Michele "MiMi" Bernal-Graves, MS, Treasurer
MiMi is a passionate volunteer for several non-profit organizations and serves as Oregon PSR's Board Treasurer. She and her husband Ben also foster dogs through local dog rescues. Through various community groups, she volunteers her permaculture and human resources expertise to support local families and small businesses. She is a certified Professional in Human Resources (PHR) and holds a BS in Environmental Science with an emphasis in Biology from Pacific University and a MS in Educational Leadership and Policy from Portland State University.
Alejandrina “Alé” Felipe, RN, BSN
Alejandrina is a native Indigenous woman from Oaxaca, Mexico, and has lived in Oregon since she was eight years old. She currently works as a nurse in Obstetrics at Legacy Health in Gresham. She graduated from Linfield College in 2009 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing. Alejandrina believes that we can all build a better future by addressing racism, climate change, and all forms of injustice. She comes from and has lived in underserved communities that need organizations like Oregon PSR to work closely with community partners to advocate for policy changes.
Elaine McKenzie, RN, MPH, Vice-President
Elaine is a public health nurse who worked in Alaska before moving to Portland in 2005. She worked as an expert direct service public health nurse, Fairbanks Health Center Manager, and as Deputy Chief for Alaska's public health nursing system. After retiring from the State of Alaska, she studied for a PhD in Nursing at University of San Diego and taught at University of Portland's School of Nursing. Studying the consequences of collective violence and war and using a public health framework became a focus during her PhD studies. Elaine currently leads Oregon PSR’s Peace Work Group and Membership Committee.
Patricia Murphy, ND, LAc, Secretary
Pat received a BS in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, an ND from the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, and is a graduate of the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine (OCOM). For several years, Pat was an instructor at the OCOM and currently presents guest lectures about environmental medicine to acupuncture students at the masters and doctoral levels, to practitioners, and to the public. Since 1984 she has created a blended private practice of acupuncture and naturopathic medicine. Pat takes to heart the naturopathic tenet “prevention is the best cure,” and is dedicated to helping people learn how to decrease toxic exposures.
Patrick O'Herron, MD, Board President (he/him/his)
Pat attended the University of Arizona College of Medicine at Tempe and completed his residency training at Oregon Health Sciences University in Neurology. He practiced general surgery for one year in McMinnville prior to joining the Trauma and Acute Care Surgery service at Salem Health, where he is now a general surgeon practicing acute care surgery. His focus at Oregon PSR is climate change, which fits well with our mission of addressing the greatest threats to human health. Pat has served as Oregon PSR's Board President since 2015, and he currently lives with his family in Portland.
Hope Yamasaki, MS
Hope has over 15 years of experience creating emergent anti-racist communities of practice. She holds a Master’s Degree from Portland State University in Educational Leadership with a focus on Sustainability and Equity. She was the recipient of the President's Diversity Award for taking a leadership role in creating a socially just and inclusive sustainability culture and co-created the annual Sustainability for All conference, which focused on the intersection of sustainability and social justice and highlighted non-dominant perspectives. She has extensive experience in developing curriculum, facilitating discussions, and leading group dialogues, has done outreach and provided crisis services for our houseless neighbors, and has worked with domestic violence survivors. She is passionate about solidarity and building community and dedicated to inspiring and supporting others as they find their role in creating a socially just and sustainable future while avoiding the perpetuation of dominant oppressive cycles within our collective past and present. She believes we really are better together.