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As I start my 15th season coordinating the DC Ducks’ football watch parties, I want to share how special it is that we have created such a passionate, welcoming community of Duck fans in Washington, DC. Friendships and career connections have been forged between yelling 'O' on third down and singing the fight song when we score! Birthdays and anniversaries have been celebrated with cheers of 'de-fense' or the refrains of Shout! echoing in our ears. It’s wonderful seeing old and new faces (including newly-minted alumni) as we come together each fall to celebrate our pride in the University of Oregon.
I’m a [Life] Member because of the people! As a member of the UO Alumni Association, I love meeting Ducks everywhere. I see the ‘O’ on cars and shirts all over. Go Ducks!
Being a Life Member of the UO Alumni Association helps me stay connected to the Duck community no matter where life takes me. It’s a meaningful way to celebrate my time at the UO while continuing to support future Ducks. I love showing off my Ducks pride with my license plate—it’s a daily reminder of where I came from and what I’m still a part of. Once a Duck, always a Duck!
When I went to the UO, I already had 20 years of professional experience in theatre—as an actor, director, writer, producer, and artistic director in Portland, Oregon. I was ready to make a shift. I wanted to share via higher ed what I’d been working on for decades. I didn’t have to put aside making art to become an academic. The program encouraged me and my peers to continue creating while developing as scholars.
Doing my research on the [advertising and brand responsibility master's] program, looking at the alums who went through it, I saw the work they were doing and the impact they were making on the industry. I saw that their work became something really meaningful, and they didn't take the traditional route of working at an agency. The program really empowered them and encouraged them to do something different. Of course, I already knew my professors, so I knew they were great. I was excited to learn more from them and see their perspectives.
The [College of Education] Family and Human Services program refused to let me fail and I am forever grateful. I would not have graduated college without the help and support of the FHS faculty and staff. I really enjoyed the comradery of the cohort. College felt really big and overwhelming. It was helpful to have a group of people that felt like my community at UO.
At UO, I taught courses in anthropology and was the director of the Southwest Oregon Research Project (SWORP) from 2001–2006. For SWORP, I spent a term in Washington, DC, learning about the archival resources of Oregon tribes. The university allowed me to study broadly about the Native peoples of Oregon and has incredible library resources for such studies. I continue to use my education working with regional tribes and municipalities to understand the history of Indigenous peoples in Oregon.
Duck TV taught me leadership and prepared me for working in live news. We filmed as if it was live, with no room for mistakes. This experience was invaluable when I started in local news. Although I initially aimed to be a reporter, the producing skills I developed made me a better journalist. Duck TV was a significant part of my college experience, and I wouldn’t change a thing. It’s an amazing program that played a key role in shaping my career.
Growing up in Arizona, Oregon wasn’t initially on my radar, but as I learned about the quality of the advertising program—the classes, the alumni, the clubs—it made my list. Then, I visited the campus, and I immediately fell in love. I was consumed by the trees, the buildings, the energy, and the collective pride of the students which made Oregon my number one choice. Once I arrived as a freshman, I had to adapt to a culture and way of living that expanded my horizons and gave me the perspective I needed to accelerate my career beyond college.
After attending a small liberal arts college on the East Coast my freshman year, UO was a breath of fresh air that offered something for everyone and a far greater diversity of academic paths. The international studies program had a wealth of fascinating classes taught by passionate professors. I also studied creative writing under the guidance of the wonderful professor Richard Lyons. And of course, Eugene is the ultimate college town and overflowing with natural beauty. I can’t imagine a better university to have spent my undergraduate years.
Professionally, [the years I spent at the School of Journalism and Communication] were the most formative in my life. I was so nervous to come back to school, but the people in [Allen Hall] welcomed me with such open arms and such grace. Without that, I don’t know if I would’ve stuck it out. I was not a very good student before this school, and I think the culture here helped nurture that.
From my experiences in Students Against Child Abuse, the Couples and Family Therapy community, and as a Center for Healthy Relationships student intern, I was able to connect with my community about issues that are important to me, develop mentorship skills, and create close bonds with other interns as well as supervisors. I cherish all the relationships that I’ve developed in each of these organizations and feel as though I have made connections that will continue through my lifetime.
The Stamps Scholarship [at the University of Oregon] was essential in providing the resources to have the most enriching educational experience in Eugene and beyond. Thanks to the funding, I was able to study and conduct research around the world, which inspired me to pursue a career telling global stories.
I'm fortunate enough to have the education I have from the University of Oregon—the business degree that gave me the confidence to go out and make [Brew Dr. Kombucha] a national endeavor . . . When I’m in New York, or if I'm in Nashville or something I know I can go to any grocery store and see my product there. It’s just wonderful.
As a little girl, I always knew I wanted to work in sports, specifically female sports. I didn’t know the capacity at the time, but seeing where I was in school and looking where I am now, this is where I wanted to be. Working for a sports team, specifically at the highest level of basketball in the world right now in the WNBA, is nothing I could have drawn up, but I am eternally grateful to be in this position.
[My time at the UO] has helped me in my life by always pushing me to be the best version of myself. Always showing up and giving it my all every single day. I think basketball has translated so much to my professional career with time management, competitiveness, and always wanting to grow and do better.
