WINTER INSIDE 2020

NEWS FOR AND ABOUT THE PEOPLE SUPPORTING THE

The Phil and Penny Knight CURIOSITY Campus for Accelerating COMES Scientific Impact TO LIFE

UO track-and-field team Health and safety during Promoting financial literacy gets its first look at COVID-19, p. 14 for students, p. 19 Hayward magic, p. 10 Maya Agapito’s painting portrays civil rights figures Malcolm X, Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, and Martin Luther King, Jr. as African royalty

ART OF SUCCESS MAJOR WORK For Maya Agapito, majoring in art was a matter Agapito’s latest project is big on many levels. At of course. 48” x 36”, it’s the largest work she’s painted. It portrays civil rights figures Malcolm X, Harriet “Art has been important to me since I was very Tubman, Frederick Douglass, and Martin Luther young,” she says. “I always knew that whatever my King, Jr. as African royalty. career was it would be surrounded with the visual arts. It’s where my talent “In the history I’ve been taught, we look back at lies—and what brings me the civil rights leaders through a smaller lens than they most enjoyment.” deserve. By making them royalty, I want to make them monumental.” As she wraps up her senior year at the UO, The painting also reflects Agapito’s ethnicity. Agapito is grateful Her ancestors come from Ghana, Mali, Benin, and for the support she’s Nigeria, and the work depicts traditions from each received. “Financial country. For example, Harriet Tubman’s coral aid meant the beading comes from the Beninese. difference between going to Agapito’s painting is among artworks school and not being considered for a new UO grant going to school,” that philanthropist Jordan Schnitzer she says. funded in response to Black Lives Matter. At press time, the judges representing the What’s her top Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art and the Lyllye career choice after Reynolds-Parker Black Cultural Center planned to graduation? Visual announce winners before the end of the year. development director for films and videos. WINTER INSIDE 2020 OREGON

Philanthropy Files Read about donors, gift announcements, 6 and the difference philanthropy makes Our Way Forward The UO steps up diversity efforts in 8 response to Black Lives Matter On Track UO track-and-field team gets its first 6 10 look at Hayward magic MAP to the Future Philanthropic contributions help launch 14 the UO’s innovative COVID-19 Monitoring 17 and Assessment Program Upward Trajectory Thanks to donors, the university is 16 looking forward to a new year and a bright future

Ten Ways to Give 18 Highlighting opportunities for donors to 22 help the UO and transform lives

Cover: The Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact (see story, page 12). Photo by Bruce Damonte

giving.uoregon.edu Writers T 541-346-3016 Mailing Address WINTER 2020 twitter: UOGiving Monique Danziger F 541-346-2574 1720 E. 13th Ave. Editor Ed Dorsch E [email protected] Suite 312 Inside Oregon is published by Ed Dorsch, BA ’94, MA ’99 Steve Fyffe Eugene, Oregon University Communications Damian Foley 97403-2253 Melody Ward Leslie, BA ’79 CAMPAIGN UPDATE

