For years, the Student Alumni Association has existed to support students on their journeys to becoming UO alumni, enhancing student experiences and offering opportunities to network with alumni and fellow students. As of summer 2025, SAA is now free for all UO students, making those connections even more accessible.
These opportunities help students launch successful careers after graduation and build a flourishing Duck community. Thanks to financial support from the UO Alumni Association from membership dues, the UOAA Board of Directors chose to make SAA membership free, removing barriers and creating more opportunities for students to connect with the UOAA well before graduation.
One-on-one connections between alumni and students create a bright and energetic Duck community.
“The UOAA Board of Directors recently adopted a new strategic plan that focuses on helping alumni support the career journeys of current students and recent alumni. This focus aligns with Oregon Rising, the university's own plan that includes becoming a leader in career preparation,” UOAA Executive Director Raphe Beck shared.
“While the Student Alumni Association has always been a membership organization, the board decided that our career programs should now be available to all students. Fortunately, thanks to our many dedicated alumni members, the UOAA is in a financial position to open SAA membership to all students at no charge. We hope to connect as many students and alumni as possible through mentoring relationships, informational interviews, and other experiences that help Ducks open doors for other Ducks,” he said.
A student writes a thank you note to alumni donors during Ducks Give.
Students can attend member-exclusive events that connect SAA members with UO alumni in one-on-one as well as small-group settings. For Jovie Chen, SAA director of marketing and production and rising fourth-year student at the UO, these events are her favorite part of membership.
“I've met so many incredible alumni that have turned into relationships outside of SAA, and mentorships as well,” she shared.
The connections to alumni that SAA membership provides can create new paths that students may not have realized were possible.
“Choosing to work with the SAA kickstarted my career exploration through networking events and opportunities to connect with alumni,” said Carson Roach, SAA director of leadership development and rising fourth-year student.
The support of UOAA members makes it possible for students to find career development resources through the Alumni Association’s Duck Career Network and to connect directly with alumni working in fields they’re interested in. Alumni can complete an interest form to get involved, and then the SAA will help place them where most supportive to students’ needs.
Hana Mazur, BS ’25 (public relations), meets with an alum at a networking dinner.
As members of the SAA, students also have opportunities to gain leadership skills and meet new people through internships. Open to students of all majors and class years, the Student Alumni Association Leadership Team (SAALT) is a great way to become a leader, build a resume, and connect with the broader UO alumni community. Drew Manley, an SAA intern and rising third-year student, said the combination of networking opportunities and leadership skill-building is what makes a difference for him.
“I’ve appreciated the SAA Leadership Team’s balance between commitment to connecting with alumni and professional development for students," he shared.
These opportunities for growth and development benefit SAA members well beyond their time as students, helping to launch new graduates into meaningful careers and prepare them for real-world settings.
Pam Freitag, BA ’18 (general social science, political science), served as director of membership as part of SAALT. “Students join the Student Alumni Association to broaden their horizons and connect with other students and Duck alumni. I have gained a lot of knowledge about what I can do to connect myself to fellow Ducks and experiences that will stay with me long after graduation," she shared. The foundations she found with SAALT have helped propel her on her career journey.
Students gain career and life insights from alumni at events like networking dinners.
The connections that SAA members make with alumni and the UO community enrich the lives of every Duck and create a more connected community. Former SAA director of philanthropy & advocacy, Claire Martin, BA ’16 (political science), has continued to support others’ development as a recruiter, career coach, and mentor. Before graduation in 2016, she shared how impactful the SAA had been on her UO experience. “I like being a part of the SAA because it brings the university, its students, and a community together. It's one of the best and easiest ways for students to have school spirit, learn to network, and all around be better Ducks,” she said.
Experiences with the SAA provide students valuable career opportunities and invaluable connections with the larger UO community and legacy. Thanks to member dues and support, future generations of Ducks will be able to learn and grow with SAA and UOAA beyond graduation.
—By Sarah Bathke, BA ’25 (journalism), UO Alumni Association communications generalist