Advisory Board

Erin Bird

Academic Affairs Project Specialist and Associate Director of Transfer Pathways and Success

Erin Bird collaborates with campus partners university-wide and external to assess, identify, and support efforts to increase and equalize retention, and graduate rates for undergraduate students, with special consideration to the transfer student population. Working closely with colleges and enrollment managment, Erin compiles information and evaluates transfer articulation agreements, OSU College policies, timeliness and academic regulations in relation to transfer student success.

Erin earned her Bachelors of Arts in Psychology from Trinity University and a Masters of Science in Kinesiology (Sports Psychology) from Georgia South University.

Dave Dillon

President and CEO, Food Northwest

Dave Dillon is president of Food Northwest, the Oregon, Idaho, and Washington trade association for food companies of all sizes and types. Prior to joining the Food Northwest team, Dave led Oregon Farm Bureau, the state's largest farmer and rancher membership organization. He has worked for a U.S. senator and lived and worked in Japan. Dave earned a bachelor’s degree from and is a trustee of Linfield University. He is founding board member of the Resource Education and Agricultural Leadership (REAL) Oregon program and is a co-host for Cultivating Change Foundation events in Oregon. Dave holds an MBA from the University of Oregon's executive program. He grew up in Coos Bay.

Wade Foster

Environmental Attorney, Stoel Rives LLP

Wade is an environmental attorney at Stoel Rives LLP. Wade’s primary focus areas include mining, state water rights, and compliance counseling for clients subject to federal and state environmental laws. Wade was raised in Lake County, Oregon where agriculture and natural resources provided strong influences on Wade’s career path. Following graduation from OSU, Wade worked for Congressman Greg Walden and then for a national fertilizer trade association in Washington, DC. Wade and his husband, Colton, live in Boise, Idaho but frequently return to Oregon to spend time with family, in particular their nieces.

Lyle Gibbs

Agronomist, Nutrien Ag Solutions

Lyle Gibbs is an experienced agronomist with a background in turf management and crop consulting. After earning his B.S. in Horticulture Turf Management from Oregon State University, he spent several years in the golf industry before joining Nutrien Ag Solutions. For 8 years, Lyle worked across western Oregon in the seed crop and hazelnut industries and now resides outside Reno Nevada with his wife and two kids and covers the Golf and Landscape markets of Reno and Tahoe as well as the hay production markets of northern California and Nevada.

Dr. Angela Hughes

Veterinary Geneticist and Scientific Communications Lead at Mars Pet Nutrition.

Dr. Angela Hughes DVM PhD MS leads Scientific Communications for the Science & Technology team and is a Veterinary Geneticist at Mars Pet Nutrition. Dr. Hughes completed her BS in Biochemistry and Molecular biology at Reed College in Portland, OR before completing her veterinary degree, veterinary genetics residency, PhD in genetics, and held an associate clinical professor position at the University of California, Davis. She then joined Mars, Inc. where she has held multiple positions with Wisdom Health (formerly Mars Veterinary), Mars Petcare’s Global Scientific Communications team, and Royal Canin’s US Veterinary Scientific Communications team. Dr. Hughes also recently completed a Master’s degree in Communications through the University of Florida and is using those communications skills every day to help make A Better World For Pets. Over her career, she has been published in multiple academic publications, contributed chapters for publication in several textbooks, and is presently writing a veterinary genetics textbook in her spare time.

Carl Jones

Plant Sciences Director, MARS Advanced Research Institute

MARS is a global confectionary, food and pet care company that believes the world we want tomorrow starts with how we do business today. With more than $35 billion in sales, we produce some of the world’s best-loved brands: M&M’s®, SNICKERS®, TWIX®, MILKY WAY®, DOVE®, PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, WHISKAS®, IAMS®, EXTRA®, ORBIT®, 5™, SKITTLES®, UNCLE BEN’S® and COCOAVIA®. Alongside our consumer brands, we proudly take care of half of the world’s pets through our nutrition, health and services businesses such as Banfield Pet Hospitals™, BluePearl®, Linnaeus, AniCura, VCA™ and Pet Partners™.

Mathis Kuenzi

Product Development/Accounts Manager, Mt. View Seeds

Mathis Kuenzi graduated from Oregon State in 2018 with a Bachelor’s in Ag Business Management and a minor in Crop Science. He is a Leadership Academy alum and is thankful to be involved with the program today. Upon graduation, Mathis worked at Northwest Farm Credit, now (AgWest Farm Credit) where he provided farmers and ag businesses lending and credit solutions. Today, he is the director of product development and account manager at Mountain View Seeds, selling grass seed nationwide to the landscape, golf, and sports turf industries. Outside of work, Mathis enjoys farming blueberries, fishing and spending quality time with his wife and family.

