Jane Lubchenco (b. 1947), Distinguished Professor of Zoology, is among the most accomplished scientists to have ever served as a member of the OSU faculty. Professors in the Zoology Department since 1977, Lubchenco and her husband, Bruce Menge, have contributed greatly to the scientific understanding of marine ecosystems around the world. Since the late 1980s, Lubchenco has also been actively involved in the formation of science policy, especially as it relates to the nation's coastlines and oceanic environments. In 2009 Lubchenco was confirmed as the first female head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a post that she held until 2013.

In this, the first of two interviews, Lubchenco discusses her upbringing and early years, her educational path, aspects of her research portfolio, her involvement in science policy, and her tenure at NOAA.

Life history interview conducted by Janice Dilg for inclusion in the Oregon State University Sesquicentennial Oral History Collection (OH 26), Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Oregon State University Libraries.