In 2010, Oregon State University - Cascades instituted an awards program to recognize faculty and staff who excel in their fields and demonstrate service to the community and university. Nominations are reviewed by the OSU-Cascades Board of Advisors, a 12-member board that informs the campus on strategic direction, policies and programs. The recipients of the 2012 awards were recently announced:
Matthew Orr, an instructor in biology, received the Outreach Award. Orr has taught at OSU-Cascades since 2003. During that time he has engaged undergraduate students in research and internship projects that benefit regional agencies including the Deschutes Land Trust, Bureau of Land Management and USFS, as well as local public schools.
Shannon Lipscomb, received the Scholarship & Creative Activity Award. An assistant professor of human development and family science, she joined OSU-Cascades in 2010. Lipscomb examines children's development of school readiness and the effects of children's experiences at home and in child care and early education settings in their development. Her research has been recognized within the academic community, in local, state and federal policy arenas, and has gained international media attention.
Marty Beidler joined OSU-Cascades in 2004 and was promoted to manager for admissions and records in 2008. She was presented the Outstanding Staff Award for her exceptional work ethic and professionalism. Beidler led the Bend campus' transition to a paperless admissions process and to an electronic student advising system, and is recognized by the faculty for her ability to trouble-shoot student enrollment issues and resolve complex scheduling issues.
Kreg Lindberg is an associate professor and has led and taught in the Tourism and Outdoor Leadership (TOL) program since 2003 and received the Sustainability Award. Lindberg was recognized for integrating sustainability into the curricula of the natural resources and TOL programs, and for his service to the community in helping the Deschutes Provincial Advisory Committee shape how sustainability issues can influence management of the Deschutes National Forest.
Natalie Dollar, associate dean of new programs and an associate professor of speech, received the Teaching Excellence Award. Her teaching is consistently rated as exceptional by students both for the course content and contributions to class interactions. She was recognized for her work in encouraging students to engage outside the classroom through her popular courses in community dialogue, and community service and leadership.