The faculty, staff and student trustee positions on the UO Board of Trustees will be up for appointment in spring of 2021 as the incumbents wind down their service. 

Laura Lee McIntyre and Jimmy Murray, the faculty and staff trustees, respectively, will have served two terms and Katharine Wishnia, the student trustee, will graduate this June. Four other board members, all from the board’s inaugural group, also plan to step down this summer.

“While we are excited to welcome new members to the governing board and to get an infusion of new perspective and experience, Katharine, Jimmy and Laura Lee will be greatly missed,” said board Chair Chuck Lillis. “They have been tremendous advocates for the University of Oregon. They each brought very valuable and unique experiences and knowledge to our board work. We will miss their insightful, inquisitive and thoughtful approaches to the many issues that come before the board.”

New appointments to the seats will be made by Gov. Kate Brown and must be confirmed by the Oregon Senate. Individuals interested in applying can find information on the board’s website, which also links to the governor’s executive appointments site. Applications are due to the governor’s office by mid-March, although a specific date has not yet been provided.

“Serving on the board has been an extraordinary and rewarding opportunity,” said McIntyre, professor of school psychology and head of the Department of Special Education and Clinical Sciences. “The role is unique in its breadth and scope given that you are in a fiduciary role for the entire institution, not just representing one particular group or unit or working on one particular topic. This gives you a great opportunity to learn and have an impact.”

The University Senate and the Associated Students of the University of Oregon will each hold an internal process to make a recommendation to the governor on the faculty or student trustee position, respectively. Those processes will be managed by those groups and will be open to all individuals who submit an application to the governor’s office.

Applicants will be contacted directly by those organizations, and the process will likely take place in late March, following the deadline to apply. The step is not a required part of the executive appointments process, but it can assist the governor’s office and help build early relationships between shared governance bodies and prospective appointees.

In addition to the dedicated campus positions, a handful of at-large positions also will be up for appointment as four long-serving trustees transition off the board. Peter Bragdon, Andrew Colas, Allyn Ford and Joe Gonyea have decided to step down when their terms expire June 30.  All four were part of the inaugural board appointments from fall 2013 and decided that now is a good time to step down to allow an infusion of new blood into the governing board.

“Peter, Andrew, Allyn and Joe have all been there since the beginning and I speak for the entire board when I say that they will be missed,” said trustee Ginevra Ralph, who serves as board vice chair. “They have been exceptional trustees and have brought great care, passion, thoughtfulness and experience as the board got started and has tackled tough issues.”

The at-large positions also are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state Senate, and the application process is the same as that for the campus-based positions.

Those interested in any position should email the board’s office at trustees@uoregon.edu to get more information..