Fall 2005
ALUMNI PROFILE
In 1976, Paulus ran in a statewide race and was elected the first female secretary of state in Oregon. She served two terms — and made history in the process. It marked the first time a woman was elected to a major state office in Oregon. A decade later, Paulus was appointed by President Ronald Reagan to oversee the 1986 Filipino presidential elections — because she had been so successful fighting election corruption as Oregon’s secretary of state.
to the tiny coastal town of Alsea — a move that was far ahead of its time. Motivated by a desire to serve the people of Oregon, Paulus also has worked at the Oregon Historical Society and with other organizations to advance education in the state. During her tenure at the Historical Society, Paulus built a cutting-edge history project for kindergarten through 12th-grade students that won a first-ever national award from the American Library Association. Paulus plans to help develop similar programs with the Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport, High Desert Museum in Bend and World Affairs Council of Oregon.
Paulus missed becoming Oregon’s first woman governor by a slim margin in 1986. After the election, Governor Neil Goldschmidt appointed her to the Northwest Power Planning Council, where she was able to put her passion for environmental concerns to good use. She also had the opportunity to make critical reforms to Oregon’s public education system during two terms as superintendent of public instruction. Her achievements in this position were later recognized by President Bill Clinton, who appointed Paulus to the National Assessment Governing Board for Education.
After 35 years spent serving others, Paulus shows no signs of giving up public life. She keeps the Lions Club statue on her desk to remind herself how much work still needs to be done — and how far she’s come in her own right. Recalling that fateful visit from the Lions Club president who asked her to return the lion statue, Paulus said she stood her ground and kept the gift. She now keeps it as a reminder that “what the legislature gives, the legislature can take away.” Throughout her career, Paulus has remained determined to fight for change when it is needed. By channeling her passions into action, she has left her footprint on Oregon’s history.
Paulus’ passion for education is evident when she describes her experiences working as superintendent of Oregon’s public schools. “Prior to my tenure,” Paulus said, “a belief system was imbedded in the schools that there were some kids who just could not be expected to learn. I strongly believe that a student’s ability to learn is based on the quality of instruction he or she receives — not on where he comes from or how poor his family is.” In accordance with her beliefs, Paulus implemented uniform standards of education for every school in Oregon — from the metropolis of Portland
— Jocelyn West Compton Jocelyn West Compton JD’04 joined the College of Law staff earlier this year as assistant to the dean.
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