As new college graduates transition into their careers, many face challenges navigating job searches, adjusting to new work environments, and building professional connections. However, recent University of Oregon graduates have a unique advantage: the robust, supportive University of Oregon Alumni Association (UOAA) network.  

For many recent graduates, the UOAA is more than just a membership—it’s a gateway to career opportunities, mentorship, and a sense of community as they establish themselves in their post-grad lives. Through events, professional development opportunities, and ongoing alumni engagement, UOAA membership proves to be an invaluable resource.  

Two recent graduates, Kayla Choate and Ella Polley, share how their involvement in the UOAA has helped them launch their careers and expand their networks in meaningful ways.  

Kayla Choate 

Just weeks after earning her business administration degree, Kayla Choate, BS ’24, launched her career as an account assistant at Funk Levis & Associates—a creative agency in Eugene owned by Duck alumna Anne-Marie Levis, MBA ’96. But Choate’s journey to that role didn’t begin with a job search. It started with a conversation at a UOAA event that led to a meaningful connection with Levis, and eventually, a post-grad opportunity. 

Her involvement with the UOAA wasn’t limited to one event. As a Life Member, student board member, and digital communications student associate, Choate immersed herself in the alumni community while still a student. These roles gave her meaningful access to professionals who helped shape her career readiness and offered support beyond graduation. 

“The UOAA has been essential in launching my career, expanding my network and boosting my confidence,” she said. “As a member of the Student Alumni Association, I continued my involvement after graduation, connecting with alumni through LinkedIn, attending events, and seeking advice. One of these connections led to my current role. The UOAA community is truly supportive—'Ducks love giving back to Ducks' is not just a cliché. It’s a real part of the alumni experience." 

After working in a temporary capacity with Funk Levis & Associates, Choate is already preparing to take the next step in her career—moving to Portland to pursue a master’s degree in strategic communication through UO’s School of Journalism and Communication and joining the Portland Business Journal as an event and marketing coordinator.

Ella Polley

Ella Polley, BA ’24 (political science), works as a communications and marketing coordinator at Eugene-based nonprofit, Relief Nursery. In this role, Polley supports Relief Nursery’s mission of preventing child abuse and neglect through strategic communication and community engagement efforts.  

Polley solidified her plans to pursue a career in nonprofit work after attending a networking skills dinner hosted by the UOAA and Student Alumni Association in 2024. During that event, she made meaningful connections with UO alumni who inspired her post-commencement plans. 

“I sat with prominent UO alumni working in the nonprofit sector. Hearing their diverse experiences and career paths opened my eyes to the wide range of roles that exist within nonprofit work,” Polley said. “Their insights not only deepened my understanding of the field but also solidified my desire to pursue a career in nonprofit development.”  

After graduation, Polley joined the UOAA as an Annual Member to continue building relationships with fellow UO alumni, as she grows in her career. She joined Relief Nursery’s team in September 2024 as a volunteer and intern coordinator and started her role as communications and marketing coordinator in early 2025.  

Join Kayla and Ella 

Class of 2025 graduates can join Choate and Polley as a UOAA Life or Annual Member at uoaa.uoalumni.com/new-grad-membership. 

—By Hana Mazur, UO Alumni Association student associate, class of 2025