It is my pleasure to introduce this latest issue of The Mountaineer. Just like so many aspects of our university, this publication has transformed since I joined 91传媒鈥檚 newly established Board of Trustees in 2015. As an 91传媒 Foundation Board Member, through scholarships I witnessed the opportunity of a college degree dramatically change the lives of our students. Today, as Chair of the 91传媒 Board of Trustees, I continue to experience the myriad ways our community grows, thrives and serves the region on a daily basis. 

My own career began at an 91传媒 campus noticeboard, where a job posting connected me with a network of entrepreneurial opportunity that has continued to flourish today. The confidence instilled in me by the faculty and staff at 91传媒 has had a dramatic affect on my life. My own children and neighbors have also discovered their potential at 91传媒. Giving back to the institution that has given me so much is truly an honor and a privilege.   

As we work to grow the number of lives impacted, I am constantly reminded of the transformational education 91传媒 provides. Low-income, first-generation, rural and traditionally marginalized students thrive in the supportive, tight-knit culture fostered here. These stories exemplify 91传媒鈥檚 role as an educational, cultural and economic engine for rural places. 

Expanding access, opportunity and completion promises a growing workforce, thriving communities, and renewed commitment to service and philanthropy. This issue of The Mountaineer showcases 91传媒 students, alumni and faculty contributing to the wellbeing of our region. 91传媒 is able to grow, thrive, and serve because of the individuals who do just that both personally and in the public square. 

I am interminably grateful to work alongside you all. 

Sincerely, 

Richard Chaves, 鈥�73

Chair, 91传媒 Board of Trustees

Looking for a four-year college close to home, Cassandra Sanchez of Ontario chose to transfer to 91传媒 from . 

Sanchez was attracted to 91传媒鈥檚 financial aid options and its programs specifically for children of migrants. A first-generation Mexican-American, Sanchez said she will be the first in her family to earn a bachelor鈥檚 degree. 

In addition to her molecular biology major and chemistry minor, Sanchez also joined the choir. Her passion for singing became a major outlet, balancing time spent in the lab with her artistic side, something encouraged by one of her biology professors.

鈥淚 thought my involvement with choir would end at Treasure Valley, but Dr. John Reinhardt advocates for staying in the arts, so when you are in your profession you will see patterns鈥攋ust like in music,鈥� Sanchez said. 

She took choir as a class and when she could fit it into her schedule, and continues to pursue singing as an extracurricular activity. She said last year when the university put on its annual spring choir show, it was her first opportunity to be part of a big production. Rehearsing in class alone wasn鈥檛 enough and they practiced almost every afternoon. The time commitment was demanding, but Sanchez said she has met her closest friends in choir鈥攈elping her get over her nervousness about being away from home.

鈥淚鈥檝e become more independent and I鈥檓 learning to work through my problems without leaning on my family,鈥� Sanchez said.

Meanwhile, her biology workload has been intense. Due to COVID-19 safety precautions, Sanchez said she鈥檚 taking some of her classes online, but much of her time is spent in the lab. During the winter 2021 she had four labs, including organic chemistry. 

When she graduates in 2022 Sanchez has her sights on studying dentistry or attending dental hygiene school at Oregon Health Sciences University. She鈥檚 also considered pursuing a teaching degree.

Not only are the biology courses more rigorous at 91传媒, Sanchez said her grade point average improved since transferring. She credits her success to the relatively small classroom size.

鈥淚 thought my GPA would tank with the bigger class sizes and I wouldn鈥檛 have as many one-on-one opportunities as I did at Treasure Valley,鈥� Sanchez said. 鈥淏ut even though the class sizes were a little bigger, I was still comfortable enough with the professors and I鈥檝e absorbed tons of great habits from them as well.鈥�

She said the newer habits she鈥檚 formed helped her studying overall, like joining study groups, another fertile field for forming friendships.

鈥淪tudents are hungry to continue learning,鈥� Sanchez said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e even formed our own study groups.鈥�

91传媒 has also provided Sanchez exposure to the variety of ethnicities represented through clubs and events highlighting Latino cultures, Pacific Islanders and Native Americans.

鈥淚 thought my involvement with choir would end at Treasure Valley, but Dr. John Reinhardt advocates for staying in the arts, so when you are in your profession you will see patterns鈥攋ust like in music.鈥� – Cassandra Sanchez, ’22 

鈥淭he clubs do a really great job spreading awareness and you don鈥檛 have to be a part of the ethnicity to join a certain club鈥攜ou just have to be interested in the culture.鈥�

As her time in La Grande winds down Sanchez shares her enthusiasm for the university鈥檚 academics, clubs and arts as an 91传媒 Ambassador leading tours for incoming students and working in the Admissions Office. She鈥檚 even appeared in recruiting videos available on YouTube.

In one video Sanchez encourages high school students to consider what an education will do for their future: 鈥淲hat I tell prospective students about attending a community college or university is, 鈥楪o for it!鈥欌��

The Rural Engagement and Vitality (REV) Center, a partnership of 91传媒 and , facilitates connections between the university and communities in Eastern Oregon. This year, two professors and two students began developing one of these connections through the Socioeconomic Community Profiles Project.

The profiles, commissioned jointly by the (BIC), , and Indigenous tribes, reveal potential risk and opportunities in small rural economies. 

This project illuminates potential impacts of new forest plans for the three national forests in eastern Oregon. Data analysis compares the relative impacts and economic resilience across 10 counties in Oregon and four in southeast Washington, informing future forest management in the region. Researchers delved into the relationship between national forest management and job creation in Elgin. 

鈥淭here is always an economic analysis done as part of the forest plan, but it’s more generalized and this data will be specific to our region and even provide some detail about the impact that activities on the forest could have on smaller logging-focused communities, which normally don’t show up in high-level economic analyses,鈥� said REV Center Program Manager Julie Keniry. 

Economics professors Peter Maille and Scott McConnell have taken the lead on constructing socioeconomic profiles for each county involved. 

鈥淐ommunities could focus on information our analysis provides to better understand economic vulnerabilities. Some could use it to argue for forest management policies that mitigate a possible economic harm or enhance a possible benefit,鈥� Maille said. 鈥淥ur basic hope is that the communities and the Forest Service can make better decisions by having better information.鈥� 

Grant funding allows two 91传媒 student interns to assist Maille and McConnell with the project. 

鈥淲hat happens in these forests impacts the counties… Changing access or harvest level can change the amount of wood product going through an economy,鈥� Maille said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e trying to model how a given county’s economy will respond to those kinds of changes.鈥� 

The results will also feature in coursework for Maille鈥檚 classes as real-world examples. He hopes computing each county鈥檚 economic resilience will open the door for valuable long-term monitoring of economic change in the rural West.

REV Center connects university, community

A new hub for connecting local leaders with the university, The Rural Engagement and Vitality (REV) Center was founded in January 2020 by 91传媒 and . 

Businesses seeking interns, agencies in need of data analysis, or city governments in search of expertise and training can partner with 91传媒 faculty, students and services. At the same time, 91传媒 students gain real-world problem-solving experience, hands-on learning, and often a paycheck through internship opportunities.

