Duck Alumni Recruitment Team (DART) seeks volunteers
Since 2012, the Duck Alumni Recruitment Team (DART) program has been providing University of Oregon alumni the opportunity to give back to their alma mater, while adding a personal touch to the college admissions process.
Olivia Manwarren poses with the Duck
Through college fairs, reception events for prospective and admitted students, and relationship building, DART volunteers play a key role in the UO’s efforts to recruit future Ducks. As UO alumni, DART members share their personal experiences with prospective students and their families, giving insight into what it means to be a Duck and highlighting what makes the UO special.
Olivia Manwarren, BA ’14 (family and human services), leads the DART program. She’s currently based in Houston, where she works as a regional admissions counselor. This role, along with her own experiences as a Duck, give her unique insights into the impact that DART participants can make.
“While I currently live in Texas, I grew up in Eugene and attended Churchill High School, so I have a deep love for the UO and Eugene community,” Manwarren said. “Taking over the DART program has been very rewarding. I love working with our alumni because they add so much value to our events.”
Pictured left to right: Sydnie King, current student ambassador; Erin Hays, associate vice president for Student Services and Enrollment Management and director of admissions; Ruth Rodriguez, assistant director for regional recruitment; Dom Blaise, Northern California regional admissions counselor; Moriah Dunning, Northern California regional admissions counselor; Jaime Jensen, BA ’99 (public relations), DART volunteer
DART volunteers are most needed during the spring, when the UO hosts receptions for admitted students around the country in places like California, Texas, Colorado, and the Washington, D.C. area, as well as during the fall, a key recruiting period for incoming first-year students. Oregon alumni are encouraged to get involved to make these future Ducks feel welcome before they even step foot on campus for their first term.
Bay Area-based volunteer Heather Jones, BA ’02 (psychology), finds the DART program a meaningful way to give back to the institution, but also the next generation.
“I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Oregon, and although it was a while ago, I remember how stressful the admissions process can be,” Jones said. “[DART] is a great way to help where I can and get to talk about all the great things about Oregon.”
With Oregon’s move to the Big Ten Conference this fall, DART program leaders hope to see increased interest in the Midwest. Volunteer Mya Andersen, BS ’00 (environmental studies), is currently based in Iowa. She said she’s most looking forward to sharing what makes the UO great with prospective students.
“I loved my years at Oregon! As a displaced West Coast-er it's my goal to encourage more Midwest students to go to the University of Oregon,” Andersen said.
To learn more about becoming a DART member and to complete an application, visit https://dart.uoregon.edu/join-dart. For questions about the program, contact Olivia Manwarren at omanwarr@uoregon.edu or 541-346-1341.
—By April Miller, assistant director of marketing and communications