History

19 Years of Supporting Scientific Research in Oregon

A few bold and pioneering women recognized the potential of forming an ARCS Foundation Chapter in Portland in 2002 when Susan Swindells and Vicki Griffin, ARCS Foundation Seattle Chapter members, contacted OHSU about establishing an ARCS chapter. Five women in leadership positions at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) were approached to see if they were interested in learning about ARCS: Nancy Fischer, Sharon Hewitt, Mary Ann Lockwood, Ellen Richardson and Cornie Stevens.

Organization of the Chapter began in late fall 2003 with a meeting at OHSU. At that meeting, the ARCS Foundation National New Chapter Development Committee laid out the vision and work of ARCS Foundation to the five Portland women, hoping to interest them in starting a chapter in Oregon. They set about launching the Portland Chapter, dedicated to enhancing America’s national and local capacity for research and innovation in science and technology by financially assisting students who demonstrate high scholastic ability.

Founding members Mary Ann Lockwood, Nancy Fischer, Cornelia Stevens, Ellen Richardson, and Sharon Hewitt enthusiastically committed to starting an ARCS Foundation Chapter in Oregon.

In December 2003 the first introductory tea was held in the Old Library at OHSU, where Judith Miller, ARCS Foundation national president; Peter Kohler, OHSU president; and an ARCS scholar from the Seattle Chapter spoke to a group of 50 women about the importance of ARCS Foundation to the future of science in America. The presentation was so powerful that membership grew from five to 45 women in one afternoon. Another tea followed in January 2004 and the membership grew to 65 charter members.

In May 2004 the Portland Chapter was incorporated and applied for 501(c)(3) status from the State of Oregon. On June 3rd the Chapter received its Charter from ARCS National. Sharon Hewitt was elected the first chapter president. By 2005, the Portland Chapter was launched with members, a slate of officers, policies, a budget, funds secured for 11 scholar awards, and high aspirations for a successful future.

With the approval of OSU in 2008 and UO in 2015 as university partners and the growth of membership in Corvallis and Eugene, the process to change the name of our Chapter to ARCS Foundation Oregon was begun in 2015 and completed in the spring of 2016.

Since its inception, the Chapter has awarded a cumulative total of over $6 million to 397 scholars pursuing PhDs in STEM fields. Today, members continue the important work of advancing science and technology in Oregon.