OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
Open search box
In 2020, Katie Fast returned to her alma mater to serve as executive director of government relations, where she works with state legislators, the Governor's Office, state agencies, local governments, and Oregon’s educational infrastructure.
Katie, a graduate of the College of Agriculture, has extensive experience in political advocacy and natural resource policy. She has served as executive director of Oregonians for Food & Shelter and vice president of public policy for the Oregon Farm Bureau. In these roles, she lead coalitions to pass hallmark legislation including new state funding and bonding packages, renewable energy programs and statewide agricultural policy. Due to these accomplishments, Katie has been awarded CropLife America’s Urbanowski Grassroots Award, OSU College of Agriculture’s Luminary Award and Oregon Farm Bureau’s President’s Award.
Katie has a passion for promoting Oregon agriculture and growing Oregon’s next leaders. She currently serves on the board of directors of OSU Alumni Association and REAL Oregon, a leadership development program for natural resource professionals.
Katie along with her husband and two children live on a farm in Perrydale, Oregon, where they raise a variety of seed crops.
Gabrielle Serra joined Oregon State University’s Government Relations team in Fall of 2014 to serve as Director of Federal Affairs. In her role, Gabrielle works with the Administration and federal agencies, federal legislators, as well as national partner organizations. Her focus is to engage federal policy makers and program officials on issues and opportunities important to the success and potential of OSU and our community, including priorities ranging from student access, fundamental and applied research, to outreach and extension.
Gabrielle brings more than a decade of experience working with the Federal government in Washington, DC. She began her career with the U.S. Department of Agriculture where she served for nearly 7 years in several capacities related to federal food and nutrition policy. She focused primarily on child nutrition program and policy development. Her tenure with USDA culminated in year assignment serving as a policy advisor and special assistant to the Under Secretary of Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services with responsibilities related to administering the 15 federal nutrition programs and the Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, as well as engaging with the U.S. Congress and the Administration. Gabrielle then went to the House of Representatives where she served for the 111th Congress as a policy advisor to the Chairman of the Committee on Education and Labor. During this time, Gabrielle oversaw the development and enactment of comprehensive legislation authorizing the federal child nutrition programs. And, after leaving the Hill, Gabrielle oversaw federal government relations for a national non-profit organization focused on public health.
Originally from Florence, Oregon, Gabrielle graduated from OSU in 2003 with a degree in public health. She holds a master’s degree in food policy and economics from Tufts University, the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy.
