Mission of the OA Council

The OA Council (OAC) is committed to advocating for the needs of our constituents. The OAC is an elected body that represents the UO’s diverse group of professionals to promote and facilitate communication, identify and address pertinent issues, share information, enhance professional identity, and create opportunities for collegiality. The OAC is structurally situated as an Administrative Committee of the Office of the President.

If you have any questions, concerns, or comments, please do not hesitate to reach out to the OA Council.

 

Latest Newsletter: 

As the new academic year begins, the OA Council is looking forward to continuing our work as advocates for OA’s across campus. The OAC would like to reiterate what was shared with the University Board of Trustees. We acknowledge the difficult reality of recent budget cuts and their impact on our campus community. As you all know, 42 filled OA positions were eliminated, and an additional 21 vacant OA positions were removed. This has and will continue to deeply affect our institution, colleagues, and the students we strive to serve. We recognize the seriousness and weight of this.

We also recognize that the effects of these reductions extend beyond those whose positions were eliminated. Many OAs are concerned that they could be asked to take on additional responsibilities to fill gaps left by the loss of staff. This redistribution of work will require resilience, creativity, and support.

In response to these challenges, the OA Council remains committed to the goals we outlined last academic year: advocating for improvements in compensation, increased access to professional development, and eliminating barriers for flourishing. While these priorities remain unchanged, the OA Council’s strategies and actions will evolve to meet the realities of our new environment. As our newly elected Council begins its work for the 2025–2026 academic year, we are actively assessing how best to support our colleagues and advocate for their needs.

OA Council – 2025/2026

  • Fatma Ali – UO Portland
  • Jon Ambrose – University Career Center
  • Melissa Bowers – College of Arts and Sciences
  • Mel Chambon – University Communications
  • Adrian Sampedro Cruz – Ballmer Institute
  • Nedzer Erilus – University Housing
  • Lara Fernandez – Human Resources
  • Yifang Zhang – College of Arts and Sciences

To begin, we are looking forward to hosting a listening session with President Scholz and other senior University leadership, where OAs will have the opportunity to share their experiences and perspectives directly. We believe this dialogue is essential as we move forward together.

In addition, we are excited to formally announce the recipients of the 2025 OA Star Awards! We had an overwhelming number of nominations. Thank you to all who took the time to showcase the fantastic work so many are doing on our campus.

OA Stars – 2025

  • Betsy Boyd – Government & Community Relations
  • Becky Crabtree – International Student & Scholar Services
  • Shawna Gilbert – Human Resources
  • Katie Harsh – Information Services
  • Celia Nittman – Equal Opportunity and Access
  • Gary Sullivan – Information Services
  • Rick Tabor – Campus Planning & Facilities Management
  • Holly Tate – University Career Center
  • Lisa Thornton – Office of Public Records
  • Jason Younker – Office of the President

The Listening Session and OA Star Awards will be held together, one immediately following the other. Come and share your thoughts with senior leadership and celebrate your colleagues!

President Listening Session & OA Star Award Ceremony

  • Thursday, Oct 30th, 2025
  • 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
  • EMU Ballroom

Lastly, the Council would like to make sure all OAs are aware of the 2025-2026 UO Peer Coaching Program. The program is looking for both peer coaches and coachees. Both roles are open to all, regardless of title or experience. We believe this is a great resource for OAs looking to grow professionally.

UO Peer Coaching Kick-Off

  • Monday, Oct 20th, 2025
  • 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
  • Learn more via MyTrack

We hope you are all able to have a good start to the academic year! If you have any questions, please reach out to oa@uoregon.edu.

Best,
Officers of Administration Council