Andrea Goering

 Instructor in Physics

Andrea Goering joined the Department of Physics in 2023 and has quickly become a standout educator, building inclusive and innovative pedagogical practices while creating new opportunities for community partnerships and growth. She’s worked to promote positive student experiences in STEM, as well as developing and sharing Open Educational Resources, which leads to financial savings for students and resources for faculty members teaching introductory astronomy courses. 

Beyond the classroom, Goering actively builds community through outreach events and mentorship programs, including her work with the North Star Project. Her commitment to inclusive, research-informed teaching and her leadership in educational innovation are already making a lasting mark. 

Katie Lynch

Co-Director, Environmental Leadership Program 

Katie Lynch has dedicated nearly two decades to shaping the Environmental Leadership Program as its director and co-director. In that role, she has forged partnerships with government agencies, nonprofits and schools to create hands-on learning projects that have real-world impact. 

Thanks to Katie’s vision and leadership, the Environmental Leadership Program has become a model for experiential learning and a highly sought-after opportunity for students. She is also an exceptional teacher—deeply committed to active learning and inclusive pedagogy—and consistently draws students to her courses through her engaging approach and dedication to their growth. Her leadership has expanded the reach of environmental education at UO and helped foster the next generation of environmental leaders. 

James Johnson

Oregon Institute of Marine Biology

James Johnson has served as the Facilities Manager at the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology for nearly a decade, and in that time, he has become indispensable. Managing a remote, 80-acre coastal campus with 29 buildings—including an aquarium and a museum—is no small feat. But James makes it all run smoothly. 

He and his team build and renovate facilities, maintain and repair boats and equipment, care for the grounds, and even construct specialized scientific and teaching tools. When unexpected challenges arise—from clogged plumbing to IT issues—Johnson is the one who steps in. He has even been known to step into the kitchen when help is needed. 

CAS Grants Team

Mark Adams, Jacque Albert, Lacey Breaux, Carissa Callihan, Stephanie Gray, Marie Greig, David Harbin, Chris Hogansen, Rachel Janecek, Holly Lakey, Mindy Kirk, Jen Maguire, Sherilyn Mayton, Monica McLellan, Elliot Morgan, Cindy Nelson, Crystal Newton, Lori O’Hollaren, Ashley Rankin, Kasi Smart, Alayne Switzer, Sydney Wensel, and Benisha Young

Since its formation just three years ago, the CAS Grants Team has transformed its operations—dramatically improving efficiency, communication, and service to faculty, and setting a new benchmark for excellence. They’ve offered personalized guidance to faculty, launched cross-campus training and initiatives, crafted creative solutions to funding challenges—and more. 

By clearing backlogs, streamlining workflows, and fostering a strong culture of collaboration, they have significantly enhanced the grant proposal and management process across the college. Their proactive problem-solving and unwavering commitment to faculty success have earned them widespread recognition and made them an essential pillar of UO’s research enterprise.

Kaito Campos de Novais

PhD candidate in Cultural Anthropology

A PhD candidate in the Department of Anthropology, Kaito Campos de Novais’s current dissertation examines queer and trans Latine/x immigrants in the Pacific Northwest, focusing on how they build grassroots organizations for social justice. 

He is also the co-founder of the Multimodal Ethnography Lab and creates films that center representation and belonging. As Diversity GE in the Division of Graduate Studies for three years and currently serving as VP for Internal Affairs of the GTFF, he has led projects to address systemic inequities and support underrepresented students.

His work continues to drive change, build solidarity, and shape policy—both on campus and beyond. 

 Yvette Saavedra

Associate Professor of Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies

Yvette Saavedra is a dedicated scholar, mentor, and leader whose work has had a profound impact on diversity, equity, and inclusion at the University of Oregon and beyond. As an associate professor in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, she has expanded curriculum offerings, mentored underrepresented students, and led initiatives that support faculty of color. 

Saavedra's leadership in the Women of Color Faculty Project, service on numerous DEI-focused committees, and national recognition as a scholar and advocate highlight her unwavering commitment to fostering an inclusive academic environment. Her contributions to DEI efforts, both at UO and nationally, place her at the forefront of these vital initiatives, and her impact continues to resonate across the university community. 

Avinnash Tiwari

Instructor of English

A career instructor in English and the composition program, Avinnash Tiwari has been a passionate advocate for inclusive pedagogy. He’s designed courses that center Black and feminist scholarship, creating a classroom space where underrepresented students can thrive. 

Tiwari has also played a pivotal role in launching the Black Studies Program, he co-chaired the English Department’s Diversity Committee and he spearheaded initiatives like the “Coates Cohort” to integrate discussions of power and difference into first-year composition. 

A dedicated advocate for both faculty and students, Tiwari has worked tirelessly through United Academics and statewide organizations to promote equity in higher education.  

