Duck Career Network Alumni Career Advice and Events

Alumni Career Advice and Events

Read alumni career profiles and blogs, watch event recordings, and see what's coming up!


Career Profiles
Ducks with career and job search insight and industry experience are here for you, offering their perspectives and advice to enhance and inspire you in your career path. Through alumni career profiles and blogs, you can access alumni insiders’ perspective on jobs, organizations, and industries.
Awab Al-Rawe

Solving real world problems started in the UO classroom

June 5, 2021
Awab Al-Rawe is a Program Analyst-Ombudsperson for the Oregon Health Authority, where he receives, investigates and resolves complaints and systemic barriers from the public and medical providers regarding access and quality of care for Oregonians served by the Oregon Health Plan. Awab is also a member of the UOAA Board of Directors.
Merryn Roberts-Huntley

Inspiring others to go after it, no matter what the goal

May 11, 2021
Merryn Roberts-Huntley is a 2006 MBA graduate, and a faculty member in the UO Sports Product Management program at the Portland campus. Outside of teaching for UO, Merryn is the owner of Made To Hire, a career coaching company she began in 2017. Additionally, she won the title of Mrs. Oregon America in July 2021!
Max Green

Grit and resilience carried beyond the UO

April 19, 2021
Max Green graduated in 2020 with a B.B.A. in finance with an entrepreneurship minor. He is currently a senior finance and strategy analyst for the Intel Corporation in Portland.
Kevin Yamaka

Impacting the community through entrepreneurship

March 31, 2021
Kevin Yamaka, owner and founder of Soko Coffee in Eugene, started his business venture in March 2020 with his wife Leslie, a UO alumna. Thanks to a successful Kickstarter drive, what started as a coffee cart is soon to become a permanent shop. Graduating in 2012 with a B.S. in Economics and Business and Society, Kevin held several jobs in finance and accounting, before a layoff in 2020 motivated him to start his own coffee company.
Tomas Flores

Building relationships through leadership and volunteering

February 5, 2021
Tomas Flores is the Director of Financial Services at the Oregon Department of Education which provides leadership for all elementary and secondary students in public schools and education service districts. He is responsible for the accounting and fiscal grant management of the department. Tomas is a certified public accountant (CPA) and has 25 years of governmental accounting experience. He has volunteered as a board member of the Latino Educational and Recreational Network, serves on the advisory board of the State Employees Credit Union, and is a member of the UOAA Board of Directors.
Event Recordings
We don’t want our alumni to miss out on our array of webinars. There’s no substitute for meeting in person, but when that’s not possible, or you’ve missed an event, a recording is the next-best thing. Watch these at your convenience, then consider attending a future event!
Intel's Young Alumni Panel

Intel's Young Alumni Panel: Navigating Your Career Path

October 26, 2022

Hear from three young alumni making an impact at Intel Corporation. This moderated discussion covers topics ranging from navigating your first job out of college and avoiding imposter syndrome, to removing the intimidation factor from networking. Laurin Maurer, Vivek Sharma and moderator Max Green look forward to sharing their advice with fellow Ducks, no matter the major or career focus.

The Creator Economy

The Creator Economy: From TikTok Stars to Business Leaders

October 14, 2022

Have you ever wondered what it takes to make it big in content creation and social media entrepreneurship? Join us for this skill-sharing workshop where we’ll learn from two recent grads turned TikTok entrepreneurs. Adam Faris, BA ’20 and Connor Bussey, BS ’19 will discuss their early beginnings in startups and the path they have taken to scale a social media side hustle into a successful business, now partnering with brands like Sports Illustrated, Road & Track, and the Seattle Seahawks.

Grow With Google

Grow With Google: Use YouTube to Grow Your Business

October 7, 2022

YouTube isn't just a place to watch cat videos - it's also the second largest search engine in the world! Join Bryan Caplan, BA ’07, your Dedicated Trainer for Grow with Google, as he shares ways you can tap into the power of YouTube to grow your business.

Embracing a growth mindset

Embracing a Growth Mindset

October 1, 2022

Together, we will learn how the phrase 'not yet' can change your mindset. In a flourishing culture that embraces a growth mindset, the word 'no' is replaced with 'not yet.' Just because you or your team have not yet accomplished something, that doesn't mean it's impossible! When we embrace this shift in mentality, we are more willing to explore new possibilities and outcomes, and create an environment where everyone is supported in gaining new skills, insights, and perspectives.

UO Alumni Association

Up Your LinkedIn Game

May 2, 2022

LinkedIn is a powerful tool that can help you build your professional network, learn what you need for career advancement, and even find new opportunities in your next job search. You know that, but so does everyone else. James Chang, Director of the Duck Career Network, teaches you how to maximize your LinkedIn profile, connect with fellow UO alumni using powerful search tools, and navigate the world of online networking.

Alumni Skill-Share
Both hard and soft skills play equal roles in employment, career success and work-life balance. When seeking the ideal job candidate, employers must consider a diverse set of skills that demonstrate achievements. Whether it's people-oriented skills or analytical data-centered skills, our Duck alumni community is made up professionals eager to share their expertise!
The Duck Career Network is happy partner with volunteers to bring you an ever-growing skill-sharing series, covering a wide range of career topics. Check back often see what's new!
Upcoming Events
Duck In and Connect Portland

Duck In and Connect: Portland

Portland, OR
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Connect with fellow UO alumni in Portland at Duck In and Connect. Attend guided networking activities, casually mingle, and support fellow Ducks on their career journeys!

The Rush to Nowhere event graphic

Breaking Free from Hurry Sickness

Virtual
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Tune in for a powerful, research-based session with alumna Kandi Wiens on breaking free from the pressure to always do more—without sacrificing success.

Life Beyond UO
We want to ensure our graduating Ducks are prepared for life after the UO, and our alumni volunteers are here to help. We leverage our alumni as advice givers and storytellers to the benefit of soon-to-be grads. This blog series, completely written by alumni contributors, features a variety of helpful content for students and new graduates. Topics range from setting down roots in a new city to establishing oneself as a professional, from interview and job search tips to the benefits of networking and chapter involvement.