MONMOUTH, Ore. – The Western Oregon University Foundation announces four new board members, effective July 1. The board is the governing body of the WOU Foundation and has fiduciary responsibility for the oversight of the Foundation.
New board members are as follows:
Juan Cotto ‘88
Juan Cotto is an accomplished leader in public policy and community engagement, and a proud alumnus of Western Oregon University, where he served as the ASWOU President and played on the baseball team. As the Director of Government Affairs for Bloodworks Northwest, he advocates for blood donation policies and has helped pass key legislation in Washington and Oregon. Cotto founded The GOOD Neighbor Baseball League, which fosters community engagement and minority ownership in sports.
Previously, Cotto directed outreach programs at Fred Hutch Cancer Research Center, focusing on cancer disparities. With over 25 years of experience in public health and civic leadership, he is dedicated to advancing WOU’s mission, crediting the university for shaping his purpose and advocacy.
Cotto lives in Seattle with his wife, Sara, and their two children.
Thomas “T.J.” Beck ‘98
T.J. Beck’s legacy with Western is strong; his sister, Kathi Beck-Stotts ’87, was a multi-sport athlete at Western (formerly known as WOSC), while his grandmother, Helen Yoder ’28, and aunt, Marsha Yoder-Oswalt ’58, both attended Western when it was called Oregon Normal School and Oregon College of Education, respectively. Beck initiated the Western Oregon University Football Hall of Fame in 2022, handling outreach to inductees and their families, and was honored as an inductee in 2024 as a member of the 1997 WOU Football team that won the Columbia Football Association conference title and made the NAIA National Playoffs. Additionally, he serves on the leadership committee for the Wolves Rising campaign, demonstrating his commitment to the growth and success of his alma mater.
In the business realm, Beck founded the Thomas Beck Agency in 1999, based in Canby. The agency specializes in property and casualty insurance, as well as health, Medicare, and life insurance for individuals, families, and businesses, showcasing its dedication to serving the community through comprehensive insurance solutions.
Rose Nikolai
After several decades of administrative work in the San Francisco Bay Area with investment advisors, insurance brokers, a biotech firm, and the largest manufacturer of chocolate in North America, Rose Nikolai retired in 2019. She and her husband, Chris, bought a travel trailer, hit the road in search of a new home, and settled in Monmouth in 2021. Soon thereafter, a neighbor, Pat Gallagher, a former Western professor and an Emeritus Society member, suggested they join the group. They both became members and have been attending meetings and enjoying field trips with Emeritus ever since. Nikolai will serve as the new Emeritus Society President and as a member of the WOU Foundation board.
Morgan Pemberton
Morgan Pemberton is a 4th-year student majoring in American Sign Language and psychology and minoring in social sciences. She is also the 2025-26 Associated Students of Western Oregon University President.
During her time at Western, she’s been deeply involved in campus life, serving on the ASL Club executive team for three years, co-founding the Native & Indigenous Culture Club, joining Kappa Delta Chi Sorority, working at the SSA front desk, and helping lead as a Destination Western Coordinator.
Western Oregon University Foundation executive director, Katie Wojke, shares, “I’m excited to welcome each of our new board members. As alumni and community members, they have a deep sense of pride for Western and dedication to helping secure resources that enable our students to thrive.”
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About Western Oregon University
Western Oregon University, established in Monmouth in 1856, proudly stands as Oregon’s oldest public university. Hosting around 4,000 students, Western embodies a mid-sized, NCAA Division II institution, with approximately 80% of its students hailing from within the state. Notably, its diverse student body comprises individuals from underrepresented backgrounds, veterans, and non-traditional learners. Western stands as the preferred campus in Oregon for those pursuing an enriching education within a nurturing, student-focused environment, characterized by faculty-led instruction. Where YOU belong.
