spark

Our Mission

Shorthand for “Arts + Science @ OSU,” SPARK is a yearlong celebration of the interdisciplinary, collaborative and ingenious work that’s possible when the arts and science come together. Throughout campus, Corvallis and the state, SPARK explores the heart of Oregon State University’s mission: the continuous search for new knowledge and solutions.

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Gallery

Partners

national science bowllane artsart works

the cocorvallis school districtomsi

sea grantthe arts centerwetlands conservancy

Meet the Team

anne bahde

celene carillo

gildha cummings

debbie farris

claire meints

charles robinson

Claire Meints
Claire is a digital native, entrenched in web communications and social media. In the past she has been a climate and social justice organizer, communicating social issues to the general public and running political campaigns. Later she worked as an event coordinator in a local bookstore, hosting authors from around the country for book readings. Truly what is most important is her cat, Captain Malcolm Reynolds.

Charles Robinson
Charles is currently OSU faculty in the arts and engagement, but in past lives an archivist, IT manager, and an editor. Charles now refinishes furniture on the side, spends way too much time searching for used vinyl, and when not chasing/being chased by his booming family, focuses on building new and rewarding interdisciplinary and engagement programming at OSU. Art+Science!!!

Gildha Cumming
Gildha is the Director of Admissions and Communications for the Honors College. She loves spreading the word about the awesome Honors College here at Oregon State. Before joining OSU in 2008 Gildha worked as a career education liaison, photographer, and graphic designer. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with family including her three cats: Bagheera, Romeo, and Yoda. She also loves photography and and exploring new places (mostly in the countryside but cities are cool too).

Debbie Farris
Hailing from Ohio with stops in New Orleans, New Jersey, Pittsburgh, and DC along the way, Debbie Farris joined Oregon State nearly three years ago to lead marketing and communications efforts for the College of Science. She brings more than 20 years of marketing experience in higher education, for-profit education corporations and online banking and technology. Her passions are writing, teaching, yoga, reading southern literature, home brewing iced coffee and making Italian pastries. She lives in Corvallis with a husband and a dog.

Anne Bahde
Anne curates the rare book collections and the history of science collections in the Special Collections and Archives Research Center in OSU's Valley Library. In this position, she works with students and faculty in both the arts and sciences to integrate unique, historical materials into scholarship and teaching. Her research interests include primary source literacy, data visualization, and the book history and print culture of the late 19th century.

Celene Carillo
Celene is the Communications Director for the College of Liberal Arts, where she promotes the value of the liberal arts in today’s world, as well as the opportunities the liberal arts at Oregon State offers students. To Celene, Oregon State gives liberal arts students the chance to get an excellent education and also pursue their passions in other fields, whether it’s microbiology, oceanography or engineering. She holds a Master’s degree in Journalism from the University of Oregon, and a Bachelor’s degree in English from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ. In her spare time, you can find her in the woods, her garden, or on her couch with a good book.

Leif Larson
Leif is an undergraduate student at OSU, where he is pursuing a double degree in both history and in education. He wants to teach high school social studies and one day be a principal. He enjoys running, reading, and photography, but most of all being outside. He likes to spend his weekends adventuring in new places.