Executive Director of Wallowa Resources Nils Christofferson sees the REV Center as a realization of the partnership between workforce development and regional universities. 

鈥淭he REV is nimble, flexible and responsive with capacity to facilitate new initiatives, build partnerships and identify solutions that improve the vitality of Eastern Oregon and develop our rural workforce and the next generation of leaders,鈥� Christofferson said.

Six programs are already operating through the REV Center.

鈥淭he suite of projects, from creative arts to social economic analysis, speaks to the breadth of potential the REV Center offers to really be an important vector in economic development,鈥� Christofferson said. 鈥淭his is not just about making 91传媒 a bigger, better university, but ensuring that 91传媒 is truly supporting and contributing to revitalization in the region.鈥滾earn more about the REV Center at .

Building a family within his sports team motivated Blake McNall through his undergraduate experience and now, his master鈥檚 degree.

Sports can be a gateway for community, and for Blake McNall 鈥�20, the offered a sense of structure and fueled his dedication for his undergraduate degree. 

鈥漌restling has provided me with a family while I’ve been at 91传媒. Our team is really close and I feel like I can count on these guys for anything,鈥� McNall said. 鈥淚f I need anything they are always there, and Coach Azure has done so much for me as a wrestler and as a person. I owe him a lot. I am very thankful for 91传媒 wrestling being a part of my life.鈥� 

Originally from Gladstone, Oregon, McNall decided to attend 91传媒 when he was offered a wrestling scholarship. While at 91传媒, he was the 2018 133-pound Champion and a three-time NAIA National Tournament Qualifier. His coach Dustyn Azure was named the 2020-21 Cascade Collegiate Conference Men’s Wrestling Coach of the Year.

While completing his undergraduate degree, he majored in History and Anthropology/Sociology with an emphasis in social welfare. Following his graduation in 2020, McNall was unsure what path his degree would lead him down. He reflected on his wrestling career for inspiration on what would come next. 

 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 know what I wanted to do with those degrees…[But I knew] I really enjoyed working with kids. I鈥檝e volunteered at schools, and the wrestling team had read books to kids before. We would have youth wrestling practices, and I just really enjoyed working with kids.鈥�

McNall enrolled in 91传媒鈥檚 Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program in fall 2020 to become a teacher. The program allows individuals from any field to apply their subject expertise in elementary or secondary classrooms with effective teaching techniques. 

McNall鈥檚 wrestling experience led to a graduate assistant position with the team, providing financial support while keeping him connected to a sport he loves. He said it has given him an opportunity to focus on school and becoming a better wrestling coach. 

McNall began student-teaching face-to-face in Union, Oregon. He said he has learned a lot already about lesson planning and loves the hands-on aspects of being in the classroom. Even though his schedule is very busy, he is excited for his future and working with high school students. 

Finding wrestling at 91传媒 opened many doors for McNall and allowed him to have a family within his teammates.

From a few acres of land in rural China, Guojie Wang鈥檚 parents grew nearly everything they needed to support their family of four. If they needed oil for cooking, they grew sunflowers. If they wanted to eat tofu, they grew soybeans. Without heavy equipment or high-tech analysis, they provided nutrients for their sons and enough profit to cover Wang鈥檚 tuition. 

He left the farm to study ecology and then natural resource management, in hopes of improving the lives of his parents and others like them. 

鈥淚 graduated debt-free, but my parents鈥� life is very hard,鈥� Wang said. 鈥淲hat鈥檚 the big deal if I get a degree, but my parents still have to suffer? So I study how to manage those farms with less labor or higher profit.鈥�

Wang is a forage agronomist who teaches Crop and Soil Science at (OSU) in La Grande. 91传媒 houses faculty and courses from OSU鈥檚 College of Agricultural Sciences on campus at 91传媒 so students from the rural areas of the state have access to experts like Wang. 

His research, conducted at the OSU Experiment Station in Union, explores how to grow forage for livestock with less water than conventional methods. Increasing ecological restrictions on water use from local streams has strained agricultural needs in recent decades, and Wang hopes to provide a sustainable solution. 

The Catherine Creek watershed is home to a variety of fish, Wang explained, and if any threatened or endangered species are listed, based on Endangered Species Act landowners will have very limited access to their water sources. In-stream water flow and temperature in summer have the biggest impact on aquatic life.

鈥淚n order to conserve these species, we aim to use less water for agriculture in summer, however, this region would be impossible to farm in summer without irrigation,鈥� Wang said. 鈥淪o we try to use water more efficiently than before.鈥� 

He hopes to develop viable ways for agricultural producers to use less water to grow more or the same amount, or at least achieve neutrality between agriculture and conservation efforts.

Wang鈥檚 research began in 2016, and he plans to complete the first phase of projects this year and move to the second phase next year. Although the eight trials he鈥檚 run so far show significant effects, making an impact will take more than raw numbers. 

鈥淎doption for this system is not just data,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 other social and economic factors, too.鈥�

Before Wang embarked on this work, he interviewed local farmers and ranchers to identify industry needs and priorities. The results reinforced his assertion that growing forage, or feeding material, is the No. 1 cost for livestock producers in this region. 

鈥淎 cow eats roughly 30 pounds of hay a day,鈥� Wang said. 鈥淲e need a lot of forage, but at the same time we do not have a lot of water.鈥�

Wang and fellow researchers host field tours each summer for farmers to visit the Experiment Station to see the plots and demonstrations. Last year鈥檚 visitors were most concerned with the costs and effort required to implement Wang鈥檚 low-water strategies. 

鈥淵ou cannot continue to draw water from this watershed, but producers want to keep doing what they鈥檙e doing right now,鈥� Wang said. 鈥淢y dad does the same thing. I hope the producers can be proactive and respect the data, and make some changes. I鈥檓 trying to demonstrate this is a true alternative, not a fantasy.鈥�

Wang鈥檚 parents have commercialized since he moved to America. The diversity of their farm has dwindled, and they don鈥檛 eat hardly any of what they grow. 

鈥淚鈥檓 a rural farmer鈥檚 kid who is now teaching in America: I am the American Dream,鈥� Wang said. 鈥淚 went from a small farm in China doing everything by hand, to heavily equipped, big farms in America.鈥�

Wang plans to publish the results of his five-year study in a scholarly journal after analyzing the 2021 growing season data. 

The Ground We Walk On

鈥淲e touch soil almost every day,鈥� said Crop and Soil Science Professor Goujie Wang. 鈥淥ut here, no matter where you work, you will touch the soil for sure.鈥�

And it鈥檚 worth doing right every once in a while. 

鈥淭he first thing to do is feel it,鈥� Wang said. 鈥淪oil is a soft, porous medium.鈥�

He talks about soil like it鈥檚 his favorite pet: living and breathing and just asking to be cared for. 

鈥淪oil will present all the things plants need,鈥� he said. 鈥淗uman beings don鈥檛 need to add very much to the soil to support industry. Fifty years ago there were no pesticides or fertilizers, and the world still produced a high quantity and quality of food.鈥� 

He recommends even casual gardeners test their soil regularly. Think of it like a wellness check-up or a blood draw to make sure everything looks good, and proactively respond to potential problems. 

