Academic and Student Affairs Committee Members

Anna Cavinato (Vice Chair)

acavinat@eou.edu

Education: Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry from the University of Bari, Italy

Occupation:  Professor, College of Science, Technology, Mathematics, and Health Sciences

Biography: Anna was born and raised in Italy and came to the US for a Postdoctoral appointment at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.  After working as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Memphis, she moved west and joined the Center for Process Analytical Chemistry at the University of Washington where she conducted research on non-destructive methods of analyses.  In 1992 she moved to La Grande and has been working at EOU since then, teaching a variety of chemistry and sciences courses.  She has received several research and/or educational grants that have allowed to establish a strong research program involving undergraduate students. Anna is passionate about encouraging women and underrepresented minorities to pursue science careers.  She has been the faculty mentor of the EOU Chemistry Club for almost twenty years promoting community outreach activities such as Girls in Science and Saturday Science that have garnered multiple awards by the American Chemical Society (ACS).  She currently serves as the Program Chair for the ACS Division of Analytical Chemistry, leading the organization of the Division’s technical program at ACS national meetings.

George Mendoza

Education: Northwest Nazarene University, Master of Education Leadership; Eastern Oregon University, Bachelor’s of Science in Elementary Education.

Occupation: Superintendent, La Grande School District

Biography: George has over 20 years of experience working in education as an elementary school teacher, administrator, and coach. Prior to his current post with the La Grande School District, he was the Assistant Superintendent/ Director of Special Education at Morrow County School District.

Deidre Schreiber

dschreiber@eou.edu

Education: Current Student – OSU Agriculture and Natural Resources program

Biography: Deidre is an eastern Oregon native, born and raised in Wallowa County on her family’s cattle ranch. She graduated from Enterprise High School in 2019 and served as the 2019-2020 Oregon FFA State Secretary. She is attending Eastern Oregon University as part of the Oregon State University Agriculture and Natural Resources program, where she will graduate with her Bachelor of Agricultural Science. Deidre plans to obtain her Master of Business Administration. Currently, she serves as the student director of the Oregon State University Agriculture and Natural Resources program and the Eastern Oregon University Ag Club President.

Cedric Riel

cariel@eou.edu

Education: Eastern Oregon University, Masters of Business Administration

Occupation: Team Leader Production, Lamb Weston in Boardman, OR

Biography: Cedric Riel recently graduated from EOU summa cum laude in both Economics and in Business. He was recognized as the Outstanding Student within the MBA program, which he completed this last academic year. While obtaining these degrees, Cedric has continued to compete in football, a sport of which has contributed to the development of his character. He is passionate about serving the EOU community and has been involved with ASEOU, serving as Senate Chair in 2019-20 and as Director of Financial Affairs in 2020-21. Now, he is excited to be beginning his management experience at Lamb Weston in Boardman while he also begins a permanent Trustee position this next year. He looks forward to being able to continue to serve the EOU community.

Maurizio Valerio

Education: University of California, Berkeley Master of Arts in Zoology; University of Parma (Italy) Doctoral Degree in Natural Sciences.

Occupation: Field Coordinator with The Ford Family Foundation (TFFF); Owner/Manager of the Eccoci Ranch in Union County.

Biography: Maurizio was born and raised in Italy and arrived in the US with a post-doctoral position at UC Berkeley. He taught Cultural Tourism at the University of Verona (Italy), and worked as an Instructor in the Biology Department at EOU for several years. In his current job as Field Coordinator with TFFF, Maurizio supports community building efforts in many rural communities across Eastern Oregon. He is also actively involved in a long-term forest stewardship plan on his own land for which he received the Forest Steward Award for Union County 2019 and is a nominee for the Oregon Tree Farmer Award for 2020.

Tamra Mabbott

tjmabbott@eou.edu

Education: M.A. Urban Planning, UCLA; B.A. Political Science, UCLA

Occupation: Planning Director for Morrow County, Oregon.

Biography: Tamra Mabbott grew up on a small dairy farm along the Rogue River in Southern Oregon.  While attending University of California, Los Angeles, she worked full time and volunteered with a variety of political organizations.  Hopeful about a career helping to make communities viable and healthy, she chose to continue her education in Urban Planning, followed by completion of an advanced program in Fiscal Studies.  She worked a short time for the Portland Development Commission and then began a 30+ year career as a land use planner. She spent two years working for a small city as a Community Development Director and then served as the Eastern Region Representative for the Oregon Department of Land Conservation & Development.  While she described her state position as her dream job, traveling the 10 county region and spending time with wonderful people and communities, she returned to serve as the Planning Director for Morrow County where she can focus her time in a smaller community.