Name: Lynn Long

Position: Wasco County Extension

Hometown: The Dalles now, but I grew up in S.E. Portland.

# of years at OSU: 26

Best part of your job: As part of my job I have had the opportunity to give invited presentations on sweet cherry production in Australia, Canada, Chile, China, Italy, Germany, Greece, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Moldova, Norway, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Turkey and Uzbekistan.

Something someone might be surprised to know about you: I am 6’ 4” tall but I own a classic Mini that I take to car shows throughout Central Oregon and Washington.

Favorite book/movie/album: Favorite movie: The Bourne Series, especially the drive through the alps in the classic Mini in Bourne Identity. I would love to take an extended road trip with my classic Mini someday.

Name: Deborah H. John

Position: Assistant Professor, College of Public Health and Human Sciences; Faculty, OSU Extension Family and Community Health Program

Hometown: New Orleans, Louisiana

# of years at OSU:

1999-2004 OSU Doctoral Student and Instructor
2009 – present Assistant Professor

Best part of your job: My work focuses on participatory research and education with people in the contexts that they live, work, learn, and recreate to mobilize Extension audiences to achieve healthy people and places. The best part of my job is that it is public health – protecting and improving the health of populations and communities through education, promoting healthy lifestyles, and applied research for disease and injury prevention.  I appreciate and enjoy engaging people and groups whose voices and vision are underrepresented, and providing a venue for shaping community health actions, environments, and policies that are holistic, sustainable, and just.

Something someone might be surprised to know about you: I owned an art gallery in Louisiana and have an extensive art collection. I owned a fitness center in Florida and was a competitive body builder. I dance Zydeco and cook Creole – I like to share both with good friends and family.

Favorite book/movie/album: I’m an avid reader and have many favorite books; no favorite movies; and, without a doubt, Dr. John’s In the Right Place is my favorite album.

Name: Dianna Fisher

Position: Director, Open Educational Resources & Emerging Technologies

Hometown: Somewhere on Cape Cod, Massachusetts

# of years at OSU: 13

Best part of your job: The best part of my job is that it changes, not just every day, but during the course of the day!

Something someone might be surprised to know about you: 

I spent a significant portion of my adult life living in Berlin, Germany doing cryptography for NSA during the Cold War.

I used to be a competitive figure skater.

I am obsessed with bikes – mountain bikes and road bikes.

Favorite book/movie/album:

Movie –Goonies – No question. Best Movie Ever.

Album – I really only listen to music while running. I like silence otherwise.

Name: Lynette Black

Position: 4-H Youth Development, Wasco County, OSU Extension Service

Hometown: The Dalles

# of years at OSU: 9

Best part of your job: Everything! I love the variety this job affords me. Though there are many events and activities we do yearly (like camps and fair), they are never the same because different challenges and benefits arise each year. I enjoy working with people of all ages from children to senior citizens. People are the spice of life!

Something someone might be surprised to know about you: I was destined to be 4-H Faculty. My life experiences have prepared me for this position by shaping me into a well-rounded person (which, I understand, is better than a well-squared person). My childhood was spent participating and living the 4-H program (9 year 4-H member and daughter, niece and grand-niece of Extension Agents). Question for those who know me – What is my legal name and/or my given name? I don’t “go” by either of them.

Favorite book/movie/album: I love books and would be hard pressed to share a favorite. I enjoy a good story based on history, on psychology, on disasters… I am not a good movie watcher – I’d rather read the book. With that said my favorite movie is Fiddler on the Roof. I like ‘oldies’ songs that have a moral to the story. Harry Chapin was one of my favorite artists.

Name: Jenny Ahlers Rudolph

Position: Instructor, Extension Family & Community Health, Columbia County Extension Service Office

Hometown: Southlake, Texas

# of years at OSU: Just celebrated my 10^th year with OSU Extension!   I started in February of 2003 as an AmeriCorps Member doing health and safety outreach to migrant farmworkers out of the Washington County Extension Service office.

Best part of your job: I really love that I get to learn new things every day in my job.  I’ve done everything from teaching Spanish-speaking farmworkers how to use a backpack pesticide applicator, to teaching folks how to safely can their own salsa.  I’ve also had some wonderful mentors in Extension that have given me the skills and knowledge I needed to help me grow as a professional.

Something someone might be surprised to know about you: I once leapt from a 40 foot high waterfall in the Amazon rainforest.  The resulting wedgie was truly epic.  What can I say – people do stupid things when they’re 20!

Favorite book/movie/album:

Books: Anything written by or about Jane Austen.

Movies: Sense and Sensibility, Emma, Pride and Prejudice, and (of course) Clueless.

I also love blues and jazz music.

Name: Nicole Strong

Position: Master Woodland Manager Program Coordinator; Women Owning Woodlands Program Coordinator; Senior Instructor, Forestry and Natural Resources

Hometown: I was a military “brat”; we lived all over the world. I’ve lived in Oregon longer then anywhere, and I consider this Home.

# of years at OSU: 8

Best part of your job: The people! Our clients are so inspiring, their creativity, dedication to forest stewardship, and their achievements in their non-forestry lives never ceases to astound me. Working statewide, I get to some pretty beautiful and remote places. I’m also really grateful for my co-workers. People go into Extension because they care about helping communities and people, and getting to collaborate with such positive people makes all the weekends and evenings worth it.

Something someone might be surprised to know about you: Most of the forestry community knows me for hurdling myself up and down mountains via bikes and skis, but they probably would be surprised to know that I play classical piano, and am an avid fan of the Central Oregon Symphony.

Favorite book/movie/album: Two of my favorite artists hail from the Pacific Northwest, Tom Robbins and Brandi Carlisle.

Name: Melissa Whitney

Position: Enrollment Services Specialist, Extended Campus

Hometown: McMinnville, Oregon

# of years at OSU: 2 years

Best part of your job: I get to talk to prospective students from all over the world, every day! Being someone who went back to school later in life, I feel like I can really relate to the stories I hear from people working hard to accomplish their life goal of completing their education. Enrollment Services is the first point of contact for prospective students, and it is awesome to work with such an amazing team who want to make sure they have the best first impression of Oregon State Ecampus possible.

Something someone might be surprised to know about you: I absolutely love swimming. I swam butterfly for my high school varsity swim team for 4 years and have swam across the Columbia River three times. I love to travel and have been to 26 states and 10 countries. I also like to explore and photograph ghost towns.

Favorite book/movie/album: My favorite book is my ‘Weird Oregon’ book, my favorite movies (because I can’t pick just one) are Return of the Jedi, The Count of Monte Cristo, Napoleon Dynamite, The Goonies, Shawshank Redemption, Indiana Jones and Billy Madison, to name a few. Music is a pretty big part of my life, so I don’t know if I could begin to pick a favorite album, but I love the Beatles album Rubber Soul.