10 Questions With… Jennifer Cohen, 2025 professional faculty recipient of the Exemplary Employee Award, and office manager with Biological and Ecological Engineering.
What originally brought you to Oregon State and how long have you been here?
I came to Corvallis in 2005 with the Navy’s Seaman to Admiral program as a student in the fisheries and wildlife program after nine years in as a broadcast journalist. When I was medically discharged, I figured I would stay (since I had met my now-husband) and finish a degree —although I did move to New Media Communication to use some of my military education. I got my position in 2013.
How do you tackle so many different tasks and keep everything organized?
I call my neurodivergence my superpower because I can organize things in my head quite well and visualize outcomes. I’ve tried just about every application and recommended tricks through the years, but nothing works as well as individual task notes. I have a stack of scrap paper and whenever someone comes to me with something to do, I jot it down and put it in the stack. I do a quick skim through them every morning to prioritize and when I complete a task the page goes into the recycling. It is incredibly satisfying to toss that task in the recycling when I’m done — a mental reset of the brain, of sorts, so I can move on to the next thing.
What makes you passionate about higher education?
The interaction with the students and knowing we are helping the future generation toward the path of success and career fulfillment. We are the first step into adulthood, for many, providing so much more than just professional guidance. I have taught students how to sweep and mop properly since I’ve been here. The research the students are doing is world-changing and their stories and passion for what they are doing drive me. I run on their excitement and curiosity. I have an open-door policy and nothing makes me happier than when a student comes by just to say “hi” because I know that I’ve reached them or connected with them somehow.
What drives you to go beyond your job requirements to participate in things like leading Food Drive events and becoming a search advocate?
I grew up in a very inclusive family who taught me acceptance of everyone. My great-grandparents were Jewish and escaped Italy in the early days of World War II; I am forever grateful they were welcomed into this country. I am also a first-generation college student and had no idea what I didn’t know when I came to OSU. All of these things together make me enjoy involvement in things that will help remove the barriers I faced. The Search Advocacy program and Social Justice Education Initiative really helped me realize the privilege I actually have, which my relatives did not, and how I could help people like them have a fair chance when everything else is working against them. Also, my family was quite poor when I was younger, and we had to rely on assistance. I relied on school lunch programs and watched my parents restrict what new things they had so we could have special items. I’m also highly competitive and have a goal of beating the sixth floor of Kerr in the food drive competition.
What advice would you give the younger version of yourself who was just starting college?
I don’t regret anything I’ve done in my life and would never go back and change it…however, I would tell her to always be willing to ask for help. It took a long time for me to find the confidence to lead and I didn’t have mentors in my field, but when I finally started asking those questions I found leadership guidance. As a student, I felt because I was an older student who had so much life experience that I didn’t need the resources OSU had to offer. Wow, was I wrong! I fully regret not getting involved in a club or a student job or something that would get me more life experience outside of the military and more opportunities to collaborate and build community.
How has Biological and Ecological Engineering changed since you’ve been there, and what part have you played in those changes?
We have changed tremendously since 2013. BEE has doubled in size both in student and faculty members and has spread across multiple buildings. I have been involved in every aspect of this growth, just about, including: recruitment, marketing, hiring, mentoring, safety, operations and teaching. I have helped create an environment where students and faculty are excited to be and feel welcome in. I have led the remodel of several labs as well as the building of new lab space. I have also redone the front office, thanks to some fantastic furniture donations, to create a more welcoming and modern space for the staff and students.
What was your favorite course in college?
Media Theory classes with the late Bill Loges. He was a brilliant professor and really made you think. I took this course right as I was getting out of the military and meeting a lot of non-military friends who lived very different lives and had very different hobbies from my military friends. They were more involved in the gaming community and we studied the psychological aspects of gaming and gamers. It was absolutely fascinating and gave me so much insight and understanding. Loges is sorely missed in NMC.
How do you define a welcoming environment and what steps do units and departments need to take to create that in their own areas?
Creating a space where anyone can walk in and ask for help, regardless of which department they are a student or employee in. I also work with the students and faculty to bring in things that will help them feel more at home. Two of the first things I got them were a fridge and couch for the student lounge, so they could have a great place to collaborate and interact with their community. We try to have all the staff and faculty go to as many of the student events as we can so they see us and have a chance to talk to us outside of the front office setting. We ask the students and faculty about themselves and what they are passionate about. It can help you learn so much about the students you are serving and what the faculty are excited about. Creating collaboration and community-building events that the students actually want to do is my highest priority.
Who inspires you in your work, either personally or professionally?
My husband Max Cohen from University Information and Technology. He is a passionate leader of his students in UIT and an empathetic friend to everyone. He sees the best in everyone he comes in contact with and sees all students and regular employees as equals. He has set the tone for what an inclusive and welcoming workspace can look like and treats everyone he crosses paths with as if they are the most important person in the room. He provides the space for them to express themselves however they like. I regularly bounce thoughts and ideas off of him about how we can make BEE more inclusive for our students and faculty.
What is your favorite non-academic pursuit or passion?
Music is a big one, and we attend a lot of concerts. I listen to everything from classical to really heavy metal. I also love gaming, like D&D and board games. Camping with our St. Bernard and Tibetan mastiff and spending time outside are also at the top of this list. I also sail, dive, and do needle arts. Finally, I’m a collector of all things Tim Burton.
