Brian Wilkinson, ’03, graduated from Oregon State University with a B.S. in exercise and sports science. Since then, he has worked as a physical therapist, primarily in physical therapy education. Associate Professor and interim Director in the School of Physical Therapy and Athletic Training at Pacific University.. He now serves as Associate Professor and interim Director in the School of Physical Therapy and Athletic Training at Pacific University.
Jessica Flesher, ’13, earned her Honors Bachelor of Science in Biology from Oregon State University. Since graduating, she has pursued a career in medical research and now works as a Dermatology Research Fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School.
Tari Tan, ’08, graduated with a degree in biochemistry/biophysics and was a member of the University Honors College. Since then, she has built a career focused on advancing graduate education and academic innovation. She now serves as assistant dean for educational innovation and scholarship in the Office for Graduate Education and as a Lecturer on Neurobiology at Harvard Medical School, where she works to improve graduate training through faculty development and the integration of evidence-based teaching practices into courses and curricula.
Dylan McDowell, ’14, graduated from Oregon State University with Honors Bachelors of Science degrees in fisheries and wildlife and in education. Since then, he has built a career at the intersection of environmental policy, science communication and public service. He now serves as the CEO of the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators (NCEL), a nonpartisan nonprofit that supports a nationwide network of state lawmakers working on environmental issues.
Ravi Puri, ’99, graduated from Oregon State University with a B.S. in philosophy and a minor in business. Since then, he has earned his J.D. from Lewis & Clark Law School and built a career at the intersection of business, technology and the law. He now serves as Senior Director and Assistant General Counsel at SanDisk, where he supports product development, marketing, sales and e‑commerce teams in launching innovative data‑storage products, with a focus on business law, product compliance, contracts and regulatory matters.
Grace Knutsen, ’24, graduated from Oregon State University with an H.B.A in history, French, and German. She is now pursuing a Master of Library and Information Science with a concentration in archival studies while working as a relationship insights analyst at the OSU Foundation. Previously, she contributed to the Special Collections and Archives Research Center on campus, and she remains passionate about making higher education accessible and impactful for students and the global community.
Former ASOSU President Carissa O’Donnell, '24, graduated from Oregon State University with an H.B.S. in environmental economics and policy. Since then, she has earned an M.A. in climate and society from Columbia University's Climate School and now serves as a legislative fellow with the New York State Senate. In this Q&A, Carissa shares what she’s reading, reflects on her time in the Honors College and offers advice for students looking to make a meaningful impact.
