Video by David Baker and Jacob Adams.
Melissa Cheyney is the 2025 University Distinguished Professor. She is a professor of clinical medical anthropology in the College of Liberal Arts and an international leader in maternal healthcare and midwifery research. Her public engagement is influencing the reform of maternal care in Oregon and the nation, resulting in improved birth outcomes, especially among underserved populations.
Her April 29 Distinguished Professor lecture, "Uplifting Birth Justice: Imagining More Equitable Reproductive Futures," was recorded and is available here.
Since 1988, the university has awarded the title of University Distinguished Professor to current OSU faculty members who have achieved national and international distinction for their contributions in research and creative work, teaching and mentoring, public engagement and service. The quality, depth and breadth of Cheyney’s work exemplifies OSU’s highest academic honor.
