Speaker: Di Saunders, Oregon Institue of Technology

The State of Higher Education in Oregon.  Di Saunders is the Associate Vice President for Communications for the Oregon Institute of Technology in Wilsonville.  She joined Oregon Tech in July of 2014.  She manages the university’s external and internal communications strategy and implementation efforts, with a particular focus on OIT’s mission, programs, and new ventures.  Besides working to “operationalize” communications across OIT’s campuses and sites, Di is also helping to prepare for the new Board of Trustees which will be officially charged with governing OIT on July 1, 2015.

Prior to joining Oregon Tech, Di was Director of Communications for the Oregon University System for more than 11 years (2002-2014), was Vice President for Communications & Public Affairs at the Nellie Mae Education Foundation in Boston (1999-2002), and held the same position at Nellie Mae student loan corporation (1987-1999) where she also worked extensively in the area of student loan debt management and research, besides the normal duties in her portfolio. Di worked internationally in Botswana, Africa from 1981 to 1987, first as a secondary school English teacher in the Peace Corps, and later as a private consultant for the Ministries of Education and Local Government and Lands.

Di received a B.A. in English and a Secondary Education Teaching Certificate from Portland State University; and an M.S. in Communications Management at Simmons College in Boston.

A proud third-generation Oregonian, Di lives in Portland with her husband Charles and enjoys her favorite hobby: gatherings with her large extended family!  She recently was induced as a member of the Wilsonville Rotary Club.