鈥淪oil is a living, soft, fertile resource鈥� show you care by doing an annual check,鈥� Wang said. 

Organic matter is the key to almost everything in soil. Add those leaves and little roots back to it to nurture a rich humus layer. 

鈥淗umus is a glue to keep the soil healthy and functional,鈥� Wang said. 鈥淚mprove it, and the soil will do it back to you.鈥�

Mostly, though, leave soil alone. It鈥檚 more stable and resilient than most people give it credit for. 

鈥淪oil is a reliable natural resource for our foundation as a community and country,鈥� Wang said. 鈥淭his is the energy for human beings. Of course you can destroy soil by pushing the boundary to where it breaks, but it鈥檚 resilient and will come back. After a wildfire, flood or severe drought, the soil always will come back if we don鈥檛 break that threshold鈥攋ust like the community did not break with the pandemic. We will bounce back鈥攚e have the capability.鈥�

A life of military service and a legacy of giving began with teammates who stood together in defeat, agreeing to enlist en masse if they lost one more game. 

In the fall of 1948, the entire EOSC football team capped their losing season with a march downtown to join the . Among them was Willard 鈥淏ill鈥� Carey, 鈥�49, who would go on to serve as the youngest federally recognized brigadier general in the Army National Guard of the United States. 

Carey earned his associate degree at 91传媒 and transferred to the , where he was student body president and president of Phi Kappa Psi. From there, he earned a law degree from Willamette University. 

In 1959, he married the love of his life, Audrey, and they set up a life and a law practice in La Grande, eventually with three children. Toward the beginning of his law career, Carey started the 91传媒 Foundation and continued to contribute to the university until his passing in May 2001.   

鈥淗e wanted young men and women to have the kind of opportunity that he had.” – Audrey Carey

鈥淐oming back to his own community, he recognized the need for a fundraising source for the college, so he formed the Eastern Oregon Advancement Association,鈥� Audrey said. 鈥淗e鈥檇 go out and raise money among the business people in Eastern Oregon to fund this committee, which then became, under his leadership, the [91传媒] Foundation.鈥� 

When Carey took an assignment at the in San Francisco, he commuted from his La Grande Law office and was the Deputy Commanding General for Reserve Components, Sixth US Army, which covered the 13 Western States. During this time, Carey was responsible for over 100,000 people, his wife said. 

鈥淚t was just the most wonderful experience,鈥� Audrey said. 鈥淚 got to watch him go from Captain and La Grande Company Commander all the way to Major General.鈥� 

Carey was the first President of the 91传媒 Foundation and served on the board for 24 years. In 1982, he was awarded the Distinguished Alumnus Award and was twice recognized with the Jaycees Distinguished Services Award in addition to being named Man of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce in 1966 and 1986. His wife remembers Carey teaching a business class at the college as well. 

When he retired from the military in 1987, Carey鈥檚 troops gifted him with their personal funds to start the 鈥�Major General Willard Carey Scholarship鈥� and he continued to put his money into it, too. At the time of his death, Carey鈥檚 family directed donations in his honor to expand the scholarship even further.  

鈥淗e had a close attachment to Eastern and that鈥檚 why the scholarship became [what it did],鈥� Audrey said. 鈥淗e wanted young men and women to have the kind of opportunity that he had. It was becoming more financially difficult for people to go to college and so it was really important to him that there was this scholarship. He wanted it to go to people who were going to have a military career, as well a college education.鈥� 

The scholarship provides up to $2,500 annually, and has allowed students to access higher education since 1989. To qualify for the annual scholarship, students must be part of the GOLD program, which aims to strengthen the officer candidate program at 91传媒 while providing training exercises and trips to historical military sites across the country. 

Audrey Carey has received many letters of thanks from student recipients over the years, and she treasures their words of gratitude. One excerpt reads: 

鈥�I look forward to the day I am also able to give back to young soldiers like myself and continue the tradition of loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage throughout our armed forces community. I promise you, personally, I will continue to work hard and become an exemplary model for others to follow.鈥�

I am thrilled to be on-board as the Executive Director of Philanthropy, and am looking forward to getting involved in La Grande and surrounding communities that 91传媒 serves.

I am originally from Moscow, Idaho but spent many years moving around the Pacific Northwest. I returned to Moscow in 2000 and began my career in higher education. I spent 10 years working in development at the University of Idaho鈥檚 Department of Athletics, specializing in annual giving, board development, campaign project management, stewardship and special events. Most recently, I served as a major gift officer in the College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Resource Sciences at .

I look forward to working with our constituents and communities to help build on the foundation that already exists through the great efforts of the 91传媒 Foundation Trustees and University Advancement staff. Working together, I believe we can accomplish our fundraising goals and fulfill the mission of the Foundation.

I love spending time with my two teenage kids, attending their sporting events, helping them with homework and seeing them grow as wonderful young adults. I also enjoy being outdoors, hiking, running, biking, kayaking and camping, and I am excited to explore the Grande Ronde Valley. 

鈥楨ngage, Invest, Enhance鈥� through the 91传媒 Foundation

Visions, missions and strategic plans have a bad habit of accumulating dust, but leaders of the 91传媒 Foundation are determined to keep theirs living and breathing. 

Chair of the Finance Committee Marcy Haines is a fifth-generation East Oregonian, and although she only attended 91传媒 for a year, the university鈥檚 critical role in the region inspired her to get involved. 

鈥淚 think it鈥檚 so important to increase the economic viability of our rural communities, and the college and foundation do that,鈥� Haines said. 

After earning a degree from and starting a financial planning business, her commitment to improving lives through education led Haines to a position as a Foundation Trustee.

鈥淚鈥檓 so impressed with the amount of scholarships being awarded, and the generosity of gifts to the foundation,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e have a broad base of support from different people from a wide range of places.鈥�

The foundation鈥檚 renewed focus boils down to 鈥淓ngage, Invest, Enhance.鈥� Trustees, led by the Board of Directors, hope to expand involvement and increase philanthropic giving in line with 91传媒鈥檚 strategic plan, 鈥�The Ascent: 2029.鈥�

鈥淭here鈥檚 been a focus on engaging and reaching out to more people,鈥� Haines said. 鈥淚鈥檓 realizing how many people have a love for 91传媒 and want to support it鈥攊t had been here all along, but I鈥檝e seen it accelerate.鈥� 

She said more people are investing in Oregon鈥檚 Rural University through gifts of cash, stock, estates, payroll deductions, and credit card donations. 

鈥淭he vision for the foundation is to grow at a reasonable rate and continue expanding our impact on campus and online,鈥� Haines said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e focused on enriching that experience and allowing students to thrive.鈥� 

A new range of locally based philanthropic committees have emerged in metro centers across the Northwest for 91传媒 stakeholders in Boise, Spokane, Portland and other areas to connect with one another.

鈥淏eing able to build a tribe within your community鈥攊t鈥檚 really about those personal relationships in the long-term,鈥� Haines said. 鈥淲e really are very global at this point, and expanding 91传媒鈥檚 global-ness means more impact.鈥�
The 91传媒 Foundation can be reached at foundation@eou.edu or 541-962-3740.