$3 BILLION DESPITE FORMIDABLE CHALLENGES, WE REMAIN RESILIENT, ABLE TO SUPPORT STUDENTS AND OUR COMMUNITY THANKS TO YOUR SUPPORT. $2.41 The global As the COVID-19 crisis worsened and BILLION pandemic has shortcomings in testing threatened our disrupted every nation and our community, Bill dropped corner of the everything and joined forces with Professor world, and yet Leslie Leve of the College of Education our mission and Greg Shabram, our chief procurement of teaching, officer, to establish a laboratory that • Student support: research, and dramatically expanded testing capacity $406 million service remains in Lane County and at the UO. This team as urgent as ever, successfully leveraged Cheryl and Allyn’s • Capital construction perhaps more so. gift to acquire more than $10 million in and improvements: Thanks to your state and federal funding, which will allow $640 million generosity and advocacy, the University of us to test tens of thousands of people • Faculty, programs, Oregon is rising to the many challenges of in our county. Soon the testing facility today. will expand into another donor-funded and Knight Campus: building—the Phil and Penny Knight Campus $1.37 billion As the reality of COVID-19 sunk in last for Accelerating Scientific Impact. spring and we sent our students home for the spring term, we asked you to help. You Your support for our university gives me Fundraising totals as of responded wonderfully and we raised more hope for the future. We cannot rely upon October 31, 2020 than $960,000 for our Students in Crisis the state to adequately fund us. Our Fund. We provided emergency assistance students cannot afford to pay more in for rent, food, books, and internet tuition. It is your generous giving that connections to 1,200 students impacted allows us to achieve excellence and by COVID-19. Your generosity made it adequately support our faculty and our possible for these students to continue students. This support, in turn, gives us their education. Similarly, our advisors, the wherewithal to make an impact on our most of whom were hired as part of the community, state, and nation. You give me donor-supported Willie and Donald Tykeson hope for the future. We will emerge from Hall, called every student during the spring the coronavirus crisis because we are semester. This herculean effort to check in resilient, and that resilience has its roots in retained thousands of students who might our alumni and friends. otherwise have given up. When you give to the University of Oregon Philanthropy’s transformative impact is you reaffirm your commitment to our often immense and unexpected. A few university, to our students and faculty, and years ago Cheryl and Allyn Ford made a to the future. wonderful gift to renovate Pacific Hall, a building that hadn’t been touched since Thank you, Cheryl took classes there several decades ago. As part of the project, Professor Bill Cresko’s ground-floor genomics Michael H. Schill lab was renovated from top to bottom. President and Professor of Law

4 CAMPAIGN UPDATE

Duck “It was a way of meeting a need.” — Connie Kulick was willing to look at all the science and protocols the school was following—made data.” her feel more confident about resuming in-person, individual lessons with opera They scoured online forums for mask students. patterns designed to give classically Masks trained singers the space to breathe As for Kulick, like any decent ER nurse, and open their mouths wide, while she said she enjoyed rolling up her DONOR AND SCHOOL OF MUSIC maintaining a tight seal. sleeves and helping people stay healthy. AND DANCE VOLUNTEER “When I worked in the ER, we actually “There was a need,” she said. “It was a CONNIE KULICK CREATES SAFETY had to fit each N95 mask individually, so way of meeting a need.” MASKS FOR OPERA SINGERS I knew that we needed to get a good fit,” Kulick said. “We wanted to make them the The masks were so popular that she When UO Opera Ensemble director best that we could possibly make them.” ordered 100 more for the UO Chamber Karen Esquivel needed advice about Choir and choral music faculty, and she’s how to make masks that could keep her Then Kulick got to work sewing a recruited a group of donors to share students safe from COVID-19, she knew prototype. The result, made with UO yellow- costs with the school. Kulick, who along exactly who to turn to—Connie Kulick, vice colored cloth, looked a lot like a duck bill–a with her husband Tom (BS ’70, political chair of the advancement council at the fact that wasn’t lost on students, who science) has given an annual scholarship School of Music and Dance. quickly started calling it “the duck mask.” to a UO opera student for the last six Kulick covered the costs years, said her latest collaboration An opera lover, Kulick had sewn many and gave the masks to with Esquivel has led to an even of the costumes for the ensemble’s students at no charge. deeper connection with the 2019 performance of the French program. opera The Tales of Hoffmann. She’d Esquivel said the also spent more than 30 years as an masks—along with all “This has been a very rewarding emergency room nurse, including a the safety relationship,” Kulick said. stint on the hospital ship USS Repose during the Vietnam War. And she couldn’t help giving students a “I gave her a call and I said, ‘Connie, I final word of advice, need some help,’” Esquivel said. “She from the voice of was like, ‘Let’s do this!’ experience: “Just wear a mask.” “The fact that she’s a retired registered nurse really helped, because she was —Steve Fyffe focused on keeping it safe, and she

New this fall: Two majors, two minors Data Science Major: Data between the brain and behavior, Student Task Force Demands. and imperialism across the scientists are essential players in neuroscience offers course work Black Studies spans centuries, Diaspora. many industries, and data science in biology, human physiology, and crosses oceans, and is shaped by is one of the fastest-growing psychology. multiple geographies and cultural Latinx Minor: The minor in Latinx segments of the economy. practices. Students can immerse studies introduces students to the Black Studies Minor: Demands for themselves in histories of African diverse perspectives, histories, Neuroscience Major: For Black Studies from students and and African-descended people and contemporary experiences of undergraduates interested the community began in the 1960s rooted in and routed through the Latinx communities in the US and in studying the relationship and was part of the 2015 Black Atlantic slave trade, colonialism, Latin America.

