CORVALLIS - An environmental scientist, a pioneer in Internet stock trading, and a noted business and education leader will return to Oregon State University this Homecoming weekend as Alumni Fellows.

The Alumni Fellows program, designed and sponsored by OSU's Alumni Association, brings back to campus prominent alumni who share their experiences with the university's students, staff and faculty.

This year's fellows include: Pamela A. Matson, a professor of geological and environmental sciences at Stanford University; Bernard A. "Bernie" Newcomb, co-founder of the E*Trade Group; and James E. Reinmuth, former dean of business at the University of Oregon and a founding partner in the Pacific Pension Institute..

A free public reception will be held for the fellows on Friday, Oct. 16, from 4 to 5 p.m. in the CH2M-Hill Alumni Center at OSU.

Matson is a leading researcher on the effects of land-use change and agriculture on atmospheric conditions and other aspects of the environment. She worked for 10 years as a research scientist at the NASA-Ames Research Center and in 1995 was selected as a MacArthur Fellow. Two years later, she was named a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Matson, who received a Ph.D. in forest ecology from OSU in 1983, is being honored by the OSU College of Forestry.

Newcomb, a pioneer in computer systems development, was vice president for research and development at the E*Trade Group (formerly Trade Plus), and chief system architect from 1982-97. One of the first Internet stock trading companies, it revolutionized the way millions of Americans buy and sell securities. Last year, Newcomb gave a stock gift to the university valued at $6.1 million, the largest stock give in OSU history.

Declared legally blind because of a vision disability since birth, Newcomb attended the Oregon School for the Blind. He received a bachelor's degree with honors in business administration from OSU in 1965. He is being honored by the College of Business.

Reinmuth was dean of the College of Business Administration at the University of Oregon from 1976-94, and remains on the faculty. He served as chair of A-Fem Medical Corporation and of Watershed Holding Corporation, and owner of Mandarin Pacific and HILJEN Int. Reinmuth has written numerous articles on business planning and analysis, and co-authored a book, "Statistics for Management and Economics."

He received a master's degree in statistics at OSU in 1965, and a doctorate in statistics in 1969. He is being honored by the College of Science.

Source: 

Don Wirth, 541-737-2351

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