For more than 15 years, Kari van Zee has been a cornerstone of the Biochemistry & Biophysics department at Oregon State University. As Senior Instructor II and Lead Advisor of the department, Kari has shaped the academic and personal journeys of hundreds of students by welcoming them with warmth, guiding them with wisdom and celebrating their every success.

Kari’s commitment to student success is matched by her passion for supporting OSU. She has been a driving force behind her department’s participation in Dam Proud Day since 2021, organizing alumni panels, trivia nights and student-led events that build community and inspire giving. In 2025, Kari and her husband’s shared birthday coincided with Dam Proud Day, and they chose to celebrate by hosting students and alumni to donate together a total of $7,000, embodying the spirit of the day.

Kari’s legacy is one of quiet leadership and boundless generosity. She is the person cheering students on before exams, hosting graduation dinners at her home, and building a culture of care that permeates every corner of the department. As she prepares to retire at the end of the 2025-26 academic year, her influence will continue through the lives she’s touched and the philanthropic spirit she’s cultivated.

Winners of the OSU Loyal Philanthropic Award receive $5,000 to designate to the fund of their choice at the OSU Foundation; Kari selected the Biochemistry & Biophysics Excellence Fund.