2024/2025 Board of Directors

Board of Director Bios

Jewls Griesmeyer-Krentz (Willamette University)

President

(she, her, hers)
jgriesmeyer@willamette.edu

Jewls is the Assistant Director of Accessible Education Services at Willamette University. Primarily at Pacific Northwest College of Art, she oversees disability services and institutional accessibility efforts. She enjoys finding creative and collaborative ways to promote equity and inclusion for students and university communities. Before finding her home at Willamette University, she was at Linfield University School of Nursing in 2022 and had been an Access Counselor and Consultant at the Disability Resource Center at Portland State University for over nine years. Jewls serves as the President of the Board of Directors of the Oregon Affiliate of the Association of Higher Disability (ORAHEAD) and served in various board positions for over six years. Jewls mentored new(er) disability services professionals as part of the Association of Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD) Start Academy for new(er) disability services professionals. She is a frequent presenter at both regional and national conferences. Jewls received her Masters in Rehabilitation Counseling from PSU in 2008 and is a PhD candidate in Adult and Higher Education at Oregon State University. Her doctoral work focuses on international and immigrant students with disabilities, disability identity, and intersectionality. Prior to coming to Portland State University, Jewls had a private counseling practice and served as a commissioner on the city of Portland Commission on Disability. In her spare time, Jewls enjoys the outdoors, art, and theater, especially when shared with her family including her wife, 2 adult kids, and an old, lovable dog named, Rizzo.

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Position Open

Past President

Position Open

President Elect

Jamie Opdyke (Linfield University)

Interim Secretary

(she, her, hers)
jopdyke@linfield.edu

Sarah Livengood (Portland State University)

Treasurer

(she, her, hers / they, them)
sliven@pdx.edu

Sarah has been a dedicated member of the ORAHEAD Board since 2019, currently serving as the Treasurer. With over nine years of experience in the disability services field, she has held various roles including Student Alternative Formats Technician, Classroom Assistant for blind and visually impaired students, and Office Manager. Sarah is currently a Senior Access Counselor and Consultant at Portland State University’s Disability Resource Center, where she leverages her extensive background to support students with diverse needs. In 2022, Sarah earned her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Oregon State University, enhancing her ability to advocate for and support individuals navigating disability services. Her personal journey as a lifelong learner who experiences anxiety and depression deeply informs her commitment to creating a safe, welcoming, and efficient experience for students. Outside of her professional life, Sarah enjoys traveling, cooking, and spending quality time with her mom and sisters, her wife, and her two beloved furbabies, Isabel and Ava. Her passion for service and personal experience uniquely position her to contribute meaningfully to the mission of ORAHEAD.

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Lauren Minnich (University of Oregon)

Membership Coordinator

(she, her, hers)
lminnich@uoregon.edu

Stacey Rainey, MAIS, CI/CT (Western Oregon University)

Email Officer

(she, her, hers)
raineys@wou.edu

Stacey currently services as the Assistant Director, Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services at Western Oregon University. For almost 10 years, Stacey has managed and coordinated staff and part-time post-secondary interpreters to serve WOU's Deaf/Hard of Hearing/DeafBlind student and community member population. Stacey is also an RID Nationally Certified interpreter with over 20 years of professional interpreting experience. In her free time, Stacey loves to spend time with her family, read books, watch movies and listen to music.

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Phyllis Petteys (Portland Community College)

Web Communications Officer

(she, her, hers)
phyllis.petteys@pcc.edu

Phyllis is an Accessibility Specialist in Accessible Education and Disability Resources at Portland Community College. Prior to coming to PCC in 2013, she was an Assistive Technology Specialist for 18 years, working in higher education as well as in the community.  Phyllis believes in elevating voices and she provides guidance to Student Disability Advocates, pushes for disability cultural centers and disability studies, and centers disability  justice and equity when engaging in college processes and conversations. Her areas of focus include collaborating with faculty, assistive technology, digital accessibility, universal design and supporting Adults in Custody. She has been on the ORAHEAD board since 2020.

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Position Open

Conference Liaison

Position Open

Continuing Education

Angela Harelson (Rogue Community College)

Member-at-large

(they, them, theirs)
aharelson@roguecc.edu

Felicia Arce (Clackamas Community College)

Member-at-large

(she, her, hers)
felicia.arce@clackamascc.edu