UOAA Board president Maylian Pak, MA ’05 (geography) pictured with The Duck.

A conversation with UOAA board president Maylian Pak

Maylian Pak, MA ’05 (geography), director of donor relations at Oregon Community Foundation is the newly elected president of the UO Alumni Association. After seven years of service on the alumni board Pak succeeds Adolf Zeman, BS ’00 (political science), who was recently appointed by Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy to the Anchorage Superior Court.

“I thank Adolf for leading our strategic planning process as a board member and then implementing that plan as UOAA president,” said Raphe Beck, executive director of the UOAA. “It is a pleasure to welcome Maylian as his successor. She brings a wonderful passion for community, higher education, and all things UO.”

The UOAA sat down with Pak to discuss how accepting the volunteer leadership role has affected her life.

How did you choose University of Oregon?

I lived and worked in the Washington, DC area for several years after graduating from the University of Mary Washington. While I loved my work (remote sensing and geographic information systems), I wasn’t entirely fulfilled by my career. My passion was, and still is, geography. Specifically, I am energized by learning about how individuals and communities identify, learn about, and advocate for causes they believe in and what factors influence and impact our behavior. My desire to further explore those topics led me to apply to graduate school.

I chose the University of Oregon because it met many of my academic and personal needs—the geography faculty are accessible and dedicated to their students as well as being respected in their fields, and Eugene has a balance of outdoor activities and proximity to the ocean and mountains. In spring 2002, I visited Eugene and it cemented my decision to relocate to the West Coast.

What was it about your UO experience that shaped you? What stands out when you reflect on your time at UO?

I credit the influence and compassion of my professors who took the time and energy to help me develop academically and connect outside the university. They encouraged me to explore Eugene and learn about community needs. Eventually, I chose to focus my master’s research to exploring community-based responses to environmental pollution in Eugene. These experiences ultimately led to my current career in philanthropy where I continue to learn about and identify ways to support community needs.

Did you have a mentor? I did. I had two, in fact. I credit my two advisors Lise Nelson and Alec Murphy with helping me find my way through graduate school and into a career I love.

What does it mean to you to serve as board president?
I’m honored and grateful for the opportunity to bring together two of my passions—building community and supporting education. This role provides me and other board members the opportunity to grow and build the university community through advocating and connecting with others who share a love for UO.

What do you hope to accomplish this year as board president?
I lack adequate words to express how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected communities across the globe. For me, the pandemic has reinforced how complex and complicated the world is. And, I want to create space to listen to each other’s stories and hear ideas for how to recover and rebuild and how the alumni can help support the University of Oregon to listen, create, and implement programs and policies that will result in resilient and equitable communities.

  – Reid Carr, BA ’98 (advertising), UOAA executive board member