OSU Voices

Queen Dash is a recent graduate who studied human development and family sciences with an option in human services and a minor in business and entrepreneurship. Dash, originally from Salem, engaged with the Black Student Union and participated in IM basketball and flag football as a student. She also served as vice president of the Zeta Phi Beta sorority and the Associated Students of Oregon State University’s executive director of diversity programs. To learn about OSU’s ongoing efforts to create enriching and diverse educational environments, connect with the Office of Institutional Diversity or Diversity and Cultural Engagement.

Q. What are three random things about you?
I love to play basketball.
I sing.
I may be small but I eat a lot.

Q. What makes OSU special?
For me, it was the campus that made OSU special. Being in a true college town sets it apart from many other schools.

Q. What do you love about Oregon State?
I love the friendliness of people at OSU. When I first came here, I needed help navigating where I was going and people were so willing to help.

Q. Why did you choose your major?
I chose HDFS because I have always wanted to help people get out of bad situations, and I felt that this major would give me that opportunity.

Q. What Oregon State experience took you by surprise and why?
I’ve lived in Oregon basically my whole life and I knew there was a small population of people of color, but the high school I went to wasn’t like that at all. Coming to OSU was surprising because the black population was about 1 percent and I actually had to seek out places where people looked like I did.

Q. What is your favorite memory at OSU?
Storming the court when our OSU men’s basketball team beat University of Arizona.

Q. Where is your favorite place to study?
If it is nice, then outside on the balcony of Java Stop; if it’s not, then outside the Lonnie B. Harris Black Cultural Center or in the Beth Ray Center near a window.

Q. What class have you enjoyed most at Oregon State?
Multicultural Issues in Education was a great class. I would recommend it to every student. I also really enjoyed Animal Science, mainly when we went out in the field because I got to see many animals and stick my arm in a cow’s stomach.

Q. What is the best way for you to de-stress?
I love sports, so going to Dixon and playing basketball is my best way to de-stress.

Q. How have your experiences outside of the classroom impacted you?
Being a person of color I am more prone to attend events that are hosted by cultural resource centers and that has always been a fun and influential experience. I also enjoy hanging out with my friends who take my mind off of school.

Q. Has your time at OSU changed the way you think?
I think it has. When I first came, I didn’t want to get involved with much because I wanted to focus on school. As soon as I saw that I wasn’t doing enough, everything changed for the better and I am doing things that I never thought I would have the chance to do. I have also met so many people that I am close with now.