Meet Our Featured Alumni Panelists

Anetra Brown, BS ’15 (sociology)
Diversity & Inclusion Program Manager, Salesforce

Anetra Brown is an experienced diversity and inclusion practitioner who works with organizations to develop and execute diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and goals. For the last several years, she’s worked in the tech, public, and nonprofit sectors, helping organizations create equitable policies, practices, and programs that uplift and support underrepresented communities. Anetra is currently the Diversity & Inclusion Program Manager at Salesforce, leading their early talent diversity and inclusion program.

Additionally, Anetra has served as Education Chair for the NAACP Eugene/Springfield chapter. She is currently serving on the national board for the UO Alumni Association and the Black Alumni Network.

Anetra holds a Bachelor of Science degree in sociology with a concentration in race, ethnicity, and social change from the UO. Anetra was a member of the UO Track and Field team, where she competed in the 400-meter hurdles.

Richard Harris, Jr., BS ’15 (environmental studies)
Data Director, Union

Richard Harris is a multifaceted data scientist who can set up the data technology stack, analyze the data, and do advanced data modeling and predictions. He co-founded a digital marketing agency while in college and spent four years gaining valuable experience in several different data sectors after he graduated and relocated to Dallas. Most recently, he was Lead Data Scientist at iProspect and Senior Analyst of Digital Analytics at Live Area.

At Union, however, Harris is re-imagining the data department—changing the way the independent creative and performance agency and its clients think about and ingest data, by blending creativity and data in ways that drive memorable and measurable results. He also has experience running paid search, social, and display advertising campaigns, so he brings a different perspective to Union’s marketing analysis.

Harris is also an entrepreneur, who both owns and supports small businesses through his company, Allen Raven.

Philanthropy is important to Harris, shown through his non-profit and volunteer experiences with PNW-based organizations such as NearbyNature, FOOD For Lane County, and Friends of Trees. He is currently a board member for Do Greater Charlotte.

Nick Macilveen, BA ’00 (communications studies and public relations)
Founder and Managing Director, Embarcatec

Nick Macilveen is the Founder and Managing Director of Embarcatec, a Silicon Valley-based venture builder in the fintech, mobile and clean energy industries. He is developing renewable fuels projects as well as personal data privacy systems.

Macilveen also advises startups and early-stage companies on strategy, fundraising and board development within the industries of mobile, payments and technology.

Previously, Macilveen managed PayPal’s Asia-Pacific ‘Digital Goods’ payments business in 14 countries from Singapore, developing products for large digital content customers in APAC. While living in Singapore, he joined the local UO alumni group, connecting with Singaporean and expat Ducks.

Before relocating to Asia, Macilveen helped drive various mobile payment initiatives for PayPal in the Americas, including the introduction of the ‘PayPal Here’ product with its carrier partners. He also led the business relationships with mobile carriers in the Americas as a legacy payments business from the startup Zong Mobile Payments, which PayPal acquired in 2011.

Macilveen held numerous business development, industry relations and M&A roles at mobile software, content, messaging and payments companies. He started in the mobile data industry with carriers which are now part of Verizon and AT&T.

Macilveen graduated from the UO with a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications studies and public relations and a minor in business administration. Today, he organizes and produces content for the University of Oregon’s ‘Ducks in Tech’ alumni group.