5 Philanthropy Files DONORS MAKE THE DIFFERENCE

Jordan Schnitzer announced a new grant program for artists at the University of Oregon’s Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art on the UO campus

ART OF ACTIVISM INSPIRING TRUST

Thanks to a new grant “I’m very impressed with the program established people at the UO School of by Jordan Schnitzer in Law,” says Roy Dwyer, BS ’59 partnership with the UO’s (history), BL ’62 (law). “That’s Jordan Schnitzer Museum of why we decided to make this Art and the Lyllye Reynolds- gift.” Parker Black Cultural Center, Oregon artists are being given A $100,000 contribution opportunities to share their from Roy and his wife Jan creative visions of the Black to the Oregon Law Fund Lives Matter movement. will provide resources that can be allocated at the “I have often said artists discretion of the dean. The

are chroniclers of our time,” Bragg Mike by Photo fund offers tremendous said Schnitzer, president flexibility, enabling the school of the Harold and Arlene to respond quickly to change, Schnitzer CARE Foundation take advantage of future to give back to the school and the Jordan Schnitzer The call for grant applications opportunities, and promote that transformed his life, Family Foundation. We all is part of a broader $150,000 innovation. help future law students, feel anguish about the death effort funded by Schnitzer and increase access to legal of George Floyd and many that provides a total of 60 The Bend, Oregon, personal education. others at the hands of racial grants across two states. injury attorney founded the oppression. We, more than firm Dwyer, Williams, Cherkoss To learn more about giving ever, need artists to help us Go to jsma.uoregon.edu for and has practiced law for to the Oregon Law Fund, understand this issue and more information about the more than 50 years. The contact Jessica Merkner, help us heal.” winners. gift, says Dwyer, was a way 541-543-8337.

6 Justin Robinson and Simba Jangira (pictured here in February, before COVID-19 safety practices were implemented on campus) both earned their UO master of science degrees in sports product management in 2020

SUPPORTING EQUITY In this business, you are BATTING LAST AND INCLUSION always looking for a culturally diverse talent pool of job A lover of sports since After more than 28 years at candidates.” he was a kid, Jim Bartko Nike, including a stint as vice placed special meaning in president of global apparel Notar recently established the expression, “I bat last.” sports categories, John Notar two scholarships for SPM For Bartko, a longtime UO could have easily retired. students, with a preference administrator who helped Instead, he helped create to support students from drive the success of athletics, the UO’s Sports Product diverse communities. “batting last” meant breaking Management (SPM) program. the silence about the sexual He’s currently an instructor “I was thinking about George abuse he suffered as a child with the program, as well as Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and in order to help others. By an industry consultant. countless others. BLM and telling his story, he aimed the national outrage about to take away the stigma “It’s a very diverse, global social injustice inspired me to associated with disclosure so marketplace,” says Notar. ask myself what I could do.” that other survivors would be , BBA ’59, and Jim Bartko “Your focus is on consumers. inspired to come forward and by , BArch ’77 begin the path to healing. became a great friend. His In February 2020, Bartko passing leaves me in shock “A college degree means opportunity.” published Boy in the Mirror, and deep sorrow.” —Nayantara Arora, First-year Stamps Scholar, Portland, Oregon recounting the sexual abuse he suffered as a child and had With the launch of his book, kept secret for four decades Bartko also created the STAMPS OF APPROVAL and the toll it had taken on Jimmy Bartko Scholarship his life. He died March 16, at at the College of Education This fall, the university age 54, having only recently for students pursuing fields welcomed its newest class of returned to Eugene from that help survivors of abuse. Stamps Scholars for fall 2020. California to work for UO Gifts to honor Jim Bartko Six exceptional high school Advancement and the alumni can also be made to the UO’s graduates from Oregon and association. Prevention of Abuse and four from other states were Neglect Fund. chosen through a rigorous “Jim Bartko was an all-star selection process. award is the university’s most in the University of Oregon To learn more or make a prestigious and generous. athletic department for gift, go to giving.uoregon. Provided by the Stamps 25 years,” says Phil Knight, edu/Bartko or contact Kristi Scholars Strive Foundation in Go to giving.uoregon.edu/ Nike cofounder and former Schneider, kristim@uoregon. partnership with the UO, the Stamps to learn more. chairman. “In the process, he edu, 541-346-1283.

