Staff
Gaby Gardiner
Organizing Director
Gaby graduated from the University of Oregon with a bachelors of science, majoring in Philosophy and minoring in ethnic studies. They believe in the power of education and empowering students to become politicized through their lived experience. This was their relationship with their involvement in OSA, the United States Student Association (USSA), and Native American Student Union (NASU) in college. Their experience is varied across local, state, and federal campaign planning, development, and implementation. Examples of this were OSA’s Vote OR Vote campaigns, organizing to prevent cuts to the Pell program, and much more. Gaby is incredibly excited to support field team and students with plans to address access and affordability.
Phone: 503-781-0790
Email: gaby [AT] orstudents.org
Andrew Rogers
Executive Director
Andrew was raised in Southern Oregon. During his time as a student at the UO, he worked as Communications Director with the ASUO and as a fundraiser for the UO’s Annual Giving Program. He has worked in nonprofit social media management and sales and was previously OSA Campus Organizer at the University of Oregon, as well as Communications Director for OSA before becoming Executive Director. In his free time, he enjoys making music, writing poetry, and hiking.
Phone: (541) 292-3870
Email: andrew [AT] orstudents.org
Emily Wanous
Legislative Director
Emily was born and raised in Pendleton, Oregon in a working class family. She is a first generation college student who graduated from Western Oregon University with a Bachelors of Arts, majoring in Political Science and minoring in International Relations. While at WOU, Emily became politicized while working as a Class Rap Coordinator for OSA’s Vote OR Vote and Survey Campaigns, Legislative Support for General Counsel, and representing her fellow students as an ASWOU Senator. Emily previously worked for AFSCME Council-75 curating their 2020 Hard-To-Count (HTC) Census plan for their Locals across the State. As the Legislative Director of OSA, Emily is proud to advocate for the very thing that allowed her to break generational cycles—Education. Education has allowed her the opportunity to do what she loves for a living: empowering, politicizing and engaging young folks in the Legislative process.
Phone: 541-240-1432
Email: emily [AT] orstudents.org
Ariana Organiz-Ruiz
University of Oregon Campus Organize
Ariana Organiz-Ruiz is a 2020 graduate from the University of Oregon with a Bachelor’s of Science, majoring in Political Science and minoring in International Studies. Ariana spent her undergrad learning about the U.S. political system and advocating for racial equity by participating in school clubs and participating with the National Society of Leadership and Success. She also joined Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon as a Grassroots Organizing Fellow, where she became driven and dedicated to breaking down racial barriers in reproductive healthcare, education, and political organizing. Ariana scaled up and eventually began developing Planned Parenthood’s first Raíz program in the state. Therefore, as the UO Campus Organizer for OSA, Ariana hopes to continue making real progress in advocating for education and student rights across Oregon!
Office Phone: (503) 957-6038
Email: ariana [AT] orstudents.org
Ivan Chen
Equal Rights Organizer
Ivan graduated from the University of Oregon with a Bachelors of Science, majoring in ethnic studies. During his time as students, he served External Vice President for ASUO and Financial Director for LGBTQA. Additionally, he sat on the OSERA board for the past two years, and he served as Treasure and Exec Chair for the last year on OSA. He believed in student power and he wants to continue to develop and advocate for students.
Phone: 626-250-4844
Email: ivan [AT] orstudents.org
Evelyn Kocher
Oregon Students of Color Coalition Field Organizer
Evelyn Kocher graduated from OSU Corvallis in 2018 with a degree in cultural anthropology and international studies and is currently based in Beaverton. She is fluent in Spanish, Portuguese, and Indonesian as well as being functionally proficient in other languages such as Chinese from having a year and a half working abroad in China as an English teacher. Her political and communications experience ranges from having spearheaded the OSU student support group for electoral organizing in 2016 to working with Rep. Diego Hernandez during the 2018 legislative session. Evelyn is very excited to have the chance to work with an organization as storied and dedicated as the OSA!
Phone: 971-645-0980
Email: calvin [AT] orstudents.org
Jerrel Brown
Lane Community College Campus Organizer
Jerrel grew up in Florence, Oregon and studied at both Lane Community College and the University of Oregon to earn himself a degree in environmental studies. During his studies Jerrel served as an ASLCC senator, sat on OSA’s board of directors, and served as Unite The Vote’s Clip Boarding Coordinator. Jerrel is a voracious consumer of LitRPG and enjoys spending his free time reading and playing games with friends.
Phone: 541-206-8318
Email: jerrel [AT] orstudents.org