UO alumnus puts out welcome mat for refugees

Looking back, Collin Ngo-Director, BS ’16 (business administration), BA ’16 (Spanish), treasures his UO academic experience. The Clark Honors College graduate from Portland says his coursework applies directly to his success today as associate director of corporate partnerships at Welcome.US, a nonprofit organization working to welcome more newcomers and help them thrive in the US. 

But what resonates the most from his time at the UO, Ngo-Director says, is actually the time he spent thousands of miles away from the university.

“What really sticks out is my study abroad experience in Spain,” says Ngo-Director, who lives in San Francisco with his spouse Angela, a 2015 UO graduate who studied human physiology and chemistry and works as a senior marketing manager in health-tech. “It was my first time traveling solo, and the first time I was really immersed in a language. I soaked that in. It expanded my horizons, as well as my self-sufficiency.” 

“Here I was, a college sophomore who had never traveled alone before, landing in Madrid. I had to get to Segovia. So I jumped right in and figured out the train, then the bus, and then the walk up the cobblestone road to meet my host mother who speaks no English. You can’t get that from a classroom or a textbook.” 

Complete immersion—in the language, mannerisms, and everyday life in Spain—led to an exponential growth in language skills, Ngo-Director says. It also helped him grow up quickly, he adds. Ngo-Director learned how to do things for himself and figure out ways to engage with other cultures. 

After completing his undergraduate degree, Ngo-Director joined the Peace Corps and moved to Costa Rica. As part of his community economic development project, he helped a women’s group with capacity building, teaching entrepreneurship courses, and finding innovative ways to supplement their farming incomes. Working with US nonprofit Bricks to Bread International, he coordinated a project to build a community oven. 

Today, at Welcome.US, Ngo-Director is part of the team working to enlist business partners to help refugees succeed in the US. This aid can take many forms, including donated goods and services, hiring fairs, legal assistance, and opportunities for employees to lend a hand or even sponsor refugees.



Welcome.US works to leverage the eagerness and the capacity of individuals and organizations to welcome newcomers to the United States. The organization started in 2021, shortly after US and NATO forces withdrew from Afghanistan and the Taliban took over the capital city of Kabul. Vulnerable civilians fled the country in one of the largest US airlifts to date. 

In response to this influx of Afghan refugees (some 80,000 within just a few months), John M. Bridgeland and Cecilia Muñoz started Welcome.US. Bridgeland was a Director of White House domestic policy under President George W. Bush, and Muñoz had the same role in the Obama administration. More recently, the war in Ukraine led to a surge in demand for the aid that Welcome.US provides—and in donations. 

In April 2022, a cohort of corporate leaders bound together to form the Welcome.US CEO Council to mobilize private sector resources and expand the nation’s capacity to resettle newcomers. 

Through the efforts of Ngo-Director’s team, corporate partners have helped provide tens of thousands of refugees with essential goods and services, such as cell phones, laptops, and data service plans. Others are taking leadership roles in newcomer hiring initiatives, and all companies are finding ways for their employees and customers to learn more and get involved. 

Welcome.US strives to involve citizens from across the country and from all walks of life. People are eager to help, Ngo-Director says, but it takes a coordinated effort to transform this interest into actions that make a difference. 

The demand for this effort isn’t likely to decrease. Because of global conflict, climate change, and other pressing issues, Ngo-Director says, the issue of global displacement won’t end any time soon. However, being part of the solution is very rewarding. 

“The University of Oregon set me on the path that led to where I am now,” Ngo-Director says. “I feel very fortunate for that. Above all, it opened my eyes to what is out there. It helped me think about the opportunities I could pursue, my own personal interests and growth, and what gets me going. I hope to continue learning and stay curious.” 

-By Ed Dorsch, BA ’94 (English), MA ’99 (journalism)