Alumni from the College of Arts and Sciences have gone onto successful careers across the world. See how a liberal education — one steeped in critical thinking, humanities and scientific inquiry — has made prepared our alumni to go out and make a difference.
A champion of marginalized communities
Inspired by women mentors and professors, Sarah Koski took advantage of opportunities that came her way related to politics, fundraising, and nonprofit leadership. Today, she works to serve the unhoused community in Eugene and Lane County.
Experiential learning opportunities prepared him for a computer science career
Right after graduation, Fedi Aniefua landed a job as a software developer at Amazon in Seattle. And his career trajectory all began with a meeting with an advisor who encouraged him to apply for an internship for students of color.
UO alumna and Hollywood star shares stories of her days in rainy Eugene
Maybe you know her as Sweet Dee on the FX sitcom It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, HBO’s Hacks, but did you know the actress Kaitlin Olson studied theatre arts at the University of Oregon?
How a second language boosted this alum to join the US Olympic team
By learning a second language as a CAS student, alum Kara Buckley (sports marketing, Spanish, ’06) developed the foundations to become a multi-lingual professional that opened doors to join the US Olympic team.
UO alum’s journey from theatre student to multidisciplinary artist
As a theatre arts minor, Jerilyn Armstrong fueled her passion for the stage and screen. Working with theatre arts faculty equipped her to pursue a theatre and film career.
One Duck's journey of culture, learning and global connections
Nagore Sedano Naveira is an assistant professor in the Department of Hispanic Studies at the University of Puget Sound. She graduated from CAS in 2019 with a PhD in Romance languages and a graduate certificate in women’s and gender studies.
Creating a culture of inclusion in education
Cory Mainor graduated with an English bachelor’s degree from CAS and went on to work as an instructional assistant, then as a teacher after earning his master’s in education. He’s now an assistant principal at Arlington Public Schools in the Washington, D.C. area.
From ball gowns to space suits, and everything in-between
Physics alum Manju Bangalore wears many hats—and a tiara. She’s had internships at NASA, the White House, a job on the set of a Beyoncé music video, and competed for the title of Miss USA. But she says she owes so much of her success to the CAS faculty she studied under.
Political science alumna in the political arena
Rachel Bitecofer started her academic career as a 24-year-old single mother. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in political science and went on to earn a PhD at the University of Georgia. She’s become a political strategist and author.
In a league of her own
Lauren Goss, BA '11 (history), is the University of Oregon’s new sports archivist, the only position of its kind on the West Coast. Goss’s interest in sports archivism has a start during her undergraduate studies when she studied the history of Title IX on campus.
Leadership through service
Kāneali‘i Ng-Osorio graduated from the University of Oregon in 1998 with a BS in psychology, which he says helped him develop soft skills and emotional intelligence to thrive in work environments.
UO alum turned his love for Spanish into a global career
Brandon Rigby, PhD ’17 (Romance languages, literatures, linguistics), is using his Spanish education to represent the US around the world as a foreign service officer for the U.S. Department of State.
Additional CAS Alumni Making a Difference
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Gifts to the College of Arts and Sciences can help our students make the most of their college careers. Support from our alumni and friends can provide students access to hands-on learning, internships, research opportunities and more. Our faculty, the new professional advisors in Tykeson Hall and our staff prepare students from the moment they arrive on campus to when they launch into their career. Your contributions help assure that teaching, research, advising, mentoring, and support services are robust and fully available to every student.