E.R. Jackman Friends and Alumni (ERJFA) is the College of Agricultural Sciences’ (CAS) membership organization for CAS alumni and friends. The ERJFA board, a group of dedicated volunteers, actively plans, participates in, and supports student programs, alumni relations, and friend building on behalf of the College. ERJFA endowments within the OSU Foundation provide annual funding for CAS students.
Anyone making an annual contribution totaling at least $1,000 to one or more programs within the College of Agricultural Sciences becomes a member.
The ERJFA Board works year-round with the College’s Academics office to direct support for various programs that enhance the academic journey of CAS students. Here is a sampling of the activities ERJFA pursues to create opportunities for students that provide learning experiences beyond the walls of a classroom:
- up to $ 40,000 to 12-16 clubs for use during the upcoming academic year. This includes the Ambassadors at both OSU and EOU, the Club Leadership Team, as well as many departmental clubs.
- $20,000 annually in scholarships to highly deserving students who might otherwise ‘fall through the cracks’.
- $ 10,000 to the College’s Financial Hardship Grant fund in 2021.
- financial assistance to students in low-paying or volunteer internships through the E.R. Jackman Internship Support Program. Funds may be used to help offset a variety of expenses including transportation, living expenses, projects, and research. Applications for International Internships will also be considered for additional support from the Global Experience Fund. Read about the variety of internships supported.
- funding for the Beginning Researchers Support Program that provides research opportunities for undergraduates who are engaging in formal research for the first time.
Please help support all the students within the College of Agricultural Sciences by becoming a member of the E.R. Jackman Friends & Alumni. Donations can be made through the link below.
Learn more about who E. R. Jackman was and why we have an entire organization proudly bearing his name.
Two new Scholarship Endowments added to our portfolio….
The ER Jackman Friends and Alumni Board are pleased to announce that we have had two new scholarship endowments added to our fund list. In late fall 2021, friends and colleagues of two former college deans undertook to create an endowed scholarship for each. The two funds are now in place. The Roy and Jane Arnold Scholarship Endowment and the Thayne and Missy Dutson Scholarship Endowment now carry balances over $ 50,000 each. As of late March, over 62 individuals or couples had contributed to these funds. To celebrate these new funds, the ER Jackman Board voted to award the first two scholarships honoring the Dutsons and Arnolds this spring; the College’s Office of Academics will select two individuals to receive $ 2000 each. These are in addition to the other scholarships ($20,000) and the Gordon and Joan Galbraith ($1500) funded by the ER Jackman endowments. Additions to these scholarships can be easily done on line.
Just start typing in the name of either fund and the full name will pop up. There are two entries for each: one for the endowment (recommended) and one for the expendable account. Checks can also be sent to the OSU Foundation and directed to either/both of the funds.
Dr. Roy Arnold served as Dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences from 1987-1990, as Provost and Executive Vice President from 1991-2000 and then as Executive Associate Dean in the College until full retirement in 2006. Read more
Dr. Thayne Dutson served as Associate Dean for Research and Director of the Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station (OAES) from 1987-1992; in 1993 he accepted the position of Dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences and Director of OAES. Dr. Dutson retired in 2008 and moved with his wife Missy to their ranch near Sisters to raise registered Red Angus cattle. Read more
2022 Board Members
Hayden Bush,
- Agricultural Sciences and Industrial Technology Instructor, Tillamook High School;
- Agricultural, Animal, Food, and Soil Science, and Welding Instructor, Tillamook Bay Community College.
- Resides in Tillamook, OR. haydenlbush@gmail.com; 503-812-6189
Stella Melugin Coakley,
- Retired, Associate Dean Emeritus, College of Agricultural Sciences, Professor Emeritus, Botany and Plant Pathology, Oregon State University.
- Resides in Corvallis, OR. Stella.coakley@oregonstate.edu; 541-753-6215
Mary Anne Cooper,
- Vice President of Public Policy for the Oregon Farm Bureau.
- Honors Bachelor of Science in Environmental Economics, Policy and Management in 2006.
- Resides in Gladstone. maryanne@oregonfb.org, 541-740-4062
John McCulley,
- Retired Professional Administrative Services, Inc., administrator for commodity commissions and agricultural organizations; lobbyist.
- BS in Agricultural Economics from Oregon State University in 1973.
- Resides in Monmouth, Oregon. john@profadminserv.com 503-559-5464.
John Roberts,
- Retired former Senior Vice President of Harry and David and former chair of the Oregon Water Resources Commission and member of the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board.
- Bachelor of Science in Food Science and Technology OSU 1964.