Kenneth Munson

Board President, Advisor and investor; Retired director - Global Forestry, International Paper

Ken Munson is an Oregon State University and University of Florida alumnus with extensive experience in forest sector businesses and projects. Ken’s background includes a focus on sustainable forest management. He worked for International Paper for 30+ years, both in the US and abroad. His experience has provided him the chance to work in China, the Philippines, Mexico, New Zealand, Russia, Poland, Brazil, Canada, and France. He currently serves as an advisor to projects in the US, Brazil and Russia. He is involved with leadership development and is a Trustee of the Arbor Day Foundation.

Jane O'Keeffe

Partner, O'Keeffe Ranch

Jane O’Keeffe is a partner in the five generation O’Keeffe Ranch in Adel Oregon. The O’Keeffe Ranch is a cow/calf operation running primarily in the Oregon high desert. O’Keeffe is a former Lake County Commissioner. She has worked in the political space both statewide and nationally for the Forest Counties and Schools Coalition and the Partnership for Rural America. O’Keeffe has served as former chair of the Oregon Environmental Quality Commission and the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board. She currently sits on the Oregon Rangeland Trust and the Western Resources Legal Center Board of Directors for Lewis and Clark Law School.

Jane O’Keeffe and her husband John are both graduates of Oregon State University College of Agriculture. Jane also holds a Master of Fine Arts from Antioch University and writes novels.

Jennifer Petersen

EVP and Chief Science Officer, Sun World International

Marie Petrie

Owner

Marie is a tribal member of the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians out of Coos Bay. She is a Leadership Academy alum from the very first cohort. She attended the Chemeketa Community College Forestry Program, transferring to Oregon State University pursuing a Forest Management degree, graduating in 2015. She worked for the USDA Forest Service before and throughout her college career. During her 14 years of employment with the Forest Service, she worked in wildland fire, timber sales, and silviculture. At the beginning of the pandemic, she started her own house cleaning business. She currently has over a dozen clients.

John Roberts

Retired Senior Vice President of Harry & David

John and his wife Sheri have been involved in Oregon agriculture, both in practice and service. John is a retired Senior Vice President of Harry & David and former chair of the Oregon Water Resources Commission, as well as a member of the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board. He currently serves on the College of Agriculture Sciences E.R. Jackman Friends and Alumni Board and the College of Agricultural Sciences Leadership Academy Advisory Board. John earned his bachelor of science degree from Oregon State University in Food Science and Technology in 1964 and continues his service to the industry.

Randall S. Rosenberger

Professor, College of Forestry

Dr. Rosenberger is a professor in the College of Forestry’s Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society. During his tenure at OSU, he has served in various leadership positions for the college. He actively promotes opportunities for students to pursue experiential learning opportunities, such as Leadership Academy. He also has mentored numerous students in the academy over the years and looks forward to continuing to serve in this capacity.

Staci L. Simonich

Dean in College of Agricultural Sciences, Oregon State University

Dr. Simonich has served as Dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences at Oregon State University since 2022. Prior to this role, she was the Associate Vice President (AVP) for Research Operations and Integrity at OSU, as well as a Professor of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology and Chemistry in the College of Agricultural Sciences. She has also held administrative positions as Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs in the College of Science and Associate Department Head in Environmental and Molecular Toxicology.

Kathy Ward

Retired Head of Global Testing & Operations Veg R&D, Bayer Crop Science

Kathy began her career in the seed industry with Asgrow Seed Company in Kalamazoo, Michigan. When Seminis Vegetable Seeds was formed she relocated to Woodland, California in 1996. Her current position is the Head of Global Testing and Operations for Vegetable R&D in Bayer Crop Science. During her career she had the opportunity to travel to more than fifty countries and experience ag in many different cultures. She is actively involved in numerous mentoring and career development programs.

Kathy’s education includes an MBA in Finance and Marketing from Western Michigan University and Bachelors degree in Agronomy from Oregon State University. She was born and raised in northeastern Oregon, where her family continues full time operations of this century farm. Her time outside of work is spent tending her olive oil trees and vegetable garden, working on home remodeling projects, and enjoying outdoor activities. She is an avid OSU baseball and women’s basketball fan. She serves on the board for a non-profit supporting and conserving agriculture and habitat. She loves to travel and meet people all over the world. She shares her home with her husband, a dog and two cats.