SEE IT BEav IT: Marianne Vydra

Marianne Vydra wore numerous hats during her 28-year career as an Oregon State administrator, and wore each one well and with a distinctive flair.

She twice served as the interim athletic director. She was OSU's senior women's administrator from 1998-2020, the Director of Academic Service, and served on NCAA, university and community committees, oversaw numerous sports and served as a mentor and confidant for coaches, co-workers and student-athletes.

She also earned OSU's Women's Center Woman of Achievement Award for advancing gender equity and social justice measures in athletics and on campus.

She retired on Oct. 30, 2020, as one of the longest-tenured and most-decorated administrators in the department's history. She was the second-longest tenured SWA in the Pac-12 Conference at the time.

"It [was] an honor to serve nearly 3,000 student-athletes that graced the campus at Oregon State University," she said. "I [met] and teamed up with extraordinary coaches and administrators during my tenure. I have also had the luxury of longevity, which allowed me to facilitate the weaving of generations of former student-athletes back into our fold.

"I am especially grateful for my troupe of mentors and friends that have allowed me into their lives along the way. Athletics is a relationship endeavor and I am grateful for everyone who has touched my life in some manner, especially our student-athletes.

"Facilitating pinnacle experiences on and off the courts and fields for young people as they are shaping their full identities is a true privilege. I love seeing student-athletes and coaches shine when everything comes together for them."

Vydra is being showcased in conjunction with OSU's SEE IT, BEav IT initiative, marking the 50^th anniversary of Title IX. It will focus on celebrating the stories of OSU prominent women's athletes and athletics.

"Title IX set the stage for important growth, and we are grateful to all of the pioneers of women's athletics who helped create opportunities for our current generation of student-athletes," said OSU Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Scott Barnes.

"We look forward to sharing the stories of some of our outstanding past and present female student-athletes, coaches and staff members throughout the 2022-23 year."

She represented the Pac-12 for 16 years on different NCAA Championship Committees. Vydra was appointed to the Women's Soccer Committee in 2007 and selected to the NCAA Women's Gymnastics Committee in 2013. She was also on the NCAA Division I Baseball Committee, and was the baseball sports supervisor for a decade.

Vydra also helped create Beavers Without Borders, a service-learning study abroad program developed as a collaboration between OSU Athletics and OSU International Programs.
She was named one of the Top 10 Senior Woman Administrators in the NCAA by CollegeAD.com in 2015. She also received the Beaver Champion Award from then-OSU president Dr. Edward Ray in 2018.

"Marianne made significant and lasting contributions to intercollegiate athletics both nationally and at Oregon State," Barnes said. "She is a true citizen of our industry, giving of her time and talents to various NCAA and conference committees over the years.

"Her vibrant passion and care for our student-athletes and coaches will be one of her many lasting legacies."

She has no plans to slow down.

"I have a lot of gas in my tank," she said. "I think a vacation is still 100 miles in the woods with a pack on my back with no Mountain Dew in sight.

"I am blessed with an incredible network, and I am taking some time with my family and friends and to be still and listen."

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