Name: Rebecca Harver

Position: Volunteer Coordinator – Oregon Sea Grant

Hometown: Portland, OR

# of years at OSU: 6

Best part of your job: In addition to working alongside wonderful colleagues, I have the pleasure of working with enthusiastic volunteers, the public, and a variety of fascinating marine animals. Being based at the Hatfield Marine Science Center in such a dynamic environment allows me to learn something new everyday, which definitely keeps my position fresh and exciting.

Something someone might be surprised to know about you: I would karaoke everyday if I had the time and access!

Favorite book/movie/album: I have several favorites in each of these categories but felt greatly impacted years ago when I read the book Ishmael by Daniel Quinn. My favorite album of 2013 was Hummingbird by Local Natives. Most of my favorite movies feature Bill Murray

Name: Dave Landkamer

Position: Sea Grant Aquaculture Extension Specialist

Hometown: White Bear Lake, Minnesota

# of years at OSU: 3 Years, Master’s Degree in Aquaculture; 1 Year, current position

Best part of your job: The best part of my job is walking out on the mudflats at low tide to work with oysters, clams, and the hardworking shellfish farmers who collaborate with nature to supply us with delicious seafoods. Aquaculture is such a diverse topic, and I like the variety of projects that come to me; everything from farming mussels, koi, shrimp, trout, and aquarium fish to salmon enhancement and aquaponics.

Something someone might be surprised to know about you:  In another fork of my professional career, I was a National Park Service interpretive ranger, working at Anasazi archaeological sites in the southwest, and studying the meanings that people make from their experiences at those sites.

Favorite book/movie/album:

My favorite albums today: Ronn McFarlan, The Scottish Lute; Jethro Tull,The Best of Acoustic Jethro Tull

My favorite books today: J. R. R. Tolkein, Lord of the Rings Trilogy; Christina Eisenberg, The Wolf’s Tooth: Keystone Predators, Trophic Cascades, and Biodiversity.

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.