Chris Harker

Welcome

Chris, a life-long Democrat with a PhD from University of Michigan, was appointed to the Oregon House of Representatives in June of 2008, filling the seat left by the now-Senator Suzanne Bonamici. A small business owner and lifelong activist, Chris’ focus is education, the environment and the economy.

Chris is President/Founder of Cayuse, Inc, a Beaverton-based, successful small business that developed groundbreaking software to simplify and consolidate college/ hospital grant applications. Cayuse started in the Harkers’ living room while Chris was on faculty at OHSU, and now employs fourteen Oregonians. Earlier experience: Before starting Cayuse, Chris was a medical researcher and Laboratory Director at OHSU Clinical Research Center.

Education: Attended K-12 public schools; B.S. Plant Ecology, The University of Michigan, 1977. Ph.D., Human Physiology, The University of Michigan, 1985.; Post-Doctoral Fellow, The Mayo Clinic, 1985 -1987.

Lived in Washington County for 20 years. Married 28 years to Georgia Harker, an artist and art teacher with an MA in arts education. Raised two children, Ayla and Graham, who attended the Beaverton Public Schools.

Personal Notes: As a high school student studying environmental sciences in 1970, Chris attended the environmental teach-in on the very first Earth Day in Ann Arbor and helped start a curb- side recycling program in Ann Arbor. He commutes by bicycle about half the year and loves to camp and fish.

© 2008