A Decade of Dedication: Celebrating Andrew Wyman
Welcome to “A Decade of Dedication,” a new series that celebrates and honors the long-serving faculty, staff, and key partners who have contributed to the OHSU-PSU School of Public Health’s (SPH) ten year success
Today we celebrate Andrew Wyman, Student Support Specialist, whose tenure with the OHSU-PSU School of Public Health (SPH) dates back from being an undergraduate student, to now being a champion for student success. Rooted in his commitment to student success, his role is shaped by the drive to simplify the student experience and serve as a vital contributor to the operational excellence of the growing SPH.
Andrew’s journey began at the front desk in the Portland State University (PSU) School of Community Health, which housed the MPH in Health Promotion and all the public health undergraduate degrees. He recalls an environment that felt much smaller, where programs had a desire to grow but lacked the established institutional framework to achieve the grand vision of a joint School of Public Health.
In his 15 years of service, Andrew has been present for every major transition that happened in the formation of the joint School. He was there for the original Oregon MPH, a collaboration between Oregon State University (OSU), Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), and PSU. He witnessed the transition when OSU departed, leaving OHSU and PSU to figure out if the dream of a combined SPH was still possible.
As the school grew, so did Andrew’s responsibilities, shifting from day-to-day administrative support to foundational infrastructure roles. This evolution speaks to his versatility and dedication to solving operational problems. His role went from Front Desk and Admissions support (2012), to assisting with communications, updating the website, and serving as an essential ad-hoc IT person (2016), to now being the administrative support for all scholarships in the School and supporting the administration of all graduate students’ Practice Experience and Integrative Project presentations (2020-Present).
Andrew’s most significant contribution has always been rooted in his empathy: making access easier for students. Whether that is financial, administrative, or academic, his goal has been, and remains, student success. He helped build the foundational infrastructure by working with admissions and registration processes and ensuring student voices were heard during the establishment of the new SPH systems.
The most rewarding part of his long service has been watching the institution transform from a “fairly fractured school who was trying to grow, into a thriving place for students.”, This enjoyment is linked directly to student well-being and the School’s focus on anti-racism, noting the importance of making spaces where students feel welcome and part of the community.