The Mountaineer is primarily funded by the 91传媒 Foundation. Visit eou.edu/foundation and make a gift to support the alumni magazine!

returned to the diamond in February 2021, following a hiatus that lasted 14 years, nine months and four days. Off-season recruiting and COVID-19 safety protocols are beginning to pay off as the reinvigorated team competes this spring. Plans are in development for an on-campus baseball field and expanded scholarship offerings to student-athletes. Contact the 91传媒 Foundation for more information and to get involved!聽

Tabitha and Winnie go everywhere together. They both love Mountie football games, and being each other鈥檚 chemistry lab partners. They鈥檙e both disability services aides with plans to work in nursing one day. They even have the same birthday. 

Winnie is a medical alert service dog who accompanies 91传媒 student Tabitha Compton to classes, an on-campus job, and even chemistry labs. Compton鈥檚 disability is an invisible one, and Winnie鈥檚 assistance is the only aspect of it most people see.

鈥淓ven when she鈥檚 napping, [Winnie] is still aware of me the whole time: listening and smelling and being in tune with me,鈥� Compton said. 鈥淪ometimes I choose to go places without her, but I usually choose to keep her close because she keeps me safe.鈥� 

Since the two first got together in December 2017, Compton has enjoyed expanded freedom and peace of mind. Winnie can sense a medical situation before it occurs, alerting Compton to take proactive steps.

鈥淚t鈥檚 made such a difference having the freedom of not worrying constantly, and being able to avoid situations that could be dangerous for my health,鈥� Compton said. 

Their powerful partnership is only one factor in Compton鈥檚 success on campus. The two attended a community college shortly after teaming up, but without additional support things went south. 

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 know who to go to for help and I was seriously lost,鈥� she said. 鈥淎t 91传媒, I didn鈥檛 experience that at all.鈥�

Staff from the Disability Services Office (DSO) emailed Compton the day after she submitted an application.听

鈥淪tarting at a new school is intimidating, and they just took out all the questions before I even asked them,鈥� Compton said. 鈥淸The DSO] had everything I needed in that moment and I really appreciated that willingness to jump in with me and give me the one-on-one attention I needed to get set up at the university.鈥�

Today, Compton provides essential support for her peers as a student worker in the DSO. She transcribes lectures, proctors tests and connects students with accommodations. The DSO is housed under the Learning Center, which also offers tutoring, study groups and a computer lab.听

鈥淭he DSO and Learning Center are what keep me at 91传媒,鈥� Compton said. 鈥淚f it wasn鈥檛 here, I wouldn鈥檛 be here.鈥� 

Compton plans to complete her pre-nursing requirements, and enroll in the OHSU School of Nursing鈥檚 La Grande Campus next year. She hopes to specialize in pediatric psychology and help people diagnosed with conditions that aren鈥檛 visible on the surface.

鈥淚鈥檓 an average-looking person鈥擨 don鈥檛 look like I have a disability, but I do have one,鈥� she said. 鈥淧eople see me with a service animal and they think I鈥檓 blind. There鈥檚 a huge disconnect where it can create a lot of issues for disabled individuals, and I want to be someone who helps with that. People can look 鈥榥ormal,鈥� but have a lot going on. There鈥檚 a larger population of people dealing with invisible illnesses and disabilities than we consider as a society.鈥�

Compton chose 91传媒 and the OHSU program for their small size and personalized approach. Getting to know professors and peers in her cohort guarantee an individualized education.

鈥淚 can have a one-on-one connection with my professors, and they can take the time because they don鈥檛 have enormous class sizes,鈥� she said. 

But Compton and her companion find a way to fit in every crowd鈥攂undled up at a November football game or conducting experiments in a chemistry lab. The only four-legged lab partner on campus comes with some special equipment. Winnie wears goggles, booties and a raincoat so she can safely do her job and stay close to Compton.

鈥淗aving a service animal and being in a science-based major can get a little bit tricky with lab environments,鈥� Compton said. 鈥淭hey made sure I would still have the opportunity to be successful even though having a service animal in those environments is kind of unconventional.鈥� 

At work, play and study, Compton has a sidekick she can count on. And both of them have a campus community that supports their ongoing success.

Follow Winnie on Instagram !

The recipient of , Jeremy Bard, 鈥�16, is finishing his doctorate in chemistry this spring and just secured a teaching position for fall. Supportive undergrad faculty and involvement in an 91传媒 club helped set him on his path to success.

A La Grande native, Bard said he hadn鈥檛 taken chemistry in high school and was considering a career in math or engineering. He said the enthusiasm of the chemistry faculty and the nature of the topic quickly piqued his interest

鈥淲hen I took general chemistry at Eastern it kinda clicked,鈥� Bard said. 

He said he went on to finish the general chemistry sequence. For his efforts the faculty recognized him as the department鈥檚 Outstanding Freshman Chemist.

Bard said, 鈥淚 liked chemistry and the award made me realize I was able to succeed in it.鈥�

The faculty is credited for exciting his interest in chemistry, but it was the Chemistry Club that started his path of mentoring and teaching. 

鈥淕rowing up in La Grande taught me that even little actions can help an entire area,鈥� Bard said. 鈥�91传媒 was one of the first places I could find an established way to do that鈥攖hrough the Chemistry Club.鈥�

Club members travel to schools in small cities and towns throughout the intermountain regions of Oregon, Washington and Idaho. As a senior at 91传媒, Bard became the club鈥檚 president.

鈥淐hemistry and science are daunting topics for a lot of people and perceived as too hard to even pick up,鈥� Bard said. 鈥淧eople are afraid or intimidated, but if you can break down that barrier something difficult can be a lot of fun, too.鈥�

The fun part of chemistry, according to Bard, was the opportunity to work with kids on experiments and demonstrations鈥攎ethods he said broke down the science into digestible bites.

Eager to continue his journey with chemistry, Bard went directly into U of O鈥檚 doctorate program. In his first year, he worked as a teacher鈥檚 assistant for labs and lectures, creating a heavy load on top of his own studies and lab hours.

鈥淢y first year was a huge hurdle, but 91传媒 was a great launching pad and taught me how to recognize challenges and overcome them,鈥� Bard said. 鈥淚 became confident and learned how to finish something I put my mind to, which created a good attitude for grad school. It鈥檚 tough, especially the first year, where you are learning chemistry at a much deeper level, and much more is expected of you.鈥�

Beyond what he called a marathon of learning and teaching, Bard said much of his time revolved around research, primarily working in a lab making molecules that emit light. The applications of his work, he said, are in cell imaging, detecting certain molecules in soil and water and can be used from medicine to agriculture.

Most of the time, Bard said, what he mixes together doesn鈥檛 work. He described his research as iterative.

鈥淭here鈥檚 a difference between something not working because I did it wrong and when the chemistry simply doesn鈥檛 work,鈥� Bard said. 鈥淪ynthetic research can turn out 10 different ways even if you do something exactly the same way.鈥� 

His induction into the world of research was fast and furious鈥攂ecoming the most senior grad student on his research project in just his second year at UO.

