Sand, Sobelson, Smith Inducted Into Alumni Hall of Fame

Bruin Notes

From left to right, Ben Sand, Lori Sobelson, Tim Smith

A community organizer, a director of corporate outreach and a school administrator with more than 30 years of educational service were honored with induction into the university’s Alumni Hall of Fame in September, as Ben Sand, Lori Sobelson and Tim Smith were recognized for their contributions to society.

In 2005, Sand established the Act Six Program – a leadership and scholarship initiative that trains urban leaders to be “agents of change” in their neighborhoods – and in 2008 he founded the Portland Leadership Foundation (PLF), a faith-based community-organizing venture. In 2013, PLF established Embrace Oregon, an initiative that works with the Department of Human Services to assist local foster children.

Sobelson serves as director of corporate outreach at Bob’s Red Mill Natural Foods. The position gives her authority to oversee the philanthropy of founders Bob & Charlee Moore, ensuring that their charitable giving goals are met. She also organizes and participates in a variety of functions that align with the Bob’s Red Mill mission, ranging from health symposiums and community events to public appearances and media presentations.

Smith has worked in education for more than 30 years – first as a teacher for nine years and, for the last 24 years, as an administrator in four Oregon school districts. He is currently an elementary school principal in the Sherwood (Oregon) School District and is active as a youth leader at his church. He has also served as a board member for a number of nonprofits – Love INC and Relief Tree Nursery among them – and on local education foundations, including in his current role as a member of the Sherwood Education Foundation.