Portland State Magazine Spring 2009

ALUMNI NOTES Bringing solutions off the hill HOW DO SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERIES become products that benefit the world? Ask Kristin Rencher '96, MBA '04. Her work at Oregon Health & Science University helps make this happen. "OHSU scientists have created lots of solutions and research discoveries in search of a problem," says Rencher, associate director of the university's Office ofTechnology and Research Colette Livermore '93 is a board member for Loaves & Fishes, a nonprofit that provides meals ro seniors liv– ing in Porcland. She lives in Portland wirh her husband, Jeffrey Livermore '87. Brent E. Turvey '93 is a senior partner, forensic scientist, and criminal profiler with Forensic Solutions in Sitka, Alaska. Turvey has served as an expert witness in criminal trials around the world. He is also an adjunct professor in the department of criminology at Oklahoma City University and in the graduate criminology department at Bond University in Gold Coast, Australia. Collaborations. "The challenge is to figure out which ones will translate into real solutions that benefit mankind." One such discovery has transformed the treatment for a par– ticular type of stom– ach cancer. OHSU's Brian Druker M.D. has found a way to "per– sonalize" drugs for each patient so that they Sheila Selkregg PhD '94 is a full-time faculty member in the public administration master's program at University ofAlaska Anchorage. Selkregg is also the owner of a planning and community development firm. She lives in Anchor- age with her three children. Addam Stell '94 is a principal dancer with the New Jersey Tap Dance Ensemble, based in Bloomfield, New Jersey. Srell, who has been dancing since age 7, also owns his own company, Tap Cars, and is a member of the Foot and Fiddle Dance Company in New York City. attack just the cancer cells, leaving healthy cells alone. Another discovery has resulted in collaboration between Intel and OHSU that may free millions from the constraints of diseases like Alzheimer's. The institutions are using new tech– nology to wire the homes and even the clothing ofAlzheimer's patients. Caregivers will know where a patient is, if that patient has fallen, and even if medication was taken. This will enable people to live independently for as long as possible. Ir is Rencher's job to determine if projects such as these are patentable and analyze potential markets. If a discovery looks promising, she puts together a compelling case to convince a company ro license the technology and develop it into a product. The 44-year-old mother of three got what she calls her dream job by working as an intern at OHSU through Portland State's MBA program. Rencher's advanced degree and her background in science and business enabled her to quickly rise to her position as associate director. "I had no idea a job like this existed until I was in the MBA program," she says. "The program presented me with this opportunity and it turned out co be the perfect intersection of science and business for me. I've found my career nirvana." ■ BY BOBBIE HASSELBRING Helen Young '94, EdD '06 is a board member of the Autism Society of Oregon and a PSU special education faculty mem– ber. Young is also program coor– dinator for the Oregon Regional Programs Autism Training Sires Project. She lives in Portland with her husband, Creigh- ton Young '78, MSW '80. Michael P. Brown MS '95 has joined Samaritan Health Ser– vices urgent care clinics. Brown completed his medical educa– tion at Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine in San Francisco and his residency training in family medicine ar Oregon Health & Science University. He lives in Salem. '96 Laura Cailloux MBA '95 is the dean of workforce education at Skagit Valley College in Mount Vernon, Washington. Cai lloux is responsible for managing the college's 26 professional and technical programs. Rebecca Childs MSW '95 is the housing program manager for Northwest Pilot Project, an advocate agency for home- less seniors in Portland. Jamae Hilliard Creecy MPA '95 received an Administrator's Excellence Award in employee development from Bonneville Power Administration in March. Creecy is a policy and planning manage. SPRING 2009 PORTLAND STATE MAGAZINE 25