鈥淚 was given a lot of responsibility and there was an expectation to be a true chemist in a research lab, as well as navigating the stresses of grad school,鈥� Bard said.

The recipient of good mentoring, Bard said leadership skills were quickly instilled in him鈥攂efore long he was a mentor to many undergraduate and first-year graduate students. Squeezed into his intense schedule, Bard also spent two years on a grad student advocacy group gathering the opinions of his colleagues through surveys. 

鈥淚 have spent much of my time mentoring so the new students have a less rocky start than they may otherwise,鈥� Bard said. 鈥淲hen there were rumblings that the student body was unhappy and wanted something changed I would bring it up to faculty.鈥�

Bard organized a virtual panel discussion last fall with three fellow alumni, all of whom are now in grad school, to talk to current 91传媒 students about their research and grad school experiences.  

Combining leadership, research and a passion for mentorship, Bard began applying for faculty positions while preparing to defend his thesis.

鈥淚 want to end up at a place similar to 91传媒,鈥� Bard said. 鈥淚 enjoy the combination of research and service. I see it as 鈥榩aying it forward鈥�: making new chemists for prospective research, much like the faculty at 91传媒 did for me. They inspired me and encouraged me鈥攖hat鈥檚 the kind of position I want to be in, where I am allowed to have the creative freedom that research entails and pursue an idea that is your own.鈥�

In March, Bard found out he鈥檒l get to do just that as a Visiting Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Roanoke College in Virginia.

The American Chemical Society named the 91传媒 Chemistry Club an 鈥極utstanding鈥� chapter for the 11th consecutive year in 2020!

A laurel fig tree grows over 40 feet tall in 37 years. At least, the one in the student union at the (UM) did. 

Kelly Chadwick, 鈥�77, planted it in the building鈥檚 atrium when she first started her job there back in 1983. 

鈥淚 never got bored,鈥� Chadwick said of her long tenure as the University Center Garden Manager. 鈥淚 was so lucky to fall into my job: It suited me so well and I loved it. If you get to know plants, you can always get to know more.鈥� 

Chadwick gained her know-how on-the-job, but said her liberal arts education at 91传媒 prepared her for a career of continual learning. 

The University Center was designed around massive planters positioned beneath a glass ceiling, so Chadwick鈥檚 first task was to fill out the oversized terrarium with plants that would thrive inside. Along the way, she ran into a few challenges presented by indoor gardening. 

鈥淚ndoor gardens are limited by temperature and light,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a totally unnatural environment.鈥�

Even with a glass ceiling, the tropical plants required supplemental lights to artificially extend the day length. Chadwick installed a pond to increase humidity in the planters, but pruning and pest control were the biggest challenges to managing a jungle of tropical plants.

鈥淲e flooded the building several times by overflowing planters,鈥� she said. 鈥淐ontrolling insects is the hardest thing to do, but most beneficial insects stay up high and eat the bad insects.鈥�

Chadwick has released 10 batches of 1,500 tiny parasitic wasps and five swarms of 500 ladybug-like beetles to keep leaf-eaters at bay. 

鈥淚t鈥檚 a cruel little world, but benign to people,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hese species don鈥檛 care about people at all, and predators in general follow a curve that鈥檚 in balance with prey.鈥�

She also developed a team of student workers who hunted insects and used non-toxic means of controlling pests. But the hours of work by Chadwick and her crew paid off when visitors were blown away by the living centerpiece of the student center. 

鈥淚 planted almost every one of the plants in that garden, so I鈥檓 attached,鈥� Chadwick said. 鈥淚鈥檓 simply growing plants, but at the same time I鈥檓 constantly educating myself and students.鈥� 

She selected specific varieties that could enhance educational opportunities. Biology and pharmacy classes have observed, touched and smelled medicinal plants humans have shaped for millennia. 

鈥淭he initial value is beauty and making the building attractive, but it has many uses: breaking up sound, providing oxygen,鈥� she said. 鈥淧lants are important and plants can be used in an educational way.鈥� 

She takes that approach outdoors, to a native garden that鈥檚 been cultivated for decades on the UM campus. Chadwick is part of a cohort of volunteers who nurtured renewed interest in the plot of flowers and shrubs that have adapted to Montana鈥檚 harsh conditions. 

She credits lectures and field trips from the native plant society with much of her botanical education. Chadwick went on to serve as a volunteer coordinator and organized those field trips for 15 years. She also expanded the range of species with several new gardens. She helps maintain the gardens year-round, and has been meticulously recording the first flower opening for every species for 7 years. 

鈥淚 love those native gardens, somehow my heart is in those gardens,鈥� Chadwick said. 鈥淚 found a group of kind, generous, admirable, humble people鈥攖hey鈥檙e the heart of that garden. I just hope I can continue that passion with a new generation of outstanding people.鈥�

Chadwick even chooses hikes based on finding a particular plant. She鈥檚 passionate about connecting people to native plants even if they can鈥檛 make it to the peaks and crags where they occur naturally. The garden also increases habitat for pollinators, and inspires visitors and students to plant native species at home.

Creative writing classes toured the garden to practice observing and capturing nature in words. Environmental studies students have done projects there, too, and a vegetable garden grows food for students, staff and the food pantry.

Chadwick sees plants as a gateway for connection, and an opportunity for humility. 

鈥淚f you really look at plants, they have adapted so well and they are so detailed,鈥� she said. 鈥淚f you stop and look at a little white flower, there鈥檚 this intricate detail. Plants can make you pay attention.鈥� 

She鈥檚 worked with peers who can identify a plant from the impression of a leaf in the snow. Their place in the ecological web is equally complex inside as outside. 

鈥淧lants are interconnected with us,鈥� Chadwick said. 鈥淭hey are critical for our survival. They鈥檙e our food, they prevent erosion, they provide habitat, they鈥檙e material for our clothes, but they鈥檙e also important for their own sake and interesting on their own. They鈥檙e pretty amazing creatures.鈥�

Happy houseplants

Alumna Kelly Chadwick cared for some really big indoor plants, and she has a few tips for anyone whose houseplants could use a lift. 

1. Most people care too much. Many people over-water their plants. Chadwick said it鈥檚 the No. 1 killer, and most plants do best when they鈥檙e allowed to almost dry out between waterings. Choose one day a week to water your plants. Always check first to see if the soil is dry, and leave it alone if it鈥檚 still damp.
2. Plants change seasonally, even inside. Differences in temperature and day length affect indoor plants, too. Running an air conditioner or a fireplace can affect the humidity in each room. Chadwick recommends being aware of the changing environment inside and out.听
3. Touch your plants! A plant鈥檚 leaves can tell you about water needs. If they鈥檙e firm, that means there鈥檚 moisture. Soft leaves mean the soil is drier.

The busiest fire department in Eastern Oregon is also one of the newest. formed in 2016 when voters approved consolidating three smaller districts covering Hermiston, Stanfield and areas east of Hermiston.听

Fire Chief Scott J. Stanton, 鈥�12, oversaw the transition and worked alongside colleagues and citizens for several years to organize the effort. In fact, the first attempt at creating a new fire district was voted down shortly after he became fire chief of Hermiston and Stanfield. 

