Your digital hub to stay connected to the OSU community.

A feast of OSU stories

The Winter 2026 Oregon Stater has arrived — and it’s one you’ll want to sink your teeth into. The special food issue explores the flavors, ideas and innovations shaping the way Oregon State grows, brews, bakes and nourishes communities near and far. From the science behind what we love to eat, to the alumni and researchers redefining food in Oregon and beyond, this issue is packed with stories worth savoring.

EVENTS

•    •    •    •    •

Ask Alumni how to thrive

Whether you want to start your own business, advance in your line of work or strengthen inclusivity in the workplace, Ask Alumni can help. Join an upcoming webcast for free career insights from Beavers.

• Jan. 21 – Jumpstarting an Entrepreneurial Career
• Feb. 12 – From Data to Decisions: Turning Research into Real-World Impact
• Feb. 18 – Thriving with Neurodiversity in the Workplace

Dam Good times are brewing | Feb. 21 and more dates

Dam Good Connections returns this spring. Explore fascinating topics, expand your professional network and meet local Beaver friends. Mark your calendar for stops in Oregon, California and Washington — registration is coming soon for events exploring everything from wine research to women’s athletics. First up: Registration is open now for the Bay Area meetup, featuring a fin-tastic shark necropsy (dissection of a shark that died of natural causes in the wild) live with the Big Fish Lab.

Travel Talks: Adventure isn’t always far away

Three new Alumni Travel Program webcasts with OSU experts bring the world to you. Explore the wonders of nature, culture and companionship, across the globe or right at home.

• Feb. 3: Travel to OSU's Campus Arboretum with Dan Blanchard
• March 10: Guided Wine Tasting with Elizabeth Tomasino
• May 12: From Savannah to Sofa: What Wild Cats Can Teach Us About Our Feline Companions

More events

adidas Employee Store Shopping for OSUAA Members | Now – Dec. 31
In person
Strut into savings. From sneakers to sweats, OSU Alumni Association members get 50% off retail on most items in the adidas Employee Store through Dec. 31. Not a member yet? Join today.

Enhancing Public Health Through Wastewater Surveillance | Jan. 6
Online
From bird flu to COVID to measles, Oregon’s wastewater holds big clues for public health. Join College of Engineering Professor Tyler Radniecki to learn how Oregon built one of the nation’s strongest wastewater surveillance systems and where it’s headed next.

44th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration | January 19 – 31
In person
Join OSU in honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy of transformative change with a variety of events designed to educate, inspire and engage the community, including the Jan. 19 Kings Return concert.

Men’s Basketball Pregame Reception @ Saint Mary’s | Jan. 21
In person
Bay Area Beavs, let’s rally in Moraga, California! Enjoy food and beverages and a special California Beavs sticker while connecting with alumni, friends and fans before cheering on the Beavs against Saint Mary's.

Meredith Broussard: Confronting Bias in AI | Jan. 28
In person
Attend a free talk in the Just AI series featuring Meredith Broussard — associate professor of journalism at New York University and author of More Than a Glitch: Confronting Race, Gender, and Ability Bias in Tech and the award-winning book Artificial Unintelligence: How Computers Misunderstand the World.

OSU Innovation and Design Network Industry Connect | Jan. 31
In person
Shape the future of design. Join the Innovation and Design Network at the OSU Portland Center to mentor students, share insights and connect with fellow industry leaders.

Austin, Texas, Beaver Meetup | Feb. 2
In person
Get ready for shuffleboard games and raffle prizes — plus a talk with local design legend DJ Stout, one of the most celebrated editorial designers of our time, who will share his experience designing the award-winning Oregon Stater alumni magazine.

Women’s Basketball Pregame Meetup @ University of Portland | Feb. 7
In person
The Beavs and Pilots haven’t clashed since that Sweet 16 spring showdown — fuel up with light bites and Beaver spirit at a family-friendly pregame meetup before this electric rematch tips off!

Surprise, Arizona, Baseball Tailgate | Feb. 14 – SOLD OUT
In person
Thanks to the enthusiasm of Beaver Nation, the annual tailgate at Surprise Stadium is now sold out — Go Beavs! For inquiries or to be put on a waitlist, please email osualum@osualum.com.

Beavers Fight Hunger: Double your impact on students

Food insecurity impacts approximately 1 in 4 OSU students. Your gift for Beavers Fight Hunger today supports the Basic Needs Center to ensure students have access to nutritious food and a supportive community when it matters most. So far this giving season, donors have generously given more than $100,000 to this important cause. And there's still time to join the fight!

ATHLETICS

•    •    •    •    •

» Oregon State has its new head football coach: JaMarcus Shephard is ready to lead the Beavers into a bold new era. “You’ve got a fighter on your hands,” he said. Read more and watch his introduction to Beaver Nation.

» Women’s Volleyball Middle Blocker Alana Marrs capped a standout debut season by being named West Coast Conference Freshman of the Year — the third in program history to earn the honor.

» William “Ropes” Robertson, OSU’s first athletic trainer, spent 34 years shaping Beaver athletics and co-founded one of the nation’s earliest athletic training programs. His legacy of care and character still defines OSU athletics — read more from the College of Health.

Challenge complete

Thanks to Beaver Nation, the 2025 OSU Alumni Association Membership Challenge was a success: 662 new and upgraded memberships unlocked $4,000 for scholarships, the Basic Needs Center and alumni programs! While Washington State claimed the top spot in our friendly competition, together we created incredible impact for both communities.

This holiday season, consider gifting an OSU Alumni Association membership — a meaningful way to support students and alumni while sharing perks like exclusive adidas, Columbia Sportswear and Nike employee store access, discounted entry to OSU Alumni Association events and opportunities for connection.

BEAVERS DOING THE UNBELIEVABLE

•    •    •    •    •

» For the fourth Winter Olympics in a decade, wool from Shaniko Wool Company — founded by OSU alumna, volunteer and donor Jeanne Carver, M.S. ’79 — will keep Team USA warm in Ralph Lauren’s Milano Cortina 2026 opening and closing ceremony uniforms. It’s a proud showcase of Oregon craftsmanship and Beaver ingenuity on one of the world’s biggest stages.

» Oregon State University is expanding access to AI education through a new collection of AI fundamentals microcredentials. These innovative, three-course offerings equip students with in-demand skills and the ability to understand, question and apply AI in ways that create value and uphold human-centered principles.

» OSU researchers turned a farmers market find into a promising biomedical innovation: Pacific dulse seaweed was successfully transformed into a scaffold for growing human heart cells, offering a sustainable, low-cost alternative to animal-based or complex synthesized materials for tissue engineering.

» OSU Press earned national recognition as Saving the Big Sky: A Chronicle of Land Conservation in Montana took the 2025 National Outdoor Book Award for “Nature and Environment,” spotlighting decades of collaborative work to protect Montana’s wild places.

FUN FOR MINI-BEAVS

•    •    •    •    •

Ring in the New Year with Beaver cheer

Make some noise for 2026! Create your own Beaver-themed noisemaker with this easy DIY craft. All you need are two bottle caps, glue, scissors and our free printable template — then click-clack and celebrate.

Brought to you by OSU Alumni Group Travel

Wherever you want to explore, OSU Alumni Group Travel has you covered. Create lasting memories, learn about other cultures, taste unique cuisines, travel with fellow Oregon Staters and leave the planning to us! Book your next trip.