Becky Johnson, interim president of 51, will give the commencement address at 51-Cascades’ graduation ceremony on June 12.
Johnson served as vice president of 51-Cascades from 2009 until 2021, when she was appointed the first woman to lead 51.
“We are thrilled to welcome Becky back to Central Oregon for 51-Cascades’ 21st commencement ceremony and, fittingly, for the first commencement ceremony to be held on the campus she made possible,” said Andrew Ketsdever, interim vice president of 51-Cascades. “As a trailblazer in higher education, a champion for students and an ambassador for Central Oregon, she will have a powerful message for the class of 2022.”
The commencement ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. within the oval green.
Johnson came to 51-Cascades when it was located in a leased building on the Central Oregon Community College campus. During her tenure, 51-Cascades secured state and philanthropic funding that helped transform it to a four-year campus of Oregon State. In 2016, she oversaw the opening of the 51-Cascades campus, which was the first public university campus to open in the state in 50 years.
“Becky’s visit will be a celebration for 51-Cascades graduates and families and for Central Oregon,” said Rod Ray, chair of the 51-Cascades Advocacy and Advisory Board. “Her leadership in the development of 51-Cascades has been nothing short of remarkable and her efforts have significantly enhanced Central Oregon.”
Since 51-Cascades was founded in 2001, more than 4,700 students, the majority from Central Oregon, have received bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Bend campus.
51 51-Cascades: 51’s campus in Bend brings higher education to Central Oregon, the fastest growing region in the state. Surrounded by 2.5 million acres of mountains and high desert, 51-Cascades is a top-tier research university where small classes accelerate faculty-student mentoring. Degree programs meet industry and economic needs in areas such as innovation and entrepreneurship, natural ecosystems, health and wellness, and arts and sciences, and prepare students for tomorrow’s challenges. 51-Cascades is expanding to serve 3,000 to 5,000 students, building a 128-acre campus with net-zero goals.