Employee Profiles
Katrina Tanner, Human Resources
Katrina Tanner is a Portland native with deep roots in the community. Yet she brings a world of experience to her job as human resources coordinator.
Tanner refers to herself as "the gatekeeper for the healthcare human resources employment services team." Her title doesn't begin to describe what she does for OHSU. She serves as a resource for employment services information for both internal and external customers, providing excellent customer service and supporting her team with recruitment activities, including job posting/advertising, attending job fairs and diversity outreach events. She works toward establishing OHSU as an employer of choice in the community, both locally and nationally. A graduate of Benson High School and Oregon State University (B.S. in Families Studies), Tanner attended graduate school at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. There, her studies set her on the road to adventure and forever changed her life.
Immersion in the Deep South gave her insight into a very different way of American living. Then, her advanced degree pursuit took her to the Republic of Senegal in West Africa. She spent 15 months studying the emerging women's movement there, "an unforgettably powerful experience," she says. "Living in Africa gave me a global perspective on life. It taught me that people are more alike than they are different."
Tanner received her PhD from LSU from the School of Human Ecology, on the strength of her dissertation on long-term, strong African American marriages. Her resume prior to joining OHSU's Human Resources department in 2011 included stints with children's educational materials publisher Flying Rhinoceros; Louisiana Public Broadcasting; and Benton County (Oregon).
At Benton County, Tanner spent three years in human resources, and found her calling. At OHSU, she found her home. "I love providing people with excellent customer service, and that is what human resources is all about," she says. "OHSU truly values customer service. The environment in this department is one that encourages innovation and promotes diversity. I knew from my first interview that I wanted to be part of this team."
In addition, the complexity of OHSU appeals to her. "I love learning, and there are so many opportunities to learn and grow here," she says. She volunteers within OHSU on various committees and panels as part of her ongoing education.
She is married to Dino Tanner, a video analyst for the Portland Trail Blazers, and they have a daughter, Kennedy. When she and Dino aren't working on their Portland fixer-upper, she enjoys reading.