鈥淧eople weren鈥檛 clear on what would actually change, but we learned a lot from the failure,鈥� Stanton said. 

In 2016 he led efforts to better inform the public, and the initiative passed. The updated district structure resulted in better insurance rates, along with an increased coverage area. Stanton has staffed an additional fire station, cutting response times from eight minutes down to four for residents in that area. He鈥檚 also overseen the installation of a training tower at (BMCC) for its firefighter training program.听

Covering 47,000 residents, the ambulance service responded to about 4,500 medical dispatches within its 620-mile coverage area in 2020. Fire District 1 is also a base for the regional hazmat team that serves 6.5 counties. Nearly 40 full-time employees, plus 30 paid-on-call volunteer firefighters staff the district. 

Stanton earned a Fire Services Administration degree online from 91传媒 while he was the Assistant Fire Chief in Hermiston, but his career in firefighting began back in 1986.听

鈥淚 grew up in Pilot Rock, where my family raised wheat and cattle,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 the first person to leave the ranch.鈥�

Stanton joined his father as a volunteer firefighter at 19 years old. He started farming on his own, but quit in 1993 to train as a paramedic. Stanton started full-time firefighting in Hermiston in 1995. 

鈥淚 love helping people, and that it鈥檚 different every day,鈥� he said. 

Stanton has seen plenty of change in 30 years — and he鈥檚 been the driving force for a lot of it.

鈥淲hen I was a firefighter, change didn鈥檛 come quick enough,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 knew that I鈥檇 have to be the one promoting change.鈥� 

So he earned more and more certifications — eventually holding over 20. His eagerness for education has nurtured a generation of incoming firefighters who are proactive about learning. 

鈥淔irefighting forces are becoming more educated,鈥� he said 鈥淚t鈥檚 common now that applicants have at least a two-year degree.鈥� 

Professionalizing the industry in this way means that most firefighters cross-train in several areas: hazmat, ambulance, rescue or emergency medical services. It also means that tools for technology and safety are increasingly important. Stanton said firefighters are almost three times as likely to get cancer as the average American.

鈥淭he way we take care of our people now, with cancer prevention and health and wellness opportunities, has transformed,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hermal energy cameras and cardiac monitors are really the biggest change, but we still fight fire the same way — putting water at the seat of the fire.鈥� 

Which is telling because Stanton has seen it all. He鈥檚 worked on numerous wildland fires, Hurricane Katrina aftermath, and even space shuttle recoveries. Stanton is set to become President of the in July 2021, and he鈥檚 bringing his penchant for education with him.听

鈥淚 always talk to my troops about furthering their education and I can talk about it because I went through it,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e got to keep the pipeline full of people learning and growing.鈥�

Valedictorian of her 1980 high school class, Republic of Palau native Sandi Wells, 鈥�86, packed her bags, got her passport and traveled to La Grande to study business and economics.

Self-described as 鈥渨ise beyond her years鈥� and a go-getter, Wells followed her older brother to Oregon.

鈥淭here were not a lot of opportunities where I grew up, and I saw how hard my mother worked and my grandmother struggled,鈥� Wells said.

Wells attributed this attitude to Palau鈥檚 maternalistic culture. 

鈥淚n Palau it is desirable to have girls,鈥� Wells said. 鈥淭hey bring power and money into the family.鈥�

It also means that family obligations fall on the oldest female child.

After raising a family and working in banking compliance and financial regulation, Wells鈥� status as her family鈥檚 oldest daughter came into play. 

鈥淲hen my mother became older and needed more care the responsibility fell on me,鈥� she said.

Wells moved back to the Pacific Islands to nurse her aging mother and put her decades of regulatory experience to work for the National Development Bank of Palau.

鈥淭he job held a lot of responsibility,鈥� Wells said. 鈥淭he bank makes low-interest housing, business, agriculture, fishing and commercial loans to develop the nation.鈥�

Three years later, Wells鈥� mother had died and her contract with the bank had ended. She settled her mother鈥檚 affairs and returned to Oregon. While looking for regulatory work, Wells volunteered at the Milwaukie Center as a board member, raising funds to help people pay bills and receive Meals on Wheels. 

鈥淥nce I started volunteering with the Milwaukie Center and got involved with other nonprofit community-based organizations, I realized how many of my people are here that I did not know about,鈥� Wells said.

Beyond those from Palau, she has learned more about Islanders from Micronesian, Polynesian and Malaysian islands. The defines a relationship between the United States and the independent governments of the Freely Associated States of聽 Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) and the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), and the 1994 COFA with Republic of Palau (ROP).听

Similar to indigenous American tribes, Wells said Islanders face barriers to health care and other services because of discrimination, language barriers, interpretation access and poverty. Through her volunteer work, she got a job helping COFA citizens living stateside sign up for the Affordable Care Act.

The named her its 2020 鈥淔ood Hero鈥� for her contributions to nutrition and community health. She was selected to chair the Multnomah Pacific Island Coalition, and helped institute the first Pacific Islander Community Health Worker (CHW) certification training. She also trained as a medical interpreter translating for Palauan native speakers. When the pandemic hit, Wells received certification as a COVID-19 contact tracer.听

鈥淒uring the height of the pandemic from September to December I wasn鈥檛 sleeping,鈥� Wells said. 鈥淭he demand for help was incredible.鈥� 

She even coordinated with Oregon Food Bank and Rengelkel Belau of Oregon to help 91传媒 students get food gift cards and other services while they were unable to fly back home during the pandemic. 

鈥淚鈥檓 not one to sit still and do nothing for long,鈥� Wells said. 鈥淚鈥檓 a go-getter and I like helping people.鈥�

An emerging approach to psychiatric care could mean receiving just a few treatments rather than taking a daily pill. 

Matthew W. Johnson, 鈥�98, is at the forefront of research that could eventually bring psychedelic drugs into the field of psychiatry.

鈥淭here鈥檚 a potential for this to really be a paradigm shift within psychiatry,鈥� Johnson said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a fundamentally different model of psychiatric drug because it鈥檚 only administered one or a few times, but people learn from the experience and have lasting effects rather than just treating symptoms every day.鈥� 

Psychedelic drugs like , found naturally in some mushrooms, seem to prompt a mental flexibility and psychological processes that can result in lasting change. Research in this field has developed in the last couple of decades, and recent findings have begun to fuel wider interest. 

Although Johnson works at in Baltimore, he followed the passage of closely. Voters approved the measure in November, which legalizes the therapeutic use of psilocybin. It also created a two-year period during which regulatory details will be worked out. 

鈥淲e could start to see clinics popping up and I want to play a role in ensuring this happens safely,鈥� he said.

Johnson grew up near big East Coast cities, and transferred to 91传媒 as a non-traditional student. As a psychology major, Johnson discovered a passion that has developed into a meaningful career.

鈥淲orking in the psych department was really incredible to me,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 valued the environment because I wasn鈥檛 in classes with 600 other students. I got involved with research and took on responsibilities as a research assistant in a laboratory.鈥�

He developed an interest in the effects of drugs, from cocaine to caffeine. 

