19 OSU Faculty Promoted to Senior Instructor I
6 OSU Faculty Promoted to Senior Instructor II
The excellence of our academic enterprise relies heavily on our senior instructors in every college.
Fisheries and Wildlife
Dr. G. Renee Albertson is a marine biologist interested in Conservation Genetics of marine mammals. She teaches the marine mammal courses as a member of OSU’s Marine Mammal Institute and Fisheries and Wildlife faculty. Dr. Albertson advises marine-focused undergraduates and supervises undergraduate intern research projects. Her research aims to understand the abundance, population structure and evolutionary history of whales, dolphins, and pinnipeds. The methods include molecular markers to explore dolphin social structure and large baleen whale migratory destinations. She also uses photo-identification to evaluate the abundance and habitat use of several marine mammal species including harbor seals along the Oregon coast.
Crop and Soil Science
Dr. Gregg joined the OSU Sustainability Double Degree program in fall 2015 to develop the course on Introduction to Climate Change (SUS 103). This course attracts >1100 OSU students per year via on-campus and Ecampus delivery. She has also taught Introduction to Sustainability (SUS 102) both on-campus and Ecampus and has co-taught Ecology (BIO 350) and Stable Isotope Ecology (FS 499) at OSU. Before coming to OSU she taught laboratory courses in Plant Ecology, Plant Physiological Ecology, and Introductory Biology at Cornell University and the University of Utah.
Horticulture
Betsey Miller has worked in the Department of Horticulture since 2011 and has been an Ecampus instructor since 2013. Through her Bacc Core Entomology course, Pests, Plagues and Politics, she aims to foster an appreciation of insects in students from all corners of the globe. In addition, as a member of the Vaughn Walton lab, Betsey conducts research on integrated pest management in hazelnuts and small fruits. Her research interests include cultural and biological control and behavioral manipulation of pest insects.
Tim Stock, Senior Instructor II
Horticulture
Tim Stock worked in large-scale integrative Extension program development in Africa, Asia, and the Americas for 15 years. He received an MS degree in Agricultural Extension from the University of Reading, England. At OSU since 2005, he began as the state Pesticide Safety Education Program coordinator, then built the statewide OSU School IPM Program which he now leads.His expertise contributed to Oregon’s School IPM law, and he conducts hands-on training at schools statewide. 100% of Oregon’s school districts and community colleges have been trained, and 75% used Tim’s model IPM plan templates to develop their own IPM plans.
College of Business
Vipin Arora joined the College of Business at OSU in 2014. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Technology and a Master's of Science degree in Computer Science from two prestigious universities in India. Apart from those two degrees, he also completed a Diploma in Electrical Engineering and a Post Diploma in Business Administration and Computer Applications. Prior to teaching at Oregon State, Vipin completed the coursework and advanced to candidacy (ABD) for a Ph.D. in Information Technology at the University of Nebraska in Omaha. He also has four years of experience teaching university-level undergraduate IT courses in India. In addition, he has three years of industry experience in the marketing field.
College of Business
Gary Micheau joined Oregon State University in 2013. Gary is a West Point graduate and has a Masters of Science degree in Education from the University of Southern California and a Masters of Science degree in Human Resources from Gonzaga University. Prior to coming to Oregon State University and after his tour of duty as an intelligence officer in the United States Army, Gary had a 35-year business career. His career encompassed positions from division manager in both HR and Operations at Kaiser Aluminum, Senior Operations Consultant at Moss Adams, Vice President of Operations at ATI, and finally as CEO of Whites Electronics. Gary currently also serves as a consultant to the metals industry.
John Morris, Senior Instructor I
College of Business
John Morris joined the College of Business in 2009 following 29-years as a leader in manufacturing, retailing, insurance, healthcare, and consulting. In addition to supervising student internships and orienting new faculty, he coordinates the Strategic Management capstone course for undergraduates and the Capstone course for the Organizational Leadership MBA. He has experience in face-to-face, hybrid, and online teaching environments and works extensively with foreign language learners in the MBA Pathway. He was named a Newcomb Associate winner for his faculty work, has received four Quality Matters (QM) certifications for online course development, and is a certified QM Peer Reviewer.