7 OUR WAY FORWARD

bold set of initiatives unveiled in October is the result of soul-searching by the UO’s academic leaders in response to mass protests calling for Aracial justice after the killing of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and countless others.

“The times demand that we find our way forward to become actively antiracist,” says Patrick Phillips, provost and senior vice president. “Combatting systemic racism in society is a moral imperative, one for which universities must be leaders, not observers.”

In addition to new Black Studies and Latinx minors, Phillips announced how the UO is bringing about change and building academic excellence by:

• Creating a research and policy center to address racial disparities in the US • Using data analytics to study the opportunity gap faced by students of color Tre’Von Robinson BA ’19 (Latin American studies and Spanish) • Addressing the way the university hires, trains, and treats Diversity Excellence Scholarship faculty and staff, with the aim of increasing diversity • Improving the campus climate by addressing systemic BUILDING THE PIPELINE racism that affects Black members of the university community A mentorship pipeline matching Black UO students with their counterparts in area schools will become the community Phillips said the UO will invest more than $11 million in the service portion of the new Black Studies minor. It is being research center alone, including at least $3 million from the developed by Nyla Jamison, a senior political science major, donor-funded Presidential Fund for Excellence. and Tre’Von Robinson, who will finish his master’s degree in education this winter. STUDENTS EMBRACE NEW BLACK STUDIES MINOR “Representation is everything,” Robinson says of the project, which is being created in partnership with the local NAACP. It’s been in development at the College of Arts and Sciences “Seeing students who look like you, doing the things that you for more than two years, but the roots of the new Black want to do, is encouraging and inspiring.” Studies minor extend back to a request from the Black Student Union in 1968. Robinson, the first in his family to earn a bachelor’s degree, received a Diversity Excellence Scholarship as Avinnash Tiwari, the program’s acting director, said interest is an undergraduate. high in the program, which launched this fall. “This scholarship made Oregon possible for me by helping “Students are almost desperate for a way to think about and to offset the extra expense of out-of-state tuition,” says understand this moment,” he says. “Everyone needs to be Robinson, who came to the UO from Long Beach, California, critically interrogating the roots of how knowledge is produced, and graduated in three years. “I want to help make college how history is told, and how art is valued. The interdisciplinary more accessible for students of color and people from nature of Black Studies is important for these things.” marginalized communities.”

8 UO STEPS UP DIVERSITY EFFORTS IN RESPONSE TO BLACK LIVES MATTER

“The Lyllye Reynolds-Parker Black Cultural Center represents a place that’s welcoming to Black students and Black people in Oregon, a place where they weren’t always welcome. And it’s a safe place. It’s a sense of community and a place for Black people to gather and escape the outside world.”

—Sadé Amherd, Class of 2022, Marketing​​ & Dunn Graham Nash Miller Courtesy

Jeffrey Beaver, JD ’85 Partner, Miller Nash Graham & Dunn UO Foundation Trustee Frohnmayer Award for Public Service 2019

DIVERSIFYING THE BAR

He fought off imposter syndrome in law school by working his tail off. Now lawyer Jeffrey Beaver has endowed a scholarship fund for the law school. He says it is his way of telling students from underrepresented groups and economically disadvantaged backgrounds, “I believe in them, and they do belong.”

