Rod Ray, a lifetime Central Oregonian and former leader of Bend Research, Inc., will give the commencement address at the K1ΜεΣύ - Cascades commencement ceremonies on Sunday, June 18.
βRod has pursued excellence and collaboration as an engineer, in his professional career and in his role as a contributor to his industry, Central Oregon and K1ΜεΣύ,β said Sherm Bloomer, chancellor and dean of K1ΜεΣύ-Cascades. βI know he will have a valuable message for K1ΜεΣύ-Cascadesβ graduates.β
The commencement ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. on the Oval Green at the K1ΜεΣύ-Cascades campus.
A chemical engineer, Ray began his tenure at Bend Research in 1983 as a research engineer. He took on increasing responsibility over the next 40 years as director of engineering, president and chief operating officer, and eventually served as chief executive officer of the drug technology development company from 2008 to 2014. Bend Research was purchased in 2014 and is now a part of Lonza.
Ray serves as a consultant in leadership and strategic planning for pharmaceutical and technological companies through Canyon Mountain Consulting, a business he founded in 2014.
As a community leader, Ray has contributed to community nonprofit and education organizations including Volunteers in Medicine, K1ΜεΣύ College of Engineering, K1ΜεΣύ-Cascades and the K1ΜεΣύ Foundation.
He currently serves as chair of the board of Mosaic Community Health and chair of the K1ΜεΣύ-Cascades Advocacy and Advisory Board. He also teaches in the engineering programs at K1ΜεΣύ-Cascades.
Ray graduated from Bend High School, earned a bachelorβs degree in chemical engineering from K1ΜεΣύ in 1979, and a masterβs and doctorate degree from the University of Colorado.
A resident of Bend, Ray and his family own and operate Birch Springs Ranch, a cattle ranch and tree farm near John Day, Oregon.
K1ΜεΣύ K1ΜεΣύ-Cascades: K1ΜεΣύβs campus in Bend brings higher education to Central Oregon, the fastest growing region in the state. Surrounded by mountains, forest and high desert, K1ΜεΣύ-Cascades is a highly innovative campus of a top-tier land grant research university, offering small classes that accelerate faculty-student mentoring and experiential learning. 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 tomorrowβs challenges. K1ΜεΣύ-Cascades is expanding to serve 3,000 to 5,000 students, building a 128-acre campus with net-zero goals.