MONMOUTH – Western Oregon University’s Arne S. Jensen Lecture on Thursday, January 19 will be given by Chet Orloff, director emeritus of the Oregon Historical Society. The event, part of Founders Day and WOU’s 150-year anniversary celebration, will take place at 7:30 p.m. in Rice Auditorium.

Orloff will speak on the early history of Oregon and WOU, and how the state and university have been linked as Oregon education has grown through the years.

In addition to working with the Oregon Historical Society, Orloff is director of the Pamplin Institute and Museum as well as an adjunct professor of urban studies and planning at Portland State University. He is also the founding president of the Museum of the City.

Orloff practices history with numerous public and private agencies and firms throughout the Pacific Northwest and helped initiate the nation’s Lewis and Clark Bicentennial efforts.

“Chet is an amazing source of historical information including the momentous and the trivial, but fascinating,” said Leta Edwards, vice president for university advancement.

In addition to his professional work, Orloff serves on numerous local, state and national committees and commissions relating to history, planning and urban design. These include being a board member of Pioneer Courthouse Square, chair for the Midtown Park Blocks Citizens Steering Committee and president of the Portland Parks Board.

Orloff earned a master’s degree in history and public history from Portland State University. He also earned bachelor’s degrees from both Boston University and University of Oregon in anthropology and history. Orloff was a Phi Alpha Theta member, the international honor society of history, as well as a Senior Fellow in the American Leadership Forum in Oregon.

For more information on Founders Day events contact Leta Edwards in University Advancement at 503-838-8149 or edwardsl@wou.edu, or visit http://www.wou.edu/150_celebration/index.html.

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