Erlinda Gonzales-Berry joined the Oregon State University faculty in 1997 as chair of the Ethnic Studies Department, a position she held until her retirment in December 2007. Gonzales-Berry specialized in teaching Latino literature and culture; published extensively on Chicano and Nuevomexicano literature and culture; and conducted research on immigration from Mexico to the United States. Prior to her appointment at OSU, she was a professor of Spanish and Chicano/Latino Culture and Literatures at the University of New Mexico, where she also served as chair of the Department of Spanish and Portuguese. She earned her BA, MA, and PhD degrees from the University of New Mexico. She served on the Oregon Commission for Hispanic Affairs, several MLA boards, the New Mexico Endowment for the Humanities board, and the National Advisory Board of the U.S. Latino Literary Heritage Project.
Melvin Cutler was a professor in the Oregon State University Physics Department from 1963 until his retirement in 1988. Cutler earned his Ph.D. in chemistry from Columbia University in 1951 and was employed at the Hughes Aircraft Semiconducor Laboratory and the General Dynamics Company from 1951 to 1958 researching liquid semiconductors. Cutler specialized in the study of the electronic properties of molecular liquids and was particularly interested in the development of liquid semiconductors. Cutler died in Corvallis in 2005.
Duane Johnson worked with the Extension Service for 41 years, 1959-2000. Johnson held several positions including Acting Program Leader and State 4-H Leader.
Thayne Dutson was the Dean of Agricultural Sciences from 1993-2008 and Director of the Agricultural Experiment Station from 1987-2008. Dutson's research focuses included enzymes and muscle tissue. Dutson helped expand the OSU Seafood Laboratory in Astoria and established the Food Innovation Center in Portland.
John Leffel was an OSU Extension agent for 30 years, 1962-1992. Leffel worked in numerous counties including Multnomah, Washington, Yamhill, Polk, and Clackamas County. Leffel's focus was livestock and crops.