10 Questions With… Scott Vignos, vice president for mission and impact, formerly vice president and chief diversity officer
What originally brought you to Oregon State?
I came to OSU in October 2015 to start a job with the Office of Equity and Inclusion, which later split to become the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access and the Office of Institutional Diversity. When the Office of Institutional Diversity opened in 2016, I was employee number two. Prior to arriving in Corvallis, I lived in Davis and San Francisco where I worked at the University of California, Davis – School of Law and at a large international law firm.
How did your background in law lead you to working in the realm of social justice and diversity?
I went to law school because I wanted to advocate for community members who typically lack access to legal representation and who are often placed at a significant disadvantage by the American legal system. While I was practicing law, I routinely observed the difference that higher education can make in an individual’s life and in the lives of family members and communities. While I loved working with individual clients, I thought that I could make a difference at the system level to reduce barriers for communities to take advantage of – and contribute to – higher education.
What makes you passionate about higher education?
The longer I work at OSU, the more I realize that while I’m passionate about higher education, I’m really passionate about our land grant mission. Not everyone realizes how revolutionary it was in the 1860s to suggest that all people — poor people, workers and people living in rural communities — should have access to higher education. And both the land grant mission as well as OSU’s relationship to its land grant mission have come a long way. What started as a noble vision was made real through a damaging process of appropriation of Indigenous land. The ramifications of this history continue to reverberate in the present. But as time has passed, we have grown, listened and invested in a process of reflection and reconciliation that brings us closer to the best version of the land grant mission — a fundamental belief that higher education should be of enduring benefit to all communities, not just some.
How can universities with a strong commitment to equity hold onto their values during this time in history?
I think it starts by getting clear on how a university’s mission informs a commitment to equity. I think an issue higher ed is experiencing is the use of terms like “equity” without understanding what it means in a specific institutional context. For example, OSU is Oregon’s land grant institution, and we have a responsibility to serve all communities within the state (and beyond, but let’s start with Oregon). Oregonians are an incredibly diverse group of people in terms of backgrounds, lived experiences, political beliefs and ideas about what “fairness” means. Our job is to listen to better understand how OSU can advance common interests among these many voices while navigating the real differences in opinions that exist. In my mind, this means that equity in our context means moving towards a reality where all Oregonians — regardless of who they are, where they live or how much money they have — should have an opportunity to pursue higher education, if they want it, and see real benefit from the research we do in their lives and communities. That’s equity in the OSU context and once we’re clear on that, I think it’s a lot easier to stay true to our values and mission no matter the political context.
What advice would you give the younger version of yourself who was just starting college?
The advice I’d give myself is to stay open to possibility. I could have never predicted that I’d be responding to a set of questions like this, in a job like the one I’m in, when I was 18 years old. And every time I think I know the direction I’m heading, an opportunity opens, and I’ve had the good sense to not be tied to an idea of myself that isn’t open to change.
Another piece of advice I’d give (and that I was given) is to treat your reputation like gold (or anything else that’s precious to you and easy to lose track of). This means always being true to your word, being open and willing to change your behavior in response to feedback, and straightforwardly engaging in conflict in relationships, but only when it is productive and will lead to a stronger connection.
Can you describe how your previous work at OSU will play into your new role as vice president for mission and impact?
My career at OSU over the last 10 years has really built to this point. I’ve built a lot of really important and good relationships both inside and outside of the university that will enable creative new collaborations and I think I have a strong sense of the possibility that accompanies a role charged with amplifying and advancing the land grant mission in new and exciting ways.
How does your interest in science fiction color your work in the realm of diversity, access and equity?
Ha! In so, so many ways. Science fiction is an amazing genre that allows us to consider alternative possibilities without getting bogged down in the conditions (or the physics) of the real world. I have found that science fiction helps me consider perspectives I wouldn’t have otherwise had access to and be made aware of realities that are likely closer than we think. And ultimately, these are the kinds of insights needed to advance and navigate the complexities of making OSU a better institution.
What was your favorite course in college?
I was very lucky to have many good professors in college who taught amazing classes. The ones that stood out to me include a class about the history of environmental movements in the American West that highlighted the many ways communities that don’t agree on most things can come together to work towards outcomes important to everyone. I had the opportunity to study abroad and learn about Indigeneity and multiculturalism in a non-American context, which was incredibly impactful as I thought about my own values and where I wanted my career to go.
Who are some of the heroes or historical figures you return to for wisdom when troubled or searching for help?
A personal hero includes Judge Vaughn Walker, who presided over the trial in Hollingsworth v. Perry that found California's Prop 8 banning same-sex marriage to be unconstitutional. Judge Walker approached the trial with precision and care and his written opinion in the case should be required reading for anyone interested in the role of courts in seeking truth and paving the way for social change. I’m also a huge fan of N.K. Jemisin and her writing. While her writing is often classified as science fiction, I think she’s actually one of the most incisive observers of the world as it is.
What is your favorite non-academic pursuit or passion?
The reality is, if I could get paid to only have hobbies I would be very successful and fulfilled. I love gardening and my husband and I grow way too many fruits and vegetables. I also love to read, mostly science fiction, and have been getting into Ted Chiang’s most recent collection of short stories, “Exhalation,” to get ready for his visit to PRAx in April 2026. And finally, I love to cook, particularly the Indian food I grew up making with my mom and grandmother. Ultimately, I dream about opening a cooking school that would provide a space for community members to share their culture through the food they love to cook and eat.