When I graduated from Ontario High School, attending the UO was the furthest thing from my mind. After four years in the Air Force and spending the last year in Vietnam, I returned to Ontario and eventually enrolled at the UO. I received a BA in political science in 1973 and, with the help of divine intervention, was admitted into the UO Law School and got my JD in 1976. I have been retired since 2019, after practicing law in Dallas for more than thirty-eight years. I owe my success to the UO and am proud to be a Duck.
When I arrived at the University of Oregon I was lost; not sure where I fit in as a first-generation Chicano. Through the support of the Office of Multicultural Affairs along with students of MEChA (Chicano Student Union) and other student organizations, I found my foundation and learned how to work with others while appreciating and valuing the different experiences of people and groups that I didn't encounter in my small-town upbringing.
One of the coolest things about being a Duck alum now is getting back together with my old Duck friends from across the country and raising our kids together the right way, as Ducks too! Throw the O!
I am thrilled to join the outstanding scientists, educators, and staff at the Museum of Natural and Cultural History. Museums are more than repositories of history. Through exhibits, collections, research, and educational programs, MNCH has the capacity to amplify marginalized voices, build a more sustainable world, and ignite meaningful conversations. As a proud UO graduate, I am excited and privileged to continue this work at an institution that inspired me at the start of my career.
My experience at UO was special because of the many organizations and groups I was a part of on campus. Coming back from COVID I was scared what campus life would be like but all of my jobs and involvements quickly made that fear go away. I have found great community within my time at UO and I am so grateful for every person I met along the way.
The UO’s student radio station KWVA is celebrating its 30th anniversary this May. I was the station’s first-ever music director when it signed on 88.1 FM in 1993. How did that experience prepare me for my career? My experience at KWVA changed my life. In 2016, I realized my dream of becoming the owner of my own radio station, KORE 1050 AM & 95.7 FM – FOX Sports Eugene. Locally owned radio. What a concept!!
I feel lucky to have received training in art, design, and architecture from the University of Oregon. This has been the foundation of my career that took me from working in one of the best architecture firms here in the PNW (Olson Kundig Architects) to starting my own award-winning design and manufacturing business.
Working in homeless services was so impactful because the title and awards you win don’t matter. Now, I’ve gotten to a place where I can strip myself from that elitist mentality. I’m doing work for the right reasons. It’s about how I can use my work to propel the community for the greater good.
The School of Music and Dance has been the highlight of my UO memories. I started as a music major but switched to journalism. However, I still played in the concert band. Twenty years later, I was hired as the school’s publicity director, and 12 years before retiring, I became the Oregon Marching Band announcer. I’ve gone to 18 bowl games, including four Rose Bowls and two national championships. It’s been the Golden Age of Oregon football!
I joined the UOAA Board of Directors to give back to the university and strengthen our alumni community across the globe. My time at the UO was a transformative experience. I learned invaluable skills, developed lifelong relationships, and made lasting memories. Now I want to give back and ensure future Ducks have a similar experience. Go Ducks!
As an Indigenous Native American Duck alum, my time at the University of Oregon was priceless to me. I was given a formative education and found not only educators, but mentors. I was given the skills I needed to pursue the enactment of lasting change in our community. I see that we have opportunities to learn and work together to create a better future. The wisdom passed down from past professors still echoes in my work today.
My career path is a direct result of both my areas of study at UO; studying Art & Technology and Business led me to positions that incorporate design, marketing, and communications, especially in my latest role at Roseburg. This position provides me with a perfect opportunity to connect both skill sets in order to communicate with words and visuals cohesively. I’m also grateful to remain based locally in Lane County - Go Ducks!
Through my experience at the UO, I think the biggest takeaway is the relationships I've cultivated. I was involved in a lot of student unions – the Multicultural Center, the Asian and Pacific American Student Union, and Kultura Pilipinas. I also worked at UO Catering, so I had a broad experience in different areas of campus. I met some of my best friends at the UO, and after 20+ years, I still have strong relationships.
One thing that’s great about having an O for our University’s symbol is that it reminds me that I have a circle of U of O friends. The close friends that I made at Oregon have meant so much to me over the years. They have been a key part of my mental health, especially during the pandemic. As my abuelita told me: ‘Friends are good medicine.’ I am grateful for what I learned at Oregon and for the connections that have boosted my happiness and wellbeing.
When I set foot on campus during IntroDUCKtion, I never expected to be a Double Duck. I was a 17-year old Black girl trying to figure it out. Little did I know, I was exactly where I needed to be. My time in the psychology department and law school presented many opportunities and opened doors that I could not have imagined. It was these experiences that reaffirmed my desire to work in the criminal justice field and help with rehabilitation, address mental health, substance abuse needs, and reintegrating into society. I would not trade my many year's at UO for anything! And I am forever grateful for the education, experiences, and friends I met along the way.
I am the first woman in the lineage of my family history to be able to get an education, to build a career, to immigrate to America and be financially independent. While I wear these facts as a badge of honor, my accomplishments are not just mine but they are a gift from my ancestors especially my ama and my dada abu.
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