鈥淭here are good, bad and ugly effects,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hese things were fascinating to me how they could have such profound effects on peoples鈥� lives.鈥�

Studies with psychedelics

When he arrived at Johns Hopkins in 2004 for post-doctoral work, Johnson continued studying a  broad range of therapeutic and psychoactive drugs, including one that administered high doses of psilocybin. 

鈥淧eople report having a highly valuable introspective experience that leads them to re-evaluate or change their habits,鈥� Johnson said. 鈥淭his is drastically different from a daily drug to relieve symptoms.鈥�

He conducted another study that administered psychedelics to cancer patients experiencing depression and anxiety fueled by their diagnosis and treatment. Six months after receiving psilocybin, they reported a lasting reduction in depression and anxiety.

Participants go through several days of medical and psychological screenings for risk factors like schizophrenia and heart problems. Professional guides build a rapport with them and talk through the potential for a 鈥渂ad trip鈥� or anxiety reaction. Johnson has served as a guide for more than 100 psilocybin sessions. 

鈥淲ith psychedelics we can give a high dose that鈥檚 medically safe, but psychologically really intense,鈥� Johnson said. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e just telling them to pay attention to the experience and not to try to control it. The perceptual changes can be interesting, but they gain more meaningful experience by focusing inward.鈥� 

Two guides watch over patients for eight hours while they lay on a couch with eye shades and headphones playing music. When it鈥檚 over, participants go home and write a description of their experience, then come in the next day to debrief. 

Beating a bad reputation

Small studies with LSD took place in the early 1960s, and found that LSD roughly doubled the odds of reducing alcohol use. Johnson followed up on this anti-addiction work by using psilocybin to help people quit smoking. His team is currently seeing a one-year success rate of 59% with the psychedelic drug, compared to just 27% success on the nicotine patch.  

Psychedelics were actively researched from 1950s through 鈥�70s, Johnson said, and the findings were seen as breakthroughs at first, but then LSD started getting abused and it developed a bad reputation. 

鈥淚t took the passage of decades before research began again, and even then it was controversial because of that history,鈥� Johnson said. 

Now, with 20 years of modern results鈥攁nd safety guidelines Johnson authored in 2008鈥攇rants and research centers are emerging again. Two years ago, Johns Hopkins received $17 million to fund its Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, the first full-fledged academic center for psychedelic research in the U.S. Similar institutes are forming in California, New York and elsewhere. 

After Johnson鈥檚 research showed an 鈥渆xtremely large鈥� reduction in depression, two companies are moving forward with FDA trials that could approve it for treatment within the next few years.

鈥淚 think we鈥檙e seeing a sea change in the degree to which new groups are now starting this research,鈥� Johnson said. 

In informal discussions with organizers for Oregon Measure 109, Johnson focused on the details. Since the law would allow for both medical and therapeutic use, what would the regulations look like? How would this be integrated with the state鈥檚 role in overseeing medical practice? 

鈥淲e need appropriate oversight and screening to address the known risks and maximize potential benefit,鈥� he said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 still a lot to be figured out.鈥�

Psychedelics FAQ with Dr. Johnson

Q: What are shrooms or magic mushrooms? 

A: Magic mushrooms or shrooms refer to one of over 200 species of mushrooms, mostly in the genus Psilocybe, that contain psilocybin and psilocin, the main psychedelic compounds in these mushrooms. These classic psychedelics have effects similar to LSD and mescaline.

Q: How does a psychedelic drug affect the brain? 

A: Classic psychedelics exert their primary effects by activating a subtype of serotonin receptor in the brain, called serotonin 2A. They initiate a cascade of effects within the neuron, which has downstream effects on other neurotransmitters, and ultimately cause profound changes in the way brain areas synchronize or communicate with each other. There is still far more to figure out!

Q: How could doctors use psilocybin for medical treatment? 

A: It would have to wait until after the FDA has approved psilocybin for use in medicine outside of research use. If approved, a procedure would include patient screening, preparation, supervision of the psychedelic administration, and follow-up care. It would look more like outpatient surgery than typical psychiatric drugs that are sent home with people.

Q: What risks are associated with psychedelic drugs, and how are those risks addressed in a medical/research setting?

A: The possibility of a “bad trip” is always present, especially if the dose is high enough. This could mean anxiety, fear, confusion, or severe psychological distress. Reassurance and a calm presence typically help. In a clinical setting, professionals monitor the entire session and never leave the participant alone. 

Medical and psychiatric screening identifies people with heightened risk, such as those who have schizophrenia or severe heart disease.

For Margaret Simpson, 鈥�16, a member, academia is like basketwork鈥攆ull of self-discovery.

The general manager of the Mill Casino in Coos Bay, Simpson earned three degrees while working full-time, weaving her education into her jobs and her culture.

鈥淗igher education, for me, was more about a journey,鈥� Simpson said. 鈥淲hen I was at 91传媒 I took a lot of sociology, anthropology and political science courses that have helped me understand intergovernmental workings and opportunities to leverage tribal sovereignty.鈥�

A 2016 91传媒 graduate, the former hair stylist started her college career at .

Simpson said, 鈥淚 went to cosmetology school and owned a salon, but then I decided I wanted to make a greater impact on my tribe and my people.鈥�

Simpson attended community college while serving as the executive secretary for the Health and Human Services Director at the Coquille tribal health center. Based on her aspirations, one of her career counselors recommended she study public administration at 91传媒.

Attending classes online, Simpson graduated with a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, a minor in Anthropology/Sociology with a concentration in Public Administration鈥攁 good foundation for the leadership roles she鈥檚 taken in her career.

鈥淯nderstanding the way the legislature works and its processes, being able to interpret different bills and legislation and the dynamics of politics, whether it be state or federal government, was helpful,鈥� Simpson said.

While she stayed in her ancestral land to attend college, Simpson said she still had the advantage of being exposed to a wide diversity of classmates and a wider world.

鈥淚n every area I explored there has been a certain naivety about Native Americans,鈥� Simpson said. 

Interaction with her classmates helped her understand conceptions and misconceptions.

鈥淧eople would be inquiring, sometimes respectfully, sometimes not, yet in every difficulty lies opportunity,鈥� Simpson said.

Fielding inquiries into her culture gave Simpson the opportunity to help her classmates understand Native Americans and their history. It also strengthened her ability to relate to her peers and have fruitful discourse.

A year-long, accredited coach training further honed her interpersonal skills that Simpson said are difficult to learn in traditional academia. Through the iPEC program she said she improved her ability to work with people who struggle, whether at work or personally, without 鈥渙wning鈥� the employee鈥檚 burden.

Simpson said, 鈥淚 go into every situation knowing that even if I am a teacher, I am a learner as well.鈥�

Meanwhile, her career was advancing. 91传媒 halfway through her studies at 91传媒, Simpson became Executive Assistant to the General Manager at The Mill Casino in North Bend, Oregon. 91传媒 a year into that position she began developing a tribal member employment program.

