Yesterday continued the major governance change for the Oregon Institute of Technology (Oregon Tech) with Governor Kitzhaber’s additional nominations for appointment of 4 new members of the university’s Board of Trustees. This will bring the Oregon Tech Board of Trustees to 14 of the 15 allowable members of the Board.
With their official terms beginning immediately upon confirmation by the Oregon Senate, the Trustees will join the previously appointed Trustees to assume governance of Oregon Tech on July 1, 2015 from the State Board of Higher Education, whose structure sunsets on June 30, 2015. The Senate will consider confirmations of the Governor’s nominees in December.
Higher education reform over the last year in Oregon has transformed the 7-university Oregon University System governed by the State Board of Higher Education to a decentralized set of public universities, each with its own governing board. System decentralization has been a staged process, with the larger institutions (by student population) launching their boards on July 1, 2014, and the technical and regional universities, including Oregon Tech, beginning single-campus governance on July 1, 2015.
Oregon Tech President Chris Maples said, “We appreciate the Governor’s remaining nominations for appointment of Oregon Tech’s first Board of Trustees, and the Senate’s confirmation consideration next month. These additional members round out a diverse group of leaders who are representative of Oregon Tech’s students, the focus of our academic programs, and of Oregon’s communities. I look forward to working with all of our impressive Trustees to advance the success of our students, and the impact that Oregon Tech can have on the economy of Oregon.”
The four members who will be considered for confirmation by the Oregon Senate in December are:
- Jessica Gomez, Founder, President and CEO, Rogue Valley Microdevices, Inc., Medford, OR
- Gary Johnston, Owner, 7L Investments LLC, Boise, ID
- Paul Stewart, President/CEO, Sky Lakes Medical Center, Klamath Falls, OR
- Fred Ziari, President, IRZ, ezWireless, and Zeco, Hermiston, OR
Each of the public university boards in Oregon includes up to 15 trustees, with 11 members at large, the institution’s president, one faculty member, one non-faculty staff member, and one student.
Trustees who were already appointed and confirmed earlier this Fall include:
- Dr. Jeremy Brown, President, Portland Community College, Portland
- Melissa Ceron, Student, Business Management/Accounting, Oregon Tech, Klamath Falls
- Dr. Lisa Graham, CEO, Black Canyon Woodworks (currently serving a partial term on the State Board of Higher Education), Bend
- Dana Henry, Student Support Services, Oregon Tech, Klamath Falls (Non-Faculty Staff member)
- Kathleen Hill, Writer/Consultant and elected Member of the Klamath Tribal Council, Chiloquin
- Kelley Minty Morris, Klamath County Commissioner, Klamath Falls (appointed to partial term on State Board of Higher Education)
- Celia Núñez, Agency Training Specialist, State Farm Insurance Company, Wilsonville
- Dr. Dan W. Peterson, Associate Professor of Communication, Oregon Tech, Klamath Falls (Faculty member)
- Dr. Steve Sliwa, Founder and CEO, Seeq, Portland and Seattle
As president, Dr. Maples will serve as a non-voting, ex-officio member of the Board.
For more information on the Board nominees, including bios, go to www.oit.edu/trustees.
About Oregon Tech
Founded in Klamath Falls in 1947, Oregon Institute of Technology is the only public 4-year institute of technology in the Pacific Northwest. Oregon Tech provides degree programs in engineering and health technologies, management, communication, and applied sciences that prepare students to be effective participants in their professional, public, and international communities through hands-on learning. Oregon Tech has a full-service, residential campus in Klamath Falls and an urban, industry-focused campus in Wilsonville. Visit www.oit.edu to learn more about Oregon Tech.
