Katie Fast
Executive Director of Government Relations
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 leads 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, her husband, and two children live on a farm in Perrydale, Oregon, where they raise various seed crops.
Gabrielle Serra
Director of Federal Government Relations
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.
Dr. Chance White Eyes
Director of Tribal Relations
In 2023, Dr. Chance White Eyes (Alumnus, class of 2007) returned to Oregon State University (OSU) as Director of Tribal Relations in the Government Relations Office. The focus of his work is to support tribal sovereignty and strengthen the relationships between OSU and tribal communities.
White Eyes brings over a decade of experience liaising between Indigenous communities and universities. During his early career, White Eyes served as the Native American Recruitment Specialist at the University of Oregon, where we worked in multiple capacities. Not only did he mentor and build trust with tribal youth and their families, but also worked with tribal governments on issues about academic success for Native youth.
While pursuing his doctoral degree in Critical and Socio-Cultural Studies in Education at the University of Oregon, White Eyes was appointed to the position of Native American Retention Specialist in the Center for Multicultural Academic Excellence. After that appointment expired, White Eyes was selected to assist the University of Oregon’s first formal Assistant Vice President and Advisor to the President on Sovereignty and Government-to-Government Relations. In that role, he worked to further strengthen the University’s relationship with the tribes of Oregon and the region.
Before returning to OSU, White Eyes was an Assistant Professor of Native American Studies at Southern Oregon University, where he served as Program Chair of Native American Studies. There, he collaborated on numerous projects involving students/faculty/staff, and official tribal representatives. His approach to teaching was transdisciplinary, as he taught across departments and contexts. Not only did he teach courses in Native American Studies, but he also taught courses in the following programs and departments: Education, International Studies, English, Ethnic and Racial Studies, and Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies.
Dr. White Eyes is excited to return to OSU and looks forward to further collaborating across departments, campuses, and communities!