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Victoria is a soil scientist working in forest land management in Salem.  She completed her MS in Geology and Soil Science at OSU in Spring of 2025, and earned her B.S. in Environmental Science from the University of Texas at El Paso in her hometown.  This is her fourth year on the OSSS Board and she is excited to bring a perspective of inclusion and broadening participation in the Oregon soils community to her year as president.

Vice President: Andy Gallagher

Andy is a Certified Professional Soil Classifier and owns Red Hill Soils and specializes in Order-1 Soil Survey for high value crops, and land use planning.  He has been working as a soil scientists for 40 years, and has mapped in the Midwest, Southeast USA and for the last 29 years in Oregon and Pacific Northwestern States.

Past President: Jalene Weatherholt

Jalene is a soil scientist with the US Forest Service serving the Santiam River Zone on the Willamette National Forest. Her roots in soils began at the University of Washington where she received a masters of science studying wildfire impacted soils and their erosional processes. She began her career with the Southwest Region Terrestrial Ecological Unit Inventory crew and has served as a forest soil scientist on the Tonto National Forest. Jalene became involved with OSSS when she returned to the PNW and is dedicated to uplifting the Oregon soils community.

Treasurer: Megan McGinnis & Tom Mitchell (incoming) (osss.treasurer@gmail.com)

Megan is an Oregon State University alumnus working federal land management, currently with the BLM out of Springfield, OR.

Tom is a Soil Specialist at Lane Forest Research Products.  Previously, he earned a BS in Crop and Soil Science from Oregon State University and worked as a Biological Field Technician and Researcher for the USGS, where he focused on post-fire vegetation recovery and biomass fuel calculations across the Great Basin.  He currently serves as Co-Treasurer on the OSSS board and is excited to help support the society’s mission and connect with fellow soil enthusiasts!

Secretary: Sahalie Ellickson

Sahalie earned her B.S. in Environmental Sciences and M.S. in Soil Science from Oregon State University.  After her graduation in 2025 she began working as an onsite wastewater specialist with Jefferson County, where she evaluates soils for septic systems.  Sahalie joined the board in 2024 as a student liaison and is currently serving her second year as Secretary.  She continues to look forward to planning events with the OSSS board to promote community amongst Oregon soil scientists, young and old.

Westside Director: Christian Lessey

Chris is a recent graduate of Oregon State University, where he earned a master’s degree in Soil Science.  His research focused on cover crops in hazelnut orchards, with an emphasis on improving soil health.  He has been actively involved with the Oregon Society of Soil Scientists since the 2020 winter meeting.  This is his third term serving on the board and his first as West Side Director.

Eastside Director: Todd Reinwald

Todd has been a member of OSSS off and on since 1992.  Currently he is serving on the OSSS Board as the east side director and served as the westside director in 2022/23.  Todd has worked in natural resource management for the past 40 years and has been employed as the soil and water program manager on the Mt Hood National Forest for the last 13 years.  He has worked in both the public and private sectors, spending 29 years with state and federal agencies that administer public lands.  His background is in soil science and forest, with undergraduate degrees from Central Oregon Community College and Oregon State University.  Originally born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, Todd has been an Oregon resident for 46 years, living the Zigzag and Welches area for the last 33 years.

Communications Director: Jen Valentine

Jen is a PhD student in Soil Science at Oregon State University.  She previously received an MS in Plant, Soil and Environmental Science from the University of Maine.  This is her first year serving on the OSSS board and she is excited to be more involved in the OSSS community.

Sharpshooter Editor: Anna Perry (osss.editor@gmail.com)

Anna is an MS student in the Horticulture Department at Oregon State University, where she studies microplastic contamination in urban garden soils.  Previously, she earned two BS degrees from Oregon State University (Crop and Soil Science, and Sustainability).  This is her first term serving on the OSSS board and she is thrilled to be a part of such an amazing organization of people!

Co-Student Liaisons: Isabel Christy & Kristin Dietz

Isabel is a PhD student in the Environmental Sciences, Studies, and Policy Program at the University of Oregon.  They previously received an MS in Soil Science from Oregon State University.  This is their second term as student liaison for OSSS, and they are excited to engage more folks from UO in OSSS events!

Kristen is a junior at Oregon State University majoring in Crop and Soil Science with a concentration in Soil Science.  She is especially interested in soil microbial ecology and plans to pursue graduate studies in the future.  As student liaison, she hopes to encourage involvement in the society, connect students with opportunities, and continue learning from the soils community.

Want to learn more about the roles and responsibilities of each OSSS board member? Check out our onBOARDing document.