- Resides in Medford, OR john@roberts1.me 541-944-0540
Helle Ruddenklau,
- Owner of Ruddenklau Farms
- Oregon State University, Crop & Soil Science, BS (1990) and MS (1994)
- Resides in Amity, OR. ruddenkl@viclink.com; 503-932-0558
Joe Scheffler
- First Vice President, Morgan Stanley
- Oregon State University, Agricultural Business Management BS 1994
- Resides in Eagle Point, OR. joseph.r.scheffler@morganstanley.com, 541-261-0952
Kathy Ward,
- Global Vegetable R&D Testing & Operations Lead, Bayer Crop Science;
- Oregon State University-Agronomic Crop Science, 1977 BS;
- Resides in Woodland, CA bluegrasskl@aol.com, 530-867-0566
Karen Withers,
- Owner of AgCultured Consulting, LLC works with agricultural business and associates on International Trade issues and programs.
- Oregon State University, Agricultural and Resource Economics Bachelor of Science – 1997.
- Resides in Turner. karen@agcultured.com, 503-767-8232.
Lou Ann Wolfe,
- Irrigated agriculture in Hermiston, OR.
- Merritt-Davis School of Commerce 1965.
- Contact info: feedlot@eotnet.net; 541-571-3352
2022 Annual Meeting
October 14, 2022
2:30-4:30 p.m. Strand Agricultural Hall
General questions can be directed to: Ally Rumpakis, Director of Alumni Relations, College of Agricultural Sciences, ally.rumpakis@osualum.com, 541-556-9516.
In 2021-2022 from ER Jackman Funds:
- 10 students received scholarships of $2,000 with a total of $21,500.
- 18 students received a total of $20,750 from the Internship Support Program ranging from $500 to $1600.
- 11 students received $500 each in ERJFA sponsored Financial Hardship Grant for a total of $5500
- 19 students received a total of $16,750 in Beginning Research Funds ranging from $750 –$1000.
- 13 clubs were awarded over $40,000, ranging from $500 to $10,500.
Xavier Tacker, Dennet Flores Elizondo, Charlotte Epps, and Johannah Hamilton are accepting their National Awards at the National Society for Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences Career Fair and Training Conference in Jacksonville, FL March 2022! OSU MANRRS Chapter thanks ERJFA for supporting them.
ER Jackman Friends and Alumni Board: Annual Meeting, October 11, 2019. From left to right:
Dean Alan Sams, President Denver Pugh, Stella Coakley, Penny Diebel, Kathy Ward, Jack Long, Past-President Lou Ann Wolfe, Kim Bellingar, Jackie Thorsness and John Roberts. Not pictured: Hayden Bush, Mary Anne Cooper, John McCulley, and Karen Withers.
Anna Breen (right), undergraduate in Bioresource Research, explains her internship in Ecuador to Alyssa Nelson (far left) (undergraduate in Animal Sciences) and Liz Larew (donor).
Kirsten Jones (center) (undergraduate in Botany) explains her Beginning Research poster to Lurlyn and Jack Long (right)
From Left: John Roberts (Board member), Lindsay Sandusky (undergraduate in Botany), and Dean Emeritus Dan Arp in front of Lindsay’s Beginning Research poster.
From Left: Liz Larew (donor), Stella Coakley (Board member) and Hiram Larew (creator of Global Experience Fund)
Photography by Heidi Happonen, CAS Communications
From Left to right: Assistant Dean Dr. Penny Diebel, Dr. Hiram Larew, founder of Global Experience Fund, and Anna Breen, undergraduate major in Bioresearch Research
Maya Bergmann explains describes her Beginning Researcher project to President Denver Pugh
Dr. Dale Weber talks with Anna Breen (back to camera) about her international internship in Ecuador.
Lindsay Sandusky (undergraduate in Botany) explains her Beginning Researcher project to Dr. Hiram Larew
Comments from Board Members about why they are serving:
Kim Bellingar "I love OSU and the College of Agricultural Sciences, because that’s where I met my wonderful hubby! I also believe that ERJ is doing wonderful things in being able to provide hard-working students within the College of Agricultural Sciences and a chance to expand their learning beyond the classroom, and take advantage of truly incredible opportunities through clubs and internship programs. I benefitted massively from my experiences with the CAS clubs, ERJ scholarship program, and want to see others have the same opportunity."
Karen Withers “Since my teen years I dreamt of working in International Agriculture. Without the support of the ER Jackman funding that may not have come true. I am very thankful for their financial assistance but even more so the encouragement and communication from my donor who stayed in touch with me beyond my undergraduate years. The College of Ag. Sciences and the ER Jackman Friends and Alumni are amazing organizations changing lives of students every single year!”
Upcoming Events
ER Jackman Friends and Alumni Annual Meeting
October 14, 2022
2:30-4:30 p.m. Strand Agricultural Hall
RSVP by Oct. 10 by signing up online, or by calling Lori Hodgert at 541-737-3676.
General questions can be directed to: Ally Rumpakis, Director of Alumni Relations, College of Agricultural Sciences, ally.rumpakis@osualum.com, 541-556-9516.