Keith Dempsey, ’93, M.S. ’96, Ph.D. ’10
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Alumni Legacy Award
With more than 20 years of experience in the fields of counseling, therapy and health care advocacy for African Americans, Keith Dempsey leads his own counseling and consulting practice in the Portland area. He is a founding member and chair of the
OSU Black Alumni and Friends Network and has served on the Oregon State University Alumni Association Board of Directors, the OSU Alumni Council and the OSU Alumni Undergraduate Scholarship Committee.
Kim Fritz-Ogren, M.S. ’12, Ph.D. ’15
Nominated by the Graduate School
Through her work at the Oregon Water Resources Department, Kim Fritz-Ogren has played important roles shaping water policy through years of challenging drought, supporting the director of OWRD and the Water Resources Commission in strategic planning,
managing the contentious issue of water rights, working for interstate and intertribal negotiations, serving as lead on Columbia River issues and leading the formation of a new section of the agency focused on partnering with Oregonians on innovative
solutions to water management challenges. As a testament to her bright future as a public servant, she was also selected to participate in Leadership Oregon, an executive leadership program.
Lori Gibson, DVM ’99
Nominated by the Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine
Dr. Lori Gibson is the owner of Compassionate Care, an in-home pet euthanasia company serving the Portland area and Salem that offers 24-7 services and an eco-friendly cremation process known as aquamation. Her entrepreneurial spirit has brought new options
to pet families dealing with difficult times. Gibson was an executive board member of the Portland Veterinary Medical Association from 2010 to 2017, and is a member of the Portland Veterinary Medical Association and the Oregon Veterinary Medical Association,
as well as the Portland chapter of the Entrepreneurs' Organization.
Bob Grover, ’83
Nominated by the College of Agricultural Sciences
In the 21 years since Bob Grover started Pacific Landscape Management, his company has grown to become the Northwest’s leader in commercial landscape management, providing sustainable maintenance and enhancements services in Portland, Salem and
Seattle. Grover served as the president of the National Association of Landscape Professionals and the Oregon Landscape Contractors Association and as past chair of the Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce. He is a member of the Revitalize Portland Coalition
and a supporter of OSU’s Department of Horticulture.
Matt Morton, Ed.M. ’98
Nominated by the College of Liberal Arts
Matt Morton has dedicated years to improving educational opportunities in the Pacific Northwest. He is the president of the Community Foundation for Southwest Washington, which funds student scholarships and nonprofit grants. Previously, he led Oregon’s
largest private philanthropic grantmaking strategy focused on K-12 public education with the Meyer Memorial Trust. Morton became the first Native American to be elected to the Board of Education for Portland Public Schools, the region's largest school
district, and served as the executive director of Portland’s Native American Youth and Family Center and as the deputy director of the National Indian Child Welfare Association.
Bill Nicholson, ’80
Nominated by the College of Engineering
Bill Nicholson started his long career with Portland General Electric as an OSU student intern. Over the next 40 years, he worked in a variety of engineering and operations leadership roles, including as senior vice president. In the process, he played
a major role in providing reliable electric power to people across the Portland metropolitan area. He serves on the Oregon State College of Engineering Dean’s Leadership Council, the OSU Nuclear Science and Engineering Industry Advisory Board
and is a supporter of the College of Engineering’s Catalyst Scholars Program.
Olivia Quiroz, ’05
Nominated by the College of Public Health and Human Sciences
Olivia Quiroz is the executive director for the Oregon Latino Health Coalition (OLHC), a statewide organization dedicated to eliminating health disparities affecting Oregon's Latinx communities through collaboration, leadership and advocacy. Under her
leadership, OLHC passed historical legislation (Oregon House Bill 3352) to expand Medicaid coverage to adults regardless of their immigration status. While working at Multnomah County Health Department, she served as a contributor to the health equity
framework to address racial health policy and systems change strategies. She has served on the OSU Alumni Multicultural Steering Committee.
Joth Ricci, ’91
Nominated by the College of Education
Joth Ricci, CEO of Dutch Bros, has been an example of leadership and vision for the business community both through his role as chair of the Oregon Business Council and his work supporting Oregon’s diverse business owners. Ricci co-founded Taste
for Equity, a nonprofit that supports, promotes and inspires action for equity advances in Oregon. He has also been a valuable contributor to statewide conversations about racial equity in policy and practice as part of Oregon’s Racial Justice
Council. Ricci served on the College of Education’s Alumni and Friends Leadership Circle for several years.
Julia Rosen, Ph.D. ’14
Nominated by the College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences
As a journalist and writer, Julia Rosen has applied her deep understanding of the planet — based in geology doctoral work studying polar ice cores — to create an all-important bridge between science and humanity. She writes about how the world
works and how humans are changing it. Her award-winning work has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, Science, Hakai, High Country News and The Los Angeles Times, where she was a former climate reporter. She
is currently working on her first book, for Ecco, about grass and humans and our relationship to nature. Rosen has also shined a spotlight on Portland and the Pacific Northwest itself, bringing national attention to environmental issues in our state.
Mary Deits Rousseau, ’71
Nominated by the Honors College
A national trailblazer for women in the courts, Judge Mary Deits Rousseau has consistently worked to create positive changes across Oregon. She was the third woman to work as an assistant attorney general at the Oregon Department of Justice, the second
woman to serve on the Oregon Court of Appeals and the first woman chosen to serve as Chief Judge of the Court. In that role, she implemented a variety of nationally recognized reforms designed to create efficiencies in the courts and reduce caseload
backlog. An early member of OSU’s honors program, Rousseau has been one of the college’s most committed advocates and supporters in the Portland area.
David Vernier, M.S. ’76
Nominated by the College of Science
David Vernier is a steadfast advocate for science education across Oregon and the world. The company he co-founded, Vernier Science Education, has products in 60% of high schools and 40% of K-8 schools and offers numerous workshops for science educators.
Vernier’s work at Oregon State includes supporting the College of Science’s Learning Assistants program, which trains high-achieving undergraduate students to support large enrollment courses. The Vernier Promise Fund also supports a range
of programs designed to create opportunities for students from underserved communities.
Anita Winn, ’79
Nominated by the College of Business
After earning a degree in clothing textiles and related arts, Anita Winn embarked on an extensive career in merchandising. She managed stores, gained experience as a regional merchandiser and clothing buyer, and, in 2016, retired as business planning
director of North America Nike Factory Stores. She is a founding and executive member of the College of Business Merchandising Management Advisory Council and has been a member of the OSU Design Network since 2014, serving as its chair for two
years. This group of Portland-area alumni and friends working in design and merchandising management offers networking connections and career advice to OSU students.