For Kevin Kasnick, giving back is a way of life.

And it extends from his personal life to his career.                                                               

As manager of the Equal Employment Opportunity  program for a large health care organization in Sacramento, California, Kasnick ’86 focuses on enhancing diversity and preventing discrimination as a way to help and support health care staff provide patients with the best possible care. Creating a better work environment puts them at ease and improves their relationship with each patient.

“When you meet the needs of people, you can change their lives for the better and make a positive difference,” he says. “I see it as a calling, not just a job.”

Kasnick credits his ability to work closely with others to his time at Oregon State as an intergroup and interpersonal communications major. He discovered the importance of critical thinking, reasoning, personal responsibility and collaborating in groups. He adds that his journalism professor, Harold Dorn, taught him to have the courage to be different.

“I think his influence on me was greater than I realized,” Kasnick says. “In my career, I’ve done a lot of training and public speaking, and his approach gave me the freedom to be original and unique in my speaking style.”

While studying at Oregon State, Kasnick also worked as an anchor for the student-run TV station KBVR-TV, writing news stories and hosting a show highlighting OSU personalities. Not only did these opportunities enhanced the writing skills he still uses today, they taught him to think on his feet and be ready for anything.

These days, Kasnick shares his appreciation for OSU by coordinating OSU Alumni Association events for Beavers in the Sacramento area.

“I want to do whatever I can to help OSU and reconnect with fellow OSU alumni,” he says.

As he reflects on everything Oregon State has given him, Kasnick encourages current students to respect others and honor them with their words and actions. He adds it is important to keep a positive attitude and remain thankful, especially when hit with a setback.

“Remember that you have innate gifts and talents. You’ve developed skills and received a quality education,” he says. “Use those to make a difference for others, and you’ll find you’ve made a career and a difference for yourself.”

Kasnick is pictured above with his daughter Madelyn.