Computer Science (OSU-Cascades Campus)
With a background in both the arts and software engineering, Yong Joseph Bakos pushes the boundaries of cross-disciplinary research and teaching. An Ohio native, Bakos previously served as the assistant department head of the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science department at Colorado School of Mines, where he taught for six years. Prior to OSU-Cascades, Bakos helped cultivate the Center of Creative Computation at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. A professional software engineer by trade, Bakos’ education is in art theory and practice (B.A., Northwestern University), and software engineering (M.S., Regis University). His research interests include information-centric networks, software engineering, graphical user interfaces, augmenting human intellect, computer science education, and generative art. Bakos has worked with companies ranging from small startups to Apple. His musicianship has led him through collaborations as an artist and technologist in Chicago, Denver and Dallas, combining live code and music performance
Statistics (OSU-Cascades Campus)
Pablo received his B.S. in mathematics, M.S. in statistics, and his Ph.D. in mathematical sciences from Portland State University. His dissertation studied necessary conditions for stability of vehicular formations with multi-mass linear arrays. While in graduate school, Pablo was nominated to attend the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute (MSRI) in Berkeley, California where he studied electronic structure theories. Pablo’s teaching statistics experience started as a teaching assistant at Portland State University during the years of his master's in statistics, then at the University of Portland, and Portland Community College. Pablo is a native of Santa Cruz, Bolivia, and a Spanish native speaker. With his bilingual background, he is always aware of underrepresented groups of students in statistics and mathematics.
Applied Visual Art (OSU-Cascades Campus)
Kiel Fletcher, an interactive media and video artist joined OSU-Cascades in 2015. His work has been shown at the Tate Britain and Disjecta Contemporary Arts. His work is also included in the collection at Yale University Library. He is a founding member of the interdisciplinary artist collective, Danger Punch. Fletcher received an MFA from the Pacific Northwest College of Art and a BFA in sculpture and digital media from the University of Colorado. He was awarded a technology, arts and media certificate from the University of Colorado. Fletcher recently completed a Rainmaker Artist residency at Yale Union Laundry in Portland.
Jenna Goldsmith, Senior Instructor I
American Studies (OSU-Cascades Campus)
Jenna Goldsmith is a poet, writing instructor, and interim program lead for the low-residency MFA in creative writing. Her writing has been featured in Utterance, Rabbit Catastrophe Review, What Rough Beast, New Delta Review, The Waggle, disClosure: A Journal of Social Theory, and ISLE: Interdisciplinary Studies in Literature and Environment. She is a Story Catcher Festival Mari Sandoz Emerging Writer and was the inaugural winner of the Kentucky Writers Fellowship from the Baltic Writing Residency. Her poetry chapbook, Genesis near the river, was published in 2019 with blush books, and she is ¼ of Portland-based artist collective Danger Punch, which published The Landscape in 2019 (Publication Studio Hudson). She resides in Bend, Oregon.
Carolyn Platt, Senior Instructor II
Master of Arts in Teaching (OSU-Cascades Campus)
Carolyn Platt joined the OSU-Cascades faculty in 2009 to launch the Master of Arts in Teaching licensure program for secondary level endorsements in Language Arts, Social Studies, Science, and Mathematics. Prior to OSU-Cascades, Dr. Platt served as an academic dean at Wellesley College and an independent educational consultant to Oregon school districts and students. Dr. Platt was elected to the Bend-La Pine School Board, serving two terms in leadership positions as chair and vice-chair. She received her Ph.D. and Masters degrees in Education from Stanford University, and her B.A. in Sociology from Occidental College. Dr. Platt’s areas of expertise are in assessment and data literacy, culturally responsive practice and professional formation, and accreditation and curriculum.
Rebecca Webb, Senior Instructor I
Energy Systems Engineering (OSU-Cascades Campus)
Rebecca Webb is an instructor and program lead for the energy systems engineering program. Prior to joining OSU-Cascades, she was an associate professor in the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs. Rebecca also worked as an R&D engineer at Agilent Technologies designing test and measurement equipment and as a senior engineer responsible for performing thermal analysis of laser cooling techniques at Directed Energy Solutions. Rebecca’s research is focused on computational and experimental microscale fluidic and heat transfer studies. Her goal is to use research to help create a more sustainable world. Applications of her work include solar electric generating systems, solar thermal propulsion, and electronic cooling.
Nuclear Science and Engineering
Lily Ranjbar came to Oregon State University with a master's in nuclear physics from the Isfahan University of Technology. She earned her doctorate in 2016 in Radiation Health Physics from OSU. She is now part of the teaching faculty and director of online programs at the school of Nuclear Science and Engineering at OSU. Lily is also collaborating with the Radiation Detection Group on the development of radioxenon detection systems for nuclear explosion monitoring. Her current research interests include national nuclear security, nuclear non-proliferation, and safeguards. She is also investigating cybersecurity issues at nuclear facilities. She is a current member of the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management (INMM), the American Nuclear Society (ANS), and the Center for Strategic & International Studies.
Mechanical, Industrial, and Manufacturing Engineering
Nancy Squires comes to OSU with a Ph.D. in Applied Mechanics from the University of California, San Diego, and over 15 years of aerospace industry experience. She has taught at Stanford, Colorado School of Mines, and University of Texas as adjunct faculty. Her Ph.D. research area was in combustion, including flame propagation, chemical kinetics,and propulsion-induced vibration. She teaches courses at all levels within MIME, including Space Systems, Dynamics and Mechanical Vibrations. She currently serves as advisor to the OSU student branch of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), the OSU Affiliate of the NASA Oregon Space Grant, a Board member of the Experimental Sounding Rocket Association-Spaceport America Consortium and a Senior Member of the Reaction Research Society.
