Meet the Team

Steph Bernell is Dean of Graduate Education. Steph has taught over 80 courses at Oregon State, primarily in the areas of health policy and health economics. Her scholarly work combines a deep interest in health policy and politics, with a desire to use economic tools to address an array of pressing public health problems. Steph’s publications span the gamut of public health issues, including health reform, chronic disease, obesity, and hunger. She is the author of the book, Health Economics: Core Concepts and Essential Tools, Health Administration Press (2016).

Steph earned a bachelor's in economic theory and master's in economics from American University and a Ph.D. in health economics from the Johns Hopkins University.

In his role as Associate Vice Provost of Arts and Humanities, Peter Betjemann is responsible for integrating arts- and humanities-based approaches into the research, teaching, and outreach missions of the University. The primary engine for this work is the Patricia Valian Reser Center for the Creative Arts (PRAx), where he serves as the Patricia Valian Reser Executive Director. The mission of PRAx is to connect the arts and humanities to every discipline at Oregon State University. In addition to presenting performances, lectures, films, readings, and exhibitions, PRAx offers an extensive suite of residency and fellowship programs for OSU faculty as well as for visiting artists and writers. It serves as the home for a variety of relevant programs, including the Center for the Humanities and the Spring Creek Project for Nature and the Written Word.

 Peter is Professor of English and holds degrees from Princeton University (PhD) and Vassar College (BA). His research focuses on the connections of literature to other forms of creative expression, particularly craft, design, and visual art.

As the Strategy and Project Lead, Erin Bird serves as a strategic advisor and project leader within the Division of Academic Affairs (DAA), supporting the Senior Vice Provost (SVP) and DAA leadership team in advancing institutional priorities. This role integrates strategic planning, executive support, stakeholder engagement, project management, and transfer policy support to ensure alignment with Oregon State University’s mission and strategic goals.

Erin also served as the Associate Director of Transfer Pathways and Success providing expertise related to the transfer student experience in designing, developing, and implementing programs and initiatives. This position used qualitative and quantitative analysis and research related to university strategic goals and planning to support decision-making in Academic Affairs, the colleges, and around institutional enhancements around transfer student success. Erin has years of experience both as an Academic Advisor and Student Success coordinator.

Erin earned her Bachelors of Arts in Psychology from Trinity University and a Masters of Science in Kinesiology (Sports Psychology) from Georgia South University.

As the Delpha and Donald Campbell Dean of Libraries at Oregon State  University Libraries and Press (OSULP) Anne-Marie oversees OSU's Valley Library in Corvallis, the Guin Library at the Hatfield Marine Science Center, and the OSU Press. As dean, she builds relationships and facilitates conversations across OSU's academic, student affairs and central administration units to develop sustainable strategies for OSULP to provide equitable and sustainable access to scholarly communication, and the vast array of information tools and resources essential to OSU's teaching, research, and engagement missions.

Anne-Marie grew up in rural Clackamas County, Oregon and joined the OSU library faculty in 2003. She has a Bachelor's Degree in History from the University of Pennsylvania, and a Master's Degree in History from Syracuse University. She completed her Masters of Science in Library degree at Emporia State University's School of Library and Information Management.

As the Special Assistant for the Division of Academic Affairs, Mary provides proactive problem solving, managing projects and tasks to completion, organizes committees meetings and searches, and overall operational support.  Mary coordinates the budgets of the Office of Academic Affairs and it's reporting units. 

Mary Gardner was raised in Southern Oregon. She joined OSU in 2018 after working at Southern Oregon University as the Academic Resource Coordinator. For 20 years, she was an owner operator of an Oregon winery-vineyard. She also spent eight years as an the Accountant/Office Manager at a Fish Processor in Ketchikan, Alaska. Mary holds a Bachelors of Science in Business Management from the University of Oregon.

Alix Gitelman is Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs and Professor of Statistics. She collaborates with the academic deans, the Faculty Senate, and other administrators to advance the university’s goals of offering high quality undergraduate programs onsite, online and in hybrid format; designing diverse, well-supported and affordable pathways to an OSU degree; creating more opportunities for student research and experiential learning; and delivering instruction using leading edge pedagogies and technologies.

Alix received a Bachelors of Art in Computer Science from Columbia University and a Masters of Science in Mathematics from Portland State University. She received Masters of Science and Doctorate of Philosophy degrees in Statistics from Carnegie Mellon University. Her research is in statistical methods for the Environmental and Ecological Sciences.

As the Associate Vice Provost for Faculty Excellence & Executive Director of the Center for Teaching & Learning, Dr. Holmes is a university leader who drives teaching innovation and faculty development at Oregon State University. This role oversees programs that help faculty excel in teaching, research, and leadership, and guides the Center for Teaching and Learning to promote inclusive, evidence-based teaching practices—including the ethical use of AI. By collaborating across campus and leading strategic initiatives, this position ensures faculty are empowered to support student success and advance the university’s mission.

