Life at OSU

A former journalist, Annie Athon Heck joined Oregon State University in March 2013. She works with URM Vice President Steve Clark and others in the division to lead OSU’s strategic communications and marketing efforts. In her role, Heck helps lead the university’s news and research communications team, executive communications, communications for the Oregon State University Research Office, including Terra magazine, and university events.

Prior to arriving at OSU, Heck spent 13 years working at Hewlett-Packard Co., where she helped develop communication and messaging strategies for executives in the company’s printing business. She later led a global public relations program for the printing business. During her HP tenure, Heck also served as Oregon community relations manager, overseeing sponsorship and philanthropy programs as well.

From 1995-99, Heck was the communications director for the Corvallis School District 509J, where she also served as chief spokesperson. She was a political reporter for the Statesman-Journal newspaper in Salem from 1991-95, covering the state Legislature and governor’s office. Her career as a journalist also included work at the Oakland Tribune, the Contra Costa Times and USA Today.

Heck earned undergraduate degrees from U.C. Berkeley in English and French literature. She later earned a master’s degree from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.