鈥淭he project was a natural fit,鈥� Simpson said. 鈥淚 was passionate about the social and economic status of Native Americans and particularly my own people.鈥�

Her task was difficult. Even though the casino had been open for 20 years, few tribal members worked there and there was a lack of a tribal presence in executive management.

鈥淏ack when tribal gaming started, big corporations ran the casinos,鈥� Simpson said.

But the purpose of tribal gaming was also to provide tribal members with employment opportunities to achieve individual self-sufficiency and Simpson said that was not a focus at The Mill Casino. 

鈥淚t took tribes a while to gain competencies. A casino is different from running a normal business,鈥� Simpson said.

The program didn鈥檛 seek to just increase tribal member employment, but to provide advancement opportunities within the organization; an undertaking Simpson said took several years.

Simpson said, 鈥淲e wanted them to learn essential skills to advance鈥攖hat鈥檚 at the core of achieving a higher standard of living.鈥�

Within the first two years, Simpson said, salaries doubled and wages were funneled back to tribal members鈥� households.

In 2020, while earning her master鈥檚 degree from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, Simpson was promoted to general manager. She wasn鈥檛 just juggling academia and career, an unprecedented pandemic was sweeping the globe.

鈥淭he impact of the  pandemic was devastating, we  had to close the casino which had harmful effects on our tribe, community, employees and revenues,鈥� Simpson said.

The tribe responded quickly to new restrictions and was the last casino in Oregon to close and the first to reopen.

鈥淲hen we saw the pandemic coming we quickly came up with a survival plan and we鈥檝e done well,鈥� Simpson said.

A lifelong learner, Simpson said she plans on pursuing a doctorate, but her goal is to apply her education to help her people.

鈥淔or me it鈥檚 all about having the greatest impact on my nation, or even another tribal nation, but right now I鈥檓 really grateful for the growth opportunities I have been provided,鈥� Simpson said. 鈥淚 will continue to embrace opportunities to advance my people and tribal gaming.鈥�

Distinguished alumnus Skye Fitzgerald, 鈥�93, was nominated for his second Academy Award in the Best Documentary (Short Subject) category for his latest film, 鈥淗unger Ward.鈥�

Darin Tankersley, 鈥�01, was hired to serve as Chief of Medical Center Administration and Operations with The Permanente Medical Group . He has been a leader in numerous aspects of our COVID-19 response in Northern California. In addition to his business degree from 91传媒, he holds an MBA and a Ph.D. from Bellevue University.

Miguel Bautista, 鈥�11, earned a Ph.D. from Capella University in Public Safety with specialization in Emergency Management. Findings from his research may provide insight into safety program development to reduce rates of injury and death among U.S. firefighters. In addition to working full-time as Deputy Fire Marshal for Hillsboro Fire and Rescue, he鈥檚 also an adjunct instructor for 91传媒鈥檚 Fire Services Administration and  Emergency Medical Services Administration programs.

Victoria Davis, 鈥�16, has applied her fine art and psychology degrees, and is now practicing as a Marriage and Family Therapist, as well as a High School Counselor in Los Angeles: 鈥淚鈥檝e noticed in your magazine you follow-up on how people have used their 91传媒 degrees.  I wanted to offer an update to show how much I appreciate my undergrad education at 91传媒 and how it has helped me get to where I am today.鈥�

Share your news at !

Obituaries

Distinguished Alumnus Captain Milburn J. 鈥淢el鈥� Holmes, 鈥�61, passed away peacefully in February 2021, at 82 years old.

Born and raised in La Grande, he became the first recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award from 91传媒 in 2006.

Mel entered the Navy Flight Training Program in 1961, and was designated a Naval Aviator in 1963. During his career, Mel flew the F-4 “Phantom” and participated in three cruises in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. He received 18 medals and commendations throughout his service.

Mel was one of the original founders of the legendary Navy Fighter Weapons School, better known as “TOPGUN.” He completed his naval career as the Commanding Officer of a reserve F-4 Fighter Squadron. After his retirement as a 747 captain from Northwest/Delta Airlines, he established a premier flight school in California.

Faculty and Friends

Natalie K. Carey

William F. Howell

David E. Kerley

Michael Williams

Alumni

1940s and 50s

Clarice Poor, 鈥�43

Barbara J. Richman, 鈥�49

Thomas W. Taylor, 鈥�50

James W. Wiseman, 鈥�55

Gaylord Salter, 鈥�56

Bernard E. Damon, 鈥�57

Nicholas J. Eddy, 鈥�57

Karen McGillivray, 鈥�58

R. Verle A. Bechtel

1960s

Michael Tolar, 鈥�60

Harley Derrick, 鈥�61

Milburn J. Holmes, 鈥�61

Ella Mae Watson, 鈥�61

Kenneth G. Johnson, 鈥�63

Charles J. Chapman, 鈥�66

Cathey J. Correa, 鈥�66

Robert R. Hall, 鈥�69

1970s

Cliff Smith, 鈥�70

Larry H. Masters, 鈥�71

Linda C. Bricker, 鈥�72

Merrie Hensley, 鈥�76

William B. Johnson, 鈥�76

David D’Avanzo, 鈥�77

Herschel D. Malone, 鈥�77

Roger V. Williams, 鈥�78

1980s and 90s

David H. Payne, 鈥�88

Gary K. Roberts, 鈥�94

Lorenzo J. DelCurto, 鈥�98

2000s and 2010s

Lorna M. Spain, 鈥�02

Devin A. Seibel, 鈥�08

Kimberly M. Cloud, 鈥�13

Field trips, guest speakers, internships and conferences are among the co-curricular opportunities that make an 91传媒 education meaningful for so many students. Many of these projects require additional funding, beyond typical academic allocations, and Patrick Nearing, 鈥�75, wanted to ensure that students would have access to these enriching activities for generations to come. 

Nearing, who just finished a term as President, established the Deans鈥� Fund for Excellence in fall 2020 so the leader of each college could prioritize and support hands-on learning for their students and faculty.听

鈥淒uring the year there often come up either special projects or educational opportunities that need funding,鈥� Nearing said. 鈥淭he deans of each of the schools are knowledgeable about these opportunities and can make the best use of the funds.鈥�

Nearing founded the Deans鈥� Fund for Excellence endowment through the 91传媒 Foundation so that fellow alumni and community members could also contribute to it. 

鈥淢y hope for this fund is that it will continue to grow through other donations so that students and faculty can take full advantage of all alternate educational opportunities,鈥� Nearing said. 鈥淎s Oregon鈥榮 Rural University there are many unique educational opportunities that students and faculty will be able to access because of the Deans鈥� Fund for Excellence.鈥� 

As a long-time donor to the 91传媒 Foundation, Nearing sees philanthropic support as critical to the university鈥檚 ability to carry out its mission. 

鈥淎s state funds continue to dry up, the money that the Foundation provides to support students becomes ever more important,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 also support the Foundation because 91传媒 is my alma mater. The education I received here has helped give me opportunities I could not have dreamed of. Because of this I would like to see others have those same opportunities so that they can fulfill their own dreams.鈥�

To learn more or contribute to the Deans鈥� Excellence Fund, contact the 91传媒 Foundation at 541-962-3740 or foundation@eou.edu.听