In 2008 James and Judith Atwood Youde pledged $250,000 to create a fund to support a leading faculty member in Applied Economics, as part of a $1.4 million commitment the couple made to a variety of areas at Oregon State University.

The Youdes have deep ties to Oregon State, where they met and married shortly after their graduation in 1962. Judith earned her business degree at OSU and taught high school business classes for several years. Jim earned his bachelor's in agricultural economics before going on to master's and doctoral degrees in economics from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Jim Youde returned to OSU as a member of the agricultural economics faculty from 1966 to 1973. A leading expert on agriculture marketing and policy, he also taught at the University of California, Davis, and worked as director of California's agriculture department and as the executive director of the Western U.S. Agriculture Trade Association.

The Youdes founded Northwest Economic Associates, Inc., a natural resource and economic consulting firm based in Vancouver, Washington, in 1977. Jim served as company president for 20 years and Judith managed the company's finances for 18 years, as secretary/treasurer and as CFO. Now retired, the Youdes continue their involvement in community volunteer work, including at OSU. Both have served on the OSU Alumni Association board and the OSU Foundation Board of Trustees.