Carol Savonen
Department of Extension and Experiment Station Communications
Science Communications Specialist Carol Savonen is retiring after more than 20 years at OSU. But she's going to be busier than ever.
For most people retirement conjures up images of cruises on the Caribbean, bingo night or lazy afternoons spent in hammocks. Not so for 55 year old Associate Professor Emeritus, researcher, hiker, swimmer, gardener, conservationist, wilderness ranger, ski-bum Carol Savonen. "Retirement is doing everything you've always wanted to do, and didn't have the time for", says Savonen.
Its not that Carol really waited for retirement to do the things she loved. While teaching, mentoring and writing at the College of Agriculture Sciences, Carol used her summers to research salmon(s) in Alaska and learn about the (aquatic) plant ecology of Crater Lake National Park . She also led natural history trips to Alaska and Baja on behalf of organizations like the Smithsonian Museum of Natural history, and taught courses in nature writing at 'Family summit' camps at Mt. Hood. Her love of nature and passion to conserve nature's bounty got her involved in several land-use planning groups and committees.
Professionally, Carol has received more then three dozen awards for excellence in scientific writing and her leadership in public educational campaigns. Her literary work has been published in well known peer-reviewed journals, newspapers, magazines and text books. She even appeared on BBC and talked about the sex life of slugs. Despite her busy life, Carol took the time to teach and mentor (several) graduate students at OSU who continue to remain close friends with her.
When asked what she will miss the most about OSU, a tone of nostalgia sneaks into Carol's voice, "The relationships, my colleagues, the people." She says she was overwhelmed at the retirement party her colleagues threw for her. But this tone of sadness quickly gives way to conversations of upbeat possibilities. Carol plans on continuing to swim her way into her third decade with faculty staff fitness program at the Dixon Recreation Center. Something she has been doing everyday for the past 20 years. Then with a rush of excitement Carol says "I can't wait to paint more, spend more time growing my own vegetables, canning, hiking in the Wallowas, volunteer for conservation work,….."
Hello Retirement!
Useful links:
Carol's latest magazine science article
Faculty staff fitness program at OSU
