Chair
Rosa Colquitt, PhD
Dr. Rosa Colquitt was elected State Party Chair of the Democratic Party of Oregon after serving as its Vice Chair and Chair of the Black Caucus, and a lifetime of dedication to the Democratic cause.
Having grown up in a military family with three older sisters, mom, and her dad who devoted thirty years of his life to the U.S. Army, Dr. Colquitt lived on various bases on the East Coast and in the Southern United States. In addition to living on a number of statewide bases, she spent five and a half years in Kaiserslautern, Germany teaching at an American high school. Travel has been instrumental in her life’s education, informing how she relates to people of all races, cultures, backgrounds, beliefs, and identities.
Dr. Colquitt completed three college degrees in North Carolina, a BS degree at HBCU, Fayetteville State University and an MA and PhD at North Carolina State University in Research Administration.
Her life’s philosophy is based on a great quote from poet and activist Dr. Maya Angelou:
“You can practice any virtue erratically, but nothing consistently without COURAGE. My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style. I can be changed by what happens to me, but I refuse to be reduced by it.”
Vice Chair
Kim Schmith
Serving as Chair of the Jefferson County Democrats (4 years), and then as Chair of the Rural Caucus is where Kim began work within the Democratic Party of Oregon. In early 2021 Kim initiated work in outreach programs to non-affiliated voters to help change elections for the positive in more conservative, rural communities. Kim believes it is through local civic involvement we make the greatest impact on the local community. To this end, Kim focuses on young voter outreach, is an advisor for high school student leadership groups where 85% of her leaders are BIPOC, and serves on the Latino Community Association – Latino Festival Committee. Kim takes local experiences and passion for rural people to the state and national stage with service as Chair of the Rural Caucus, Chair of CD2 and additionally serving as the DNC Rural Council Western Regional Representative. Kim does democracy and policy work so that rural young people, marginalized people of color, those who are undocumented, and families in need always know that someone standing in their corner, willing to fight for what is right.
Vice Chair
Eileen Kiely
For the better part of her career, Eileen Kiely was a financial controller and manager for Daimler Trucks North America. She moved to Sunriver in 2015, beginning her “retirement career” as an outdoor leader and educator. Eileen ran for State Legislature in 2018, and in 2019 was elected Vice Chair of the Deschutes County Democrats as well as Democratic Party of Oregon Secretary.
