Class Notes

What’s new with you matters to us.

Have you been recently promoted or started a new job? Perhaps you are starting on a new educational journey. Maybe, you are newly married or recently added to your family. Let your fellow Ducks know what is happening in your life.

When you submit a class note, it will be considered for publication in the UOAA’s monthly Shout! newsletter, posted to the UOAA alumni website, or highlighted on social media.

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Featured Class Notables

Leadership through service—A business and project management leader's tips for success after graduation

April 11, 2023

Kāneali‘i Ng-Osorio earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from the UO in 1998. He is now an enterprise business analyst for Kamehameha Schools, serves on the board of directors for the UO Alumni Association, and is the Hawaii Ducks regional UOAA chapter president. Kāne shares what motivates him to stay so involved supporting current and future Ducks, along with advice for current students and recent graduates.

A Career Committed to Advocacy

April 14, 2023

Darrell Rico Doss, JD ’95, recently made the move from Capitol Hill to General Motors. He looks back on the last nearly three decades of advocacy work, including navigating the financial crisis of 2007–08, serving as Congressional Black Caucus policy director, and working in the Japanese government.

Notebook that says New Mindset New Results with coffee cup and succulent on a table

The Mindful Duck

March 13, 2023

People management leader Humberto Chacon, BA ’87 (psychology), shares how mindfulness can positively impact your productivity and relationships, both personally and professionally.

Matthew Searfus

Class of 1996

Matt Searfus, BS '96 (economics), has joined Yamaha Corporation of America as vice president of marketing.

Jessica Wood

Class of 1996

JESSICA WOOD, JD '96, joined the Grand Rapids, Michigan, office of Dickinson Wright, focusing on municipal law and finance, and economic development.

Andrew Beyer

Class of 2001

The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History has named Andy Beyer, BA '01 (history), the 2018 Oregon History Teacher of the Year.

Sarah Cannon

Class of 1997

Sarah Cannon, BA '97 (Spanish), released her debut memoir, The Shame of Losing, a book about the brutal realities of a brain injury and a young mother trying to save her own life.

Makiia Lucier

Class of 1997

MAKIIA LUCIER, BA ’97 (public relations), was featured in the Nerd Daily, an entertainment blog, regarding her new novel, Year of the Reaper.

Lemuel Cooper

Class of 1998

Lemmy Cooper, BA '98 (sociology), is the new director of food and beverage at The Duniway, a hotel in downtown Portland.

Hector Hernandez

Class of 1998

Hector Hernandez, BFA '98 (painting), MFA '99 (painting), presented his work at Mingle and Muse, an event held in July at the Sitka Center near Lincoln City.

Katie Knower

Class of 2011

Katie Knower, BS '11 (art), is the new historic resources coordinator for the Albany Visitors Association.

William Miller

Class of 2008

William Miller, BA '08 (political science), has joined Boise-based Perkins Coie law firm's labor and employment practice.

Kelly Hibler

Class of 1989

Kelly Hibler, BS '89 (speech: rhetoric and communication), has been appointed general manager of Reebok Classics business unit, which handles product creation, marketing, and merchandising for the global athletic footwear company.

Colleen Kelley

Class of 1977

Colleen E. Kelley, M.S., 1977; Ph.D. Rhetoric and Communication, 1982 has published "A Rhetoric of Divisive Partisanship: The 2016 American Presidential Campaign Discourse of Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump" (Lexington, 2018). The book suggests that Sanders' and Trump's rhetoric created an "angry orphan" persona in their marginalized voter bases. The outcome of this unorthodox partnership was that one member (an outsider with a thirty-year history of socialism and non-party affiliation) came close to being his party's nominee while the other (an outsider with a thirty-year history of extreme wealth and political party opportunism) became a president of the United States.

Bryan Dent

Class of 1992

Bryan Dent, BS '92 (finance), has joined Vancouver, Washington-based Riverview Bancorp as vice president and commercial loan officer on its lending team.

Stefanie Loh

Class of 2007

Stefanie Loh, BA '07 (history and journalism), has been promoted to assistant sports editor at the Seattle Times.

Howard Allred

Class of 1977

Howard Allred, MBA '77 (accounting), was appointed chief financial officer of West Star Aviation, which has locations in Chicago, Houston, and Denver, among other cities.

Molly Neumeister

Class of 2015

Molly Neumeister, BS '15 (educational foundations), has joined the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.

Garrett Mitchell

Class of 2017

Garrett Mitchell, BArch '17, was hired as a design professional for BBT Architects in Bend.

Sulman Raza

Class of 2017

Sulman Raza, BA '17 (French), made his professional debut at the US Open Championship golf tournament in June.

Dawna Hansen

Class of 2012

Dawna Hansen, MS '12 (special education), has been hired at Coldwell Banker Valley Brokers in Corvallis.

Taylor Smith

Class of 2014

Taylor Smith, BA '14 (English), has been named the volunteer program and prevention coordinator for Saving Grace, a Bend nonprofit organization providing family violence and sexual assault services.

Chet Lisiecki