Becky Johnson, interim president of Oregon State University, will give the commencement address at OSU-Cascades’ graduation ceremony on June 12.
Johnson served as vice president of OSU-Cascades from 2009 until 2021, when she was appointed the first woman to lead OSU.
“We are thrilled to welcome Becky back to Central Oregon for OSU-Cascades’ 21st commencement ceremony and, fittingly, for the first commencement ceremony to be held on the campus she made possible,” said Andrew Ketsdever, interim vice president of OSU-Cascades. “As a trailblazer in higher education, a champion for students and an ambassador for Central Oregon, she will have a powerful message for the class of 2022.”
The commencement ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. within the oval green.
Johnson came to OSU-Cascades when it was located in a leased building on the Central Oregon Community College campus. During her tenure, OSU-Cascades secured state and philanthropic funding that helped transform it to a four-year campus of Oregon State. In 2016, she oversaw the opening of the OSU-Cascades campus, which was the first public university campus to open in the state in 50 years.
“Becky’s visit will be a celebration for OSU-Cascades graduates and families and for Central Oregon,” said Rod Ray, chair of the OSU-Cascades Advocacy and Advisory Board. “Her leadership in the development of OSU-Cascades has been nothing short of remarkable and her efforts have significantly enhanced Central Oregon.”
Since OSU-Cascades was founded in 2001, more than 4,700 students, the majority from Central Oregon, have received bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Bend campus.
About OSU-Cascades: Oregon State University’s campus in Bend brings higher education to Central Oregon, the fastest growing region in the state. Surrounded by 2.5 million acres of mountains and high desert, OSU-Cascades is a top-tier research university where small classes accelerate faculty-student mentoring. Degree programs meet industry and economic needs in areas such as innovation and entrepreneurship, natural ecosystems, health and wellness, and arts and sciences, and prepare students for tomorrow’s challenges. OSU-Cascades is expanding to serve 3,000 to 5,000 students, building a 128-acre campus with net-zero goals.