OraLee lives in Parkdale on a small farm focused on beekeeping and gardening. Her evolutionary ecology and population biology degree ignited her passion for ecological balance and sustainability. Having lived in Atlanta, GA, and New York City she experienced urban/suburban sprawl and dense population regions. Living in Parkdale since 2017, she appreciates the land protections needed for Hood River County to retain its community character, natural beauty, and ecological resources while developing its Hood River city center. After graduating from Emory University and post-doc at the NIH, she was a professor at the Univ. of Alabama at Birmingham, New York Univ., and Concordia Univ. OraLee works on remote clinical researcher projects while building her and her husband’s small business, Mount Hood Honey Company. She was elected to the board of education for Columbia Gorge Community College. She also provides community service and receives education within the OSU and Columbia Gorge Master Gardener programs. She enjoys skiing and trail bike riding to stay active while appreciating all the beauty and wonder of our local climate and natural treasures.