Kimberly Howard Wade will be the commencement speaker at Oregon State University-Cascades’ ceremony June 16.

Wade is the executive director of Caldera, a youth arts organization near Sisters. Caldera offers year-round creative programming for underserved urban and rural youth at its campus near Sisters.

Wade previously worked for Portland General Electric’s community impact team, handling project management and community engagement strategies for workforce development and education.

She has also worked as trust manager for the Oregon Cultural Trust, managing director for Portland’s Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center and handled outreach for the Artists Repertory Theatre.

Wade has served as a volunteer for the Oregon State Board of Education and the Portland Playhouse.

She has a bachelor’s degree in political economic history from Pacific Union College and a master’s of fine arts in acting from Columbia University. She has taught at Walla Walla University.