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Our current staff & directors
Program Officer
Communications Coordinator
Interim Executive Director and Director of Finance and Operations
Communications and Development Coordinator
Director of Programs
Development Director
Communications Director
Editor of Oregon Humanities magazine
Office Manager
Program Coordinator/Course Director
Chair
Vice Chair
Treasurer
Secretary
Oregon Humanities connects Oregonians to ideas that transform communities.
If you’ve ever learned something that motivated you to write a letter to the editor, volunteer for a nonprofit, start a book group, talk to a neighbor about something you don’t see eye to eye on, or treat someone more compassionately, you know how powerful ideas can be in changing your life and your community.
At Oregon Humanities, we bring Oregonians together to share ideas, to listen, think, and grow. We hope that this experience gives people pause, changes them, and helps them move forward, because a thoughtful, open, curious, active Oregon is also a healthy Oregon.
We value:
Annie joined the staff of Oregon Humanities in 2007. She coordinates the Conversation Project and provides support for Public and Responsive Program Grants. She is constantly amazed at the great work being done by nonprofits statewide. Annie lives in Northeast Portland with her husband and enjoys cooking, gardening, and laughing out loud to British comedy.
Ben joined Oregon Humanities in 2012. He grew up in Scio, Oregon, attended Lewis & Clark College, and spent six years as an editor and theater critic at the Portland newspaper Willamette Week. He lives in Southeast Portland with his wife, Deanna.
Carole’s position with Oregon Humanities combines the love of ideas, words, and logic that help define her. Following an upbringing in small-town Iowa, Carole graduated from the Kansas City Art Institute and started a balancing act of art, financial career, marriage, and motherhood. Twenty-five years ago, she moved to Oregon, where she fell in love with the varied landscape, met her husband, and started her family.
Eloise joined Oregon Humanities in 2011 and supports both the development and communications directors. She received her undergraduate degree from Emory University in Atlanta and her MFA in creative writing from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. She lives in Southeast Portland with her partner, Melissa.
Jennifer has been with Oregon Humanities since 2004, first as education program director and currently as director of programs. She oversees all Oregon Humanities programming and is the primary contact for Think & Drink, Public Program Grants, and organizational partnerships. Jennifer lives in Northeast Portland but hits the road, and rivers, as often as possible.
Kamla Hurst joined Oregon Humanities in October 2009, bringing nearly ten years of experience raising funds for the arts and humanities in Chicago and the Pacific Northwest. As development director, she oversees all of the organization’s fundraising activities, including grant writing, special events, and donor and foundation relationships. She lives in North Portland with her husband, Mark, and sons, Lukas and Oscar.
Kathleen has been with Oregon Humanities since 2001, first as the editor of Oregon Humanities magazine and then, in 2007, becoming communications director. In addition to editing the magazine, she oversees all of the organization’s communications efforts, including printed and online material, audience and media outreach, and marketing activities. She lives in Southeast Portland with her husband, Alex, and their young children, Stella and Emmett, in a century-old, always-under-construction house.
Kristy has contributed to Oregon Humanities magazine since 2003 and joined the staff as office manager in 2011. She supports the executive director, board, and staff, and coordinates the State of Oregon’s Poet Laureate program. She is the author of Get Your Pitchfork On! The Real Dirt on Country Living, from Process Media.
Sarah Van Winkle has worked at Oregon Humanities since 2002, during which time she has supported programs by managing the office and been the project assistant for the re-publication of The First Oregonians. Sarah is currently the course director for Humanity in Perspective. She and her husband, Thomas, live in Southeast Portland with their dog, Persephone, and child, Penelope Anne.
Links for this section
December 13 2012
Kathleen Holt
Wendy Willis, author of Blood Sisters of the Republic, has an ambitious winter reading list: “On my nightstand are the beautiful books of two friends—Kim Stafford’s 100 Tricks Every Boy Can Do: A Memoir and... More
December 11 2012
Kathleen Holt
Jewel Lansing, coauthor with Fred Leeson of Multnomah: The Tumultuous Story of Oregon’s Most Populous County, says, “My favorite place to read is an overstuffed chair overlooking green lawn and trees where... More
December 10 2012
Kathleen Holt
James Bernard Frost, author of A Very Minor Prophet, confesses: “My current man crush is on Dan DeWeese, whose short story collection Disorder recently hit bookstores. No one writes about males and conflict... More
December 07 2012
Kathleen Holt
Lois Leveen, author of TThe Secrets of Mary Bowser, says this of her winter reading plans:
“During dark December I’ll be curling up with Alice Munro’s new book, Dear Life: Stories. I don’t write like her. I... More
December 06 2012
Eloise Holland
After participating in Oregon Humanities’ Idea Lab Summer Institute, high school senior Lauren Babcock wondered how people in her community would measure their own happiness.
Inspired by artist Jonathan... More
Selected by staff and colleagues