Ashley's background and Ph.D. are in the areas of rhetoric, composition, and the teaching of English. Her research centers around high-impact practices, the scholarship of teaching and learning, and student success. Her passion for faculty development and pedagogy is evident in her body of work and service, and her research-driven approach is central to her leadership. Her recent book, Learning on Location: Place-Based Approaches for Diverse Learners in Higher Education (Routledge, Nov. 2023) draws on her own teaching as well as interviews with faculty across many disciplines in the U.S. and Canada. She brings a depth of experience teaching and mentoring in both undergraduate and graduate courses.

Jason Ideker is a Professor in the School of Civil and Construction Engineering at Oregon State University. Ideker is an internationally recognized expert in alkali-silica reaction (ASR), calcium aluminate cement systems, and low carbon concrete solutions. He and his team investigate ways to improve and develop new ASR test methods that accurately reflect field performance. The group also develops fundamental knowledge regarding ASR mitigation mechanisms. His group is actively investigating early-age volume stability with a focus on influence of temperature and relative humidity in ettringite accelerated systems. The larger concrete materials team at OSU provides industry ready solutions, backed by scientific and engineering principles, to produce low carbon, durable concrete that is fit for purpose and planet.

Ideker is also passionate about teaching and mentoring students. He has taught courses at OSU focusing on civil engineering materials, cement-based materials, and green building materials. He also teaches online having pioneered the development of CCE 422/522 Green Building Materials as an Ecampus course.  Recently Ideker led the overhaul of the first-year engineering experience, now called ENGINEERING+ that incorporates curricular and co-curricular aspects to engage first year students in engineering, allow them to explore different majors, and find the right pathway for them to expeditiously complete their college degree. Ideker regularly teaches first year students in ENGR 110/115 The Oregon State University Student.

As this year's Provost Fellow, Jason is focusing on initiatives to enhance the academic experience and support faculty development. He is actively involved in revising the Promotion and Tenure (P&T) process, ensuring innovation and entrepreneurship are recognized, and improving the P&T website for better navigation and accessibility. Jason will serve as a member of the Division of Academic Affairs leadership team this academic year.

Rebecca Mathern has been involved in higher education for over twenty years. She first learned to collaborate with academic leaders as a student government officer in college, she has served as Dean of Students at a very small non-profit technical school, Registrar of Portland Community College and is currently Associate Provost and University Registrar for Oregon State University.

Rebecca earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Minnesota and continued there to earn an interdisciplinary Master’s Degree focused on organization development and human resources. She has her Doctorate of Philosphy in Public Administration and Policy from Portland State University.

As the Associate Vice Provost, Office of Undergraduate Education at Oregon State University, Dr. Steve Wuhs is the senior leader dedicated to ensuring every undergraduate student—across all campuses and learning modalities—receives a high-quality, impactful education. This role drives student success and educational equity, supports university-wide curricula, strengthens transfer pathways, and integrates experiential learning into the undergraduate experience. The AVP also upholds academic integrity and partners across colleges, divisions, and statewide institutions to advance student achievement and innovation.

Steve's efforts support the University’s commitment and mission to enhance and expand opportunities for undergraduates to engage in experiential learning and its commitment to increase student success outcomes for all populations of undergraduate students. The AVP portfolio includes the Offices of Global Opportunities, Marine and Coastal Opportunities, Undergraduate Research, University Advising, University Exploratory Studies program, the three Reserve Officer Training Corps units (Airforce, Army, and Navy), and other university-wide programs and initiatives. 

 Dr. Wuhs served as a faculty member for almost 20 years at the University of Redlands. He also served as the Interim Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and Associate Provost for Internationalization, a role in which he oversaw international student support and coordinated university-wide study abroad and overseas risk management. As a scholar of Mexican and Latin American Politics, he served as the chair of the Department of Political Science and Director of both Latin American Studies and International Relations. In various administrative roles he worked on projects related to student success and he advocated for DACA students and Latinx students by leading a campus HSI designation working group and grant writing team. He recently participated in La Academia de Liderazgo, a leadership academy run by the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities. 

Consulting with unit leaders and other stakeholders Katheryn develops and maintains OSU's University Policies and Standards, which are published in the University Policy and Standards Manual. These governance documents express the goals, values, and culture of the university and collectively, provide the authority and guidance that is required to achieve the university’s mission, and outline the relevant responsibilities to the university community.  

Before joining Oregon State University in April 2022, Katheryn served as the associate provost for academic affairs and was a member of the faculty at The National Judicial College. Katheryn is an active member of the Oregon State Bar and holds a Doctor of Jurisprudence from Willamette University College of Law and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Oregon.  

Contact with questions about:

Best practices in drafting University Policies, University Standards, unit rules, and procedures.  

Ideas you may have for new University Policies or Standards, or suggestions for revising or retiring existing ones.  

How to apply existing policies to factual scenarios to analyze impact.  

Whether the university has a University Policy or Standard on a particular subject, or whether there is other governance that might help to guide decision-making.