Lori O'Hollaren

CAS Grants

Under Lori O’Hollaren’s leadership, CAS Grants has transformed into a highly efficient and collaborate unit that plays a crucial role in supporting faculty research. She’s worked to streamflow workflows, increase communication across departments and introduce an innovative system that enhances grant administration throughout the college. 

Beyond her technical expertise, O’Hollaren is a dedicated mentor and advocate. She empowers her team and fosters a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement. Her impact extends well beyond CAS Grants; she has strengthened partnerships with Sponsored Projects, Procurement, HR, and other key units, ensuring that faculty receive the support they need to advance groundbreaking research. 

O’Hollaren’s commitment to service, strategic vision and ability to lead through complex challenges have made a lasting impact at the college. 

Emily Simnitt

Senior Instructor II of English

During her time at CAS, Emily Simnitt has worked to transform programs and policies to enhance student learning, faculty support and institutional collaboration. 

As interim director of the Composition Program, Simnitt introduced a mentorship program for new faculty, strengthened shared governance, and led a curriculum redesign to better align with state and institutional priorities. Under her leadership, the Writing, Public Speaking, and Critical Reasoning minor flourished, with enrollment tripling and new opportunities for student engagement.

Simnitt's influence extends far beyond her department. She has shaped campus-wide and statewide educational policies through her service on the Core Education Council, the Higher Education Coordinating Commission, and various faculty learning communities. She is also an advocate for low-cost course materials and her work developing professional development initiatives for faculty. 

Ben Elias

Professor of Mathematics

A journal article in mathematics requires a high level of detail, so it can take years to produce a research publication. But Ben Elias has nonetheless produced a high volume of research. Since 2017, he’s written 29 papers and was a lead co-author of a 588-page book. In 2024 alone, he released eight papers. Besides being a highly productive math researcher, he’s also secured grant funding from prestigious sources such as the New Horizons in Mathematics Prize, the Sloan Research Fellowship and an NSF CAREER award—just to name a few. 

And Elias is known to be dedicated to the classroom at the same time. He invests deeply in course design and student support, which has received student praise. 

His service to the department and university is equally impressive. Elias chairs the department’s climate committee, designed an undergraduate peer mentorship program, and has chaired the faculty search committee for two consecutive years. He has been a strong advocate for inclusive hiring and built meaningful partnerships with the Division of Equity and Inclusion. 

Michael Pluth

Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Throughout his 13 years at CAS, Michael Pluth has built a storied career already. He’s developed an exceptional and prolific research program with more than 100 peer-reviewed publication and edited a book, all of which supported by $6.6 million from grants. He's also devoted to the classroom, excelling as an instructor and a mentor for undergraduate and graduate students. 

Pluth's contributions extend beyond the lab and classroom. Since 2018, he has served as Associate Vice President for Research, playing a vital role in advancing the university’s research mission. 

One especially meaningful example of Pluth's service is the “Mad Duck” science outreach program, which he co-launched with the Shannon Boettcher and Georgy Nazin groups. Designed to engage local students on days when schools were closed due to budget cuts, the program brings K–12 students to campus for hands-on experiments. Now led by Chemistry and Biochemistry student volunteers, it has reached more than 500 young learners. 

Jeanette deJong

Associate Professor of Theatre Arts

Jeanette deJong teaches Costume Design, Costume History, and Costume Technology in the Department of Theatre Arts, providing students with a strong foundation in both theory and hands-on practice. Her courses prepare theatre majors for professional careers while also enriching students from across disciplines through teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving. 

She is a deeply dedicated and supportive teacher who invests time and care into each student’s learning. She works closely with them on projects, offering valuable hands-on experience and personalized guidance. Student reviews consistently highlight her engaging and adaptable teaching style, as well as her commitment to their growth and success.

When it comes to research-informed teaching, deJong has quite literally “written the book” on becoming a costume designer—fact, she has written two. 

Alexander Dracobly

Senior Instructor II of History

Over the past five years, Alex Dracobly has taught 2,927 students across all levels of the Department of History curriculum, from small seminars to large lecture halls. He keeps his lectures engaging and dynamic, which has received rave reviews from his students. 

In fact, one of his students once left a review stating, “I work 40 hours a week and would do anything to change my past so I could take more of his courses.” 

But Dracobly isn’t one to rest on his laurels. He continues to focus on growing in the classroom through the Teaching Excellence Program and shares what he learns with his colleagues. His dedication to ongoing improvement and to creating the best possible learning experience for students is truly remarkable.

Sara Weston

Associate Professor of Psychology

Sara Weston teaches statistics in the Department of Psychology and is known for being innovative, inclusive, and deeply responsive to her students. She played a critical role in reshaping the first two courses of the department’s graduate statistics sequence to better support student learning. 

Her approach emphasizes conceptual understanding over rote memorization, preparing students to apply statistics in real-world contexts. She’s constantly refining her teaching, identifying areas for improvement and implementing changes each term. As one student put it, “Sara Weston is without a doubt one of the best teachers/lecturers I have ever encountered throughout my educational career.”