PSU Magazine Winter 2004

ALUM NOTES Linda Gerber MS '88, EdD '94 is executive dean of instruction at Mt. Hood Community College in Gresham. Dennis Goodyear is cataloging assistant al the University of Kansas Libraries in Lawrence. Steven Heine is telecommuni– cations manager for the Depart– ment of Consumer and Business Services for the state of Oregon. Heine has authored nine poetry books and served as poetry director for the Oregon State Fair for 16 years. He lives in Salem . Marcia Metroke is vice presi– dent of Capital Pacific Bank in Portland. Dennis Ross is retired from the position of director of profes– sional development for the American Public Works Associa– tion, an international profes– sional association for local, stale, and federal infrastructure man– agers. He and his wife, Susan, are now living in the Sea of Cortez aboard their 43-foot sai l– boat, Two Can Play. Their plans include another year cruising in Mexico before moving on Lo Central America. Denis Wichar MS '78 is retired from teaching physical science al Evergreen High School, where he chaired the science department and led the honors academy. Wichar is now active with Green Party Clark County, Vancouver For Peace, and Ore– gon Museum of Science & Industry. He lives in Vancouver, Washingon. Mary Mertens James has been appointed by Gov. Ted Kulon– goski LO fill a vacancy on the Marion County Circuit Cou rt bench. James previously was a shareholder in the Salem law firm Harrang Long Gary Rud– nick, P.C. She was president of the PSU Alumni Board of Direc– tors in 1998-99 and served on the board from 1995 Lo 1999. Bruce Fisher is a geographic information system (G!S) spe– cialist with the U.S. Geological Survey. Fisher also serves as the Oregon district water use spe– cialist. He lives in Milwaukie. W. "Randy" Houston owns Randys Auto Pans and Towing in Okanogan, Washingon. JoAnn Ross Cunningham MA participated in a cultural exchange program as a Ful– bright Memorial Fund scholar in Ocwber, spending three weeks in Japan. Cunningham has taught English at Haines Borough Schools in Haines, Alaska, for the past 18 years. Steve Hedberg is managing partner of the Perkins Coie Portland office. He is national chair of the law firms' commer– cial transactions practice group and has been a partner with the firm since 1992. Terry Van Allen MST, MPA '88, PhD '94 was named a LOp three national finalist for the Social Services Medal sponsored by the Partnership for Public Services in Washington, D.C. The part– nership recognizes federal employees for community ser– vice. While working fo r the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development since 1998, Van Allen was instrumental in the construction of Public Incor– poration, a nonprofit school of entrepreneurship for impover– ished children in Galveston, Texas. Appointed U.S. marshal of Oregon FTER 27 YEARS WITH THE PORTl.AND POLICE Bureau, Dennis Merrill '74 was intrigued by the prospect of a new post. A friend at the federal courthouse asked him if he'd be interested in the U.S. mar– shal position for the District of Oregon, and Merrill said "yes." Followi.ng a series of interviews, a letter of recommendation from U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith, and a formal nomina– tion from President Bush, in March 2002 Merrill turned in his police badge and walked across the street to the courthouse to assume his new job as a U.S. marshall and join an elite group of only 94 men and women nationwide. The U.S. Marshals Service is the oldest law enforcement agency in the country, having been founded in 1789. It occupies a uniquely central position in the federal 22 PSU MAGAZINE WINTER 2004 justice system that involves its roughly 4,000 deputy mar– shals and career employees in virtually every federal law enforcement initiative. U.S. marshals have four main areas of responsibility, explains Merrill: judicial security, witness security, federal prisoner management, and investigation and apprehension of federal fugitives. In fact, the U.S. Marshal Service arrests and apprehends more federal fugitives than all other fed– eral agencies combined. Merrill and his deputies also undertake other law enforcement-related ventures through specific agreements, and they are currently operating a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area task force to apprehend drug fugitives. No doubt, Merrill's time as assistant chief of investiga– tion for the Portland Police Bureau and his work as a cap– tain within the force helped prepare him for some of the projects he now directs. A native Oregonian, Merrill also has a 32-year history in the Oregon Army National Guard. He is currently a brigadier general and commander of the 82nd Brigade Troop Command in Lake Oswego. Merrill's schedule is daunting, but he likes things just the way they are. "It's been busy but rewarding," says Merrill. "If I had to do it all over again, 1wouldn't do it any differently." -Kelli Fields