leslie Mak, ’12, Cambria Miranda, ’11, Jacquizz Rodgers, ’21, and Kathy Weston, along with baseball coach Pat Casey, were inducted into the Oregon State Athletics 2024 Hall of Fame. The inductees were recognized on the field during the Oregon State-Oregon football game on Sept. 14 at Reser Stadium.
Dana Howe, M.S. ’07, senior faculty research assistant in integrative biology, received OSU’s Outstanding Faculty Research Assistant Award.
Larry O’Neill, Ph.D. ’07, associate professor and director of Oregon Climate Service, was awarded OSU’s Extension and Engagement Award for his work presenting easy-to-understand scientific information through media outlets and podcasts.
Arijit Sinha, M.S. ’07, Ph.D. ’10, professor and JELD-WEN Chair of Wood-based Composites Science and director of NSF Industry University Cooperative Research Center for Wood-Based Composites, received OSU’s Excellence in Postdoctoral Mentoring Award.
Shannon Wanless, Ph.D. ’09, executive director of the Office of Child Development and associate professor for University of Pittsburgh’s School of Education, was named a 2024 Aspen Institute Ascend 2024 fellow.
2010s
Dan Gibson, ’10, returned to Oregon to become CEO of Visit McMinnville. Previously, he was senior director of communications for Visit Tucson.
Janell Johnson, M.Ag. ’11, senior instructor and head academic advisor for animal and rangeland sciences, received OSU’s Dar Reese Excellence in Advising Award.
Erica Liu, ’10, MBA ’12, was promoted from senior account supervisor to vice president for integrated marketing for Anthology FINN Partners, an integrated marketing and communications company in Honolulu.
Dr. Lane Martin, DVM ’11, joined CodaPet, a network of veterinarians dedicated to providing compassionate end-of-life care for pets in their homes.
Arien Muzacz, Ph.D. ’15, associate clinical professor in the College of Education, received OSU’s Faculty Affordability Award for her work to make course materials accessible to students.
Lily Ranjbar, Ph.D. ’16, director of online programs and senior instructor at Oregon State, was honored with the College of Engineering’s Online Teaching Award.
Justin Read, ’12, bought Garland Nursery, a family-owned retail nursery in Corvallis owned by generations of Beavers and most recently by Lee, Brenda, ’85, and Erica Powell, ’95.
Sydney Wiese, ’17
After five seasons in the WNBA with the Washington Mystics and Los Angeles Sparks, Sydney Wiese has returned to OSU as a women’s basketball assistant coach. Wiese is one of the most decorated players in Beaver women’s basketball history. She is a four-time All-Pac-12 Team point guard and third-team All American. She holds school records for career assists and career and single-season three-pointers.
2020s
Hannah Briggs, ’22, MPH ’23, secured a grant from Healthy Rural Oregon to enhance maternal healthcare access in the most remote regions of Eastern Oregon. Briggs will lead recruitment, training, curriculum and certification for a cohort of state-certified birth doulas.
Everardo Gonzalez, M.S. ’24, a doctoral student in robotics, received OSU’s Excellence in Undergraduate Research Mentoring by a Graduate Student Award.
Taylor Krueger, M.S. ’21, Ph.D. ’23, a postdoctoral scholar in chemistry, received OSU’s 2024 Postdoctoral Excellence Award.
Joe K. Page, MPH ’24, began a position as a healthcare policy intern in the office of U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse in Washington, D.C.
Kelly Shannon, ’20, M.S. ’23, published his first first-author paper in the Journal of Geophysical Research. An article about the paper appeared in the science news magazine Eos.
Steven Tran, M.S. ’24, a doctoral student in chemistry, received OSU’s Herbert F. Frolander Graduate Teaching Assistant Award.
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