Meet the Senior Associate Dean
Dr. Christine Pollard was appointed Senior Associate Dean at OSU-Cascades in November of 2023, after over a decade of service at Oregon State University. Prior to this role, she was a professor of kinesiology and the founding director of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at OSU-Cascades.
During her tenure at OSU-Cascades, Dr. Pollard played a key role in establishing the undergraduate kinesiology program in 2011 and the FORCE biomechanics lab in 2013. The FORCE lab provides unique opportunities for students and supports research focused on injury prevention and rehabilitation. Dr. Pollard led the development of OSU-Cascades' Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program, which became the first such program offered by a public university in Oregon and addresses the statewide shortage of physical therapists. The first DPT cohort started in 2021 and graduated in June 2024.
Before joining OSU-Cascades in 2011, Dr. Pollard served as a faculty member at the University of Southern California and California State University Long Beach. She holds an MS in physical therapy from Pacific University and a PhD in biomechanics from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She was promoted to full professor at OSU-Cascades in 2021 and received the Beaver Champion Award in 2022 for her outstanding contributions to the university. Dr. Pollard is dedicated to fostering academic growth and innovation at OSU-Cascades, helping to expand educational opportunities that contribute to the region's development and the university’s overall success.
Dr. Pollard leads the Academic Leadership Council which is comprised of Associate and Assistant Deans, Division Heads, the Director of Advising, and the Director of Career Development.