Paul Ries, Senior Instructor I
Forest Ecosystems and Society
Dr. Ries joined the Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society in 2013. He has been teaching credit-bearing and professional continuing education courses in urban forestry for 30 years. With a Doctorate in Educational Leadership and extensive professional experience, he offers students a blend of both theoretical and practical knowledge. As the only urban forestry faculty member at OSU, he serves as a mentor for students and an advocate for the discipline. He is a leader in urban forestry and arboriculture regionally, nationally and internationally.
Arts and Communication
Ryan Biesack is a jazz percussionist and educator who holds a Bachelor of Music Performance from the University of Wisconsin and a Master of Music in Jazz Studies from the University of Oregon. Biesack is currently the Director of Jazz Ensembles at Oregon State University where has taught since 2009. Biesack has performed or recorded with Ron Miles, Wayne Horvitz, DJ Spooky, Todd Sickafoose, Joe Manis, Ben Monder, Idit Shner, Halie Loren, and many others. Biesack can be heard on his trio’s 2018 PJCE records release Trio Untold, which has received high praise, making several best jazz of 2018 lists.
Arts and Communication
Michael Boonstra's creative practice shifts between drawing, photography, installation, and sculpture to intersect and overlap ideas about landscape, perception, environmental phenomena, and time. He has recently been an artist in residence at Caldera, Pine Meadow Ranch, and Signal Fire. The Ford Family Foundation has sponsored his fellowships at Playa and the Djerassi Resident Artist Program. Boonstra is a founding member of Gray Space, a collective of Oregon artists who came together in 2016 to develop site-based projects that foster connections between artists, places, histories, and communities. His studio practice is based out of Eugene, Oregon.
Clare Braun, Senior Instructor I
Writing, Literature, and Film
Clare Braun is a Senior Instructor in the School of Writing, Literature, and Film. She received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Arizona in 2007 and a Master of Fine Arts from Oregon State University in 2014. Clare is the recipient of the OSU Ecampus Innovation Award (2020) and the Lisa Ede Award for Excellence in Composition Instruction (2014).
Jon Chesbro, Senior Instructor I
Public Policy
Jon Chesbro is a Senior Instructor for the Economics Program in the School of Public Policy at Oregon State University. Before moving to Oregon, Mr. Chesbro was a member of the Faculty at Montana Tech of The University of Montana where he taught courses in economics and finance. He also has over 15 years of experience as a consultant in the field of economics.
Emily Davis-Malewitz, Senior Instructor I
Language, Culture, and Society
Emily Davis-Malewitz is a Senior Instructor in the School of Language, Culture, and Society. She received a B.A. in Spanish (2003) from Randolph-Macon College, and an M.A. in Spanish Literature (2008) from the University of Virginia, Charlottesville. Emily was awarded the Frances Dancy Hooks Award in 2019.
Karen Elliott, Senior Instructor II
Social and Behavioral Health Sciences
Kare Elliott is a Public Health Instructor and Undergraduate Public Health Internship Coordinator and started her career at Oregon State University in 2010. An OSU alum, she received her doctoral degree in Public Health and Human Sciences in 2006. Since 2000, Karen has held positions such as community outreach assistant at the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Family Outreach Specialist at Women’s Opportunity Resource Development and a graduate student teaching assistant at the University of Montana, all in Missoula, Mont. In addition, she’s worked as an assistant professor in the Department of Health, Human Performance and Nutrition at Central Washington University and currently serves part-time as a contributing faculty member in the undergraduate program in Health Studies in the College of Health Sciences at Walden University in Minnesota.
Integrative Biology
Nathan Kirk is a molecular ecologist interested in coral symbioses ranging from mutualism (where both partners benefit) to parasitism. He is also very interested in the incorporation of educational best practices to increase equity and inclusion in the classroom. Kirk earned an M.S. in Biological Sciences from State University of New York at Buffalo (2006) and a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from Auburn University (2012).
Mathematics
Filix P. Maisch is a Peruvian-American who grew up in Northern California. He studied physics and mathematics, ultimately earning a doctorate in mathematics from the University of California, Santa Cruz in 2010. Immediately after receiving his Ph.D., Maisch moved to Oregon to work as a Mathematics Instructor at Oregon State University. He loves to teach others about the beauty and elegance of mathematics.
Chemistry
Paula Weiss is an instructor in the Department of Chemistry. She earned an Associate’s degree from New River Community College, a Bachelor’s degree from Radford University, and completed graduate work at Virginia Tech. She currently teaches general chemistry, advises Chemistry majors, and serves as a mentor to chemistry education students. She has been an Action Research Fellow through the ESTEME@OSU Project and is currently an Inclusive Excellence Fellow for the IE@OSU project.