Steve Clark
Vice President
Steve Clark came to Oregon State University in July 2011 from serving as the president and publisher of the Portland Tribune and metro-area Community Newspapers Inc.
Clark spent the first dozen years of his career reporting, editing and publishing at newspapers in Gresham, Lake Oswego, West Linn, Pendleton and the Willamette Valley. He was later named publisher and chief operating officer of Community Newspapers, a Tigard-based company that included several Portland-area newspapers. He eventually became president and co-owner of the company with his wife, Randalyn.
In 2004, he was named president of the Oregon Publication Corp., Oregon’s largest newspaper group, which includes the Portland Tribune and Sustainable Life magazine, as well as Community Newspaper's 16 weekly and monthly publications.
In addition to long-standing private sector and civic engagement in state economic development, transportation and land use matters, Clark is active with community engagement and volunteerism. In the past, he also served as a member of the College of Liberal Arts’ Dean’s Council at OSU, and has been a sponsor of the Austin Family Business Program Excellence Awards, the OSU College of Business Alumni and Business Partner Awards, and the OSU College of Engineering Oregon Stater Awards.
As Vice President, Clark oversees University Relations and Marketing, the university’s primary communications branch, with marketing that supports student recruitment and raises awareness of OSU’s impact, dissemination of news about teaching, research and faculty and student achievement, the development of a vibrant online presence and hosting university-wide events.
Clark has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Oregon State University.
Annie Athon Heck
Associate Vice President
A former journalist and executive communications specialist, Annie Athon Heck joined Oregon State University in March 2013. She works with URM Vice President Steve Clark and others in the division to lead OSU’s strategic communications and marketing efforts. In her role, Heck helps lead executive communications, marketing-communications for the Oregon State University Advantage, research enterprise communications, and university events.
Prior to arriving at OSU, Heck spent the past 13 years working at Hewlett-Packard, where she helped develop communication and messaging strategies for the company. She later led a global public relations program for the printing business’s graphics segment and provided executive communications support for HP leaders.
From 1995-99, Heck was the communications director for the Corvallis School District 509J, where she also served as chief spokesperson. She was a political reporter for the Statesman-Journal newspaper in Salem from 1991-95, covering the state Legislature and governor’s office.
Melody Oldfield
Assistant Vice President
Melody Oldfield has been at Oregon State University since 1999. As Assistant Vice President of University Relations and Marketing, she works with URM Vice President Steve Clark and others to lead the development and implementation of OSU’ marketing strategies. Oldfield oversees the university’s brand and its management, recently completing an extensive rebrand project for Oregon State that included a new voice, messaging map, visual identity and university logo. She leads the university’s digital communications, creative marketing-communications and licensing program.
Prior to joining Oregon State, Ms. Oldfield spent eight years with Wachovia Bank in Atlanta, Ga. in community relations. Earlier in her career, she worked in account management at an Atlanta-based advertising agency. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Communications from University of North Carolina- Wilmington and a graduate certificate in Integrated Marketing and Communications from West Virginia University.