Dixie Lund selected EOU's 2004 Distinguished Alumni of the Year

Published: June 10, 2004

by C.J. Gish
Media and publication writer
University Advancement
541-962-3585 / fax 541-962-3680

Dr. Dixie Lund received the 2004 Distinguished Alumni of the Year Award.

La Grande, Oregon - From student to teacher to director to dean to interim president, Dixie Lund has not only witnessed the changes of Eastern Oregon University but played a pivotal role in its transformation over the past three decades.

For her 30-plus years of dedication and service at EOU, Lund has been selected the 2004 Distinguished Alumni of the Year. The outgoing interim president is officially retiring this month and will be at the Saturday, June 12 Commencement in Community Stadium to assist with the diplomas.

"I feel so honored to have been selected for this. I was completely taken by surprise when I received the notice of my selection for this wonderful honor,"" said Lund. "When I think of those who have received this recognition in the past - Dr. (Robert) Tolar in 2003, Dr. (David) Huber in 2002, Representative (Greg) Smith in 2001 to name a few - and I think about their accomplishments and what they've done for EOU and the recognition they've brought from the outside to our University, I am really humbled to now be among them. I don't think it has quite settled in with me yet. I'm still a bit overwhelmed at the recognition."

Lund, who graduated when the University was named Eastern Oregon State College in 1973, taught business classes at EOU from 1973 to 1976. She started working with distance education at EOU in 1979 when she came on board as an instructor/advisor. Among her many positions in the Division of Distance Education over the years include Director of Residential Campus Summer Session, Coordinator of Weekend College, Coordinator of Individualized Studies, Coordinator of the Title 3 Grant which established Ed-Net 2 (interactive video system) and Ed-Net 3 (computer conferencing system), Director of Northwest Area Foundation Grant which established the EOU Weekend College Program, and Assistant Director of the External General Studies Degree.

She was named Dean of the Division of Distance Education in 1994. As Dean of the Division of Distance Education, Lund was instrumental in expanding EOU's on-line and remote education programs across the entire state. Currently EOU has statewide offices in 16 cities and towns. Under Lund's leadership, Oregonians living in remote areas of the state gained access to higher education degree programs, which in the past had only been available by attending a traditional campus.

"Dixie has been a valued friend and colleague of mine for many years," said Mary Koza, EOU's DDE Distance Degrees Director. "As our Distance Education Dean, she provided phenomenal leadership. Her diligent work and vision have been greatly responsible for the success of EOU's DDE program."

Among Lund's fondest memories at EOU are moving from "a little, cold house on campus where the business faculty offices were in the 1970s into brand new Zabel Hall; watching my two kids place mailing labels on Summer Session catalogs in Birnie Park when there wasn't enough of a budget to hire others to do so - I paid them a penny apiece for the work; presiding over the ribbon-tying ceremony to inaugurate the new Science Center (last October); and traveling with the 2004 Mountaineer women's basketball team to the NAIA Championships in Sioux City, Iowa (in March)," she said.

In March 2003, Lund was named Interim President -- the first alum and female President ever at EOU. Lund started her Interim Presidential duties on July 1, 2003 following the departure of Dr. Phillip Creighton. She served as Interim President until May 26 when Dr. Khosrow Fatemi, named EOU's 10th President in November 2003, officially took office.

"Dixie is one of the hardest workers I have had the pleasure to work with," said John Miller, EOU Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. "She is also of the highest character. I continue to appreciate her positive outlook. Even as we faced, almost monthly, new budget challenges this last year, she always kept a positive, upbeat attitude and steadfastly kept the needs of our students in the forefront. I do not believe there is a better ambassador for EOU than Dixie."

Lund's awards are numerous, including EOU's Distinguished Administrative Faculty Award in 1993 and Distinguished Teaching Faculty in 1974. She received the EOU Women of Courage and Vision Award in 2003 and in 2002 she received the Oregon Women in Higher Education Service Award.

In the community, Lund has served on the Grande Ronde Hospital Board, is the Philanthropist Education Organization (PEO) Chapter President, a Youth for Christ volunteer and a member and Sunday school teacher at the Faith Center.

Lund, a 1967 Grant Union High School graduate from John Day, Oregon, worked on her masters degree through Washington State University in vocational-technical education, earned her Ed.M in adult education from Oregon State University in 1984, and her Ed.D. in post-secondary educational leadership from Portland State University in 1989.

As for a legacy, Lund would like to be known for, "the memories of joy and strength, grace, commitment, and vision. EOU has provided me with an incredible career and many opportunities to work with and to get to personally know so many wonderful people. I am very grateful for that and hope that my gratitude has shown itself in the way in which I've worked and related to people and situations during these 31 years."

Contact Information

University Advancement Eastern Oregon University One University Boulevard La Grande, OR 97850 phone 541.962.3740 fax 541.962.3680 email University Advancement