Board of Advisors

Board of Advisors List

Mission Statement

The purpose of the Department of Geosciences Board of Advisors (BOA) is to provide energy, ideas and focus to the continued development of the geosciences department. The insights, ideas and encouragement of its leading alumni and friends are crucial to our continued professional growth in our continuously changing science.

The Department of Geosciences has a responsibility to assure that Oregon State University offers a compelling learning experience to all students at all levels. The diverse mission of the department includes basic and applied research on the full range of geoscience issues, in addition to service and outreach to the citizens of the state of Oregon, the nation and the world. Our goals must be equally diverse in encompassing the creation of an exciting research and teaching environment for the faculty and students that provides access to the state of the art tools necessary to train the new generation of geoscientists and keep Oregon State University in the forefront of geosciences research.

The Board of Advisors can help us to achieve those goals by:

• contributing their expertise and counsel;
• being advocates for the department within the university and with the alumni;
• being advocates for the department within the profession, Oregon and the nation;
• advising the department on the formulation of long-term goals;
• providing feedback and advice to improve curriculum and expand instructional resources;
• providing the department the perspective of other institutions and from the non-academic sectors of society;
• identifying new sources of support and help in organizing fundraising campaigns.

The Department of Geosciences Board of Advisors will meet twice a year in the spring and fall. These meetings will feature dialogue between board members, faculty and students; and will stimulate ideas and plans for a strong department. The board may be solicited for advice on specific key issues.

The board includes 14 to 24 members with a self-selected chair. Membership for a four year term on the board (with an option for reappointment) will be by invitation by the Chair of the Department of Geosciences upon the nomination of the faculty or program directors.

Who are the members of the Board of Advisors?

The members of the Board of Advisors are alumni and friends of the Department of Geosciences. All are individuals who have been successful in their own careers and hope to share that experience with the department. Members include representatives from industry, academia and government as well as several who have retired from highly successful careers.

What are the responsibilities of a board member?

Members are expected to attend as many board meetings as their busy schedules make possible. Members are not charged dues, but expenses incurred as part of the activities of the board are normally borne by the members. This includes travel, food and lodging. Members help the department to fulfill its educational, research and teaching mission. This includes working with the faculty by providing advice and council on issues large and small.

How does one become a member of the Board?

The nomination process to the geosciences Board of Advisors goes through the chair of the Department of Geosciences. Nominations for new board members can be submitted to the department chair by members of the faculty, by other board members, by the department chair or anyone may volunteer. The department chair will then poll members of the faculty and the board who may know the candidate. If the chair feels the candidate is acceptable, the individual will be invited to join the board for a term of 4 years.