DPO Officers

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.”

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.

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.

Born and raised in Khanh Hoa Province, Vietnam, Kien immigrated to the United States in 2014 at 17. He has resided in SE Portland since August 2014 and proudly became a U.S. citizen in November 2021.

Since 2022, Kien has served as the Chair of the DPO Young Democrats Caucus, working to recruit and support the election of young democratic candidates, register young voters as Democrats, elevate the voices of young democrats to the party, and strengthen relationships between caucus members and Democratically elected officials. Kien was among the youngest Harris delegates elected to represent Oregon at the 2024 Democratic National Convention.

In 2023, Kien was elected to the Portland Community College (PCC) Board, becoming the first openly gay and former Student Trustee to hold the position. During his tenure, Kien has successfully advocated for holistic policies addressing housing insecurity, transportation access, rising childcare costs, and other barriers to student success. Most recently, he spearheaded an effort to revise PCC’s Investment Policies, leading to divestment from fossil fuel companies and an annual disclosure of the college’s investments.

In his professional career, Kien serves as Policy Advisor for Oregon Senate Majority Leader Kayse Jama and the Senate Democratic Caucus, working closely with legislative leaders, state agency staff, policy stakeholders, and advocacy groups to help pass transformative legislation and secure major investments. In 2021, he was part of a collective effort that unionized Oregon’s legislative staff, making Oregon the first state in the nation to do so.

Previously, Kien served as the Secretary for the City of Portland’s AAPI Advisory Council, Co-Chair of Multnomah County’s Community Engagement Committee, and School Assistant for Refugee Newcomers at Lutheran Community Services Northwest.