Beaver credits a combination of financial aid offerings, including a scholarship from the law school, with making his legal education possible. “I reflected on where I am and how Sadé Amherd, Class of 2022, Marketing​​ the law school gave me the help I needed,” he says. “This is me doing my little part to help the law school and students.” CHALLENGE BOOSTS BLACK CULTURAL CENTER —Melody Ward Leslie, BA ’79 New leadership options for the UO’s Black students are possible thanks to a matching gift challenge issued by the Tarbell Family Foundation in memory of George Floyd. Their gift sparked a crowdfunding campaign that raised $20,000, just in time for the first anniversary of our new Lyllye Reynolds-Parker Black Cultural Center in October.

9 Robert Johnson, head coach of the UO’s track-and-field program, addresses the team before their tour of Photo by Matt Parker, UO and Track UO Parker, Matt by Photo Welcome Home UO TRACK-AND-FIELD TEAM GETS ITS FIRST LOOK AT HAYWARD MAGIC It’s been more than two years since Prior to the tour, the Ducks received Oregon, you are now the caretakers of the competed at temperature checks and Hayward- the finest track-and-field facility in the Hayward Field. On June 9, 2018, Jessica branded face masks, and were then world. Be inspired, and more importantly, Hull, BS ’19 (human physiology), won the broken into small groups to facilitate be inspiring. Welcome home—welcome 1,500-meter title at the NCAA Division I physical distancing. Johnson addressed to Hayward Field at the University of Outdoor Track and Field Championships the student-athletes while they were Oregon!” on her home track. Fewer than two in the stands, and announcer Paul weeks later, it was time to start Swangard, BA ’90 (radio and television), From there, the groups were left to building for the future. MBA ’99 (general business), instructor explore the renovated Hayward Field, a of advertising and sports brand state-of-the-art athletics arena worthy The Ducks got a glimpse of that future strategy at the School of Journalism of the nation’s preeminent track-and-field on October 2 when they received a and Communication and track-and-field program. first tour of their new home, a newly stadium announcer for the 2016 Summer renovated Hayward that is nothing Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, welcomed “It’s amazing,” said Ben Milligan, a senior short of breathtaking. them back over the stadium’s public high jumper from Portland who became address system. the fifth Oregonian in history to break “A lot of work went into putting the seven-foot barrier as a high school this together for our athletes,” said “For generations, athletes have arrived senior competing in the Oregon Relays at head coach Robert Johnson. “If I to this site inspired to train and perform Hayward, and as a Duck owns the second- look at the timeline, there’s been a at their very best,” Swangard said. “It best indoor mark in UO history. “Being little over two years where our kids is where legends were born and where a kid from Oregon and having historic haven’t had a home stadium at the millions of fans created the Hayward Hayward Field, it was tough to see it go University of Oregon.” magic. As the Men and Women of down, but walking through today, it was fantastic. Everything is next level.”

10 Setting Construction Completion: Capacity: 12,650 Funding: Fully funded the Pace began: Spring 2020 permanent seats; by gifts from Penny Summer 2018 expandable to and Phil Knight nearly 25,000 and more than 50 other donors

UO TRACK-AND-FIELD TEAM GETS ITS FIRST LOOK AT HAYWARD MAGIC

Brianna Duncan, redshirt senior sprinter Ben Milligan, senior high from Cambridge, Massachusetts Field and Track UO Parker, Matt by Photo jumper from Portland, Oregon Field and Track UO Parker, Matt by Photo

While coaches and athletes expressed preparing for competition inside the “Right now the track is empty but the immense gratitude to Penny and Phil stands themselves, with indoor warmup sound is here,” said senior distance Knight, BBA ’59, and other donors to and training facilities, a weight room, a runner Carmela Cardama Baez. “You can the one-of-a-kind venue, Hayward Field lounge, and even a barbershop. hear the fans. It’s going to feel awesome creates a world-class theater for fans and I’ve been waiting so long to have to experience the sport as well. The “I’m thinking with all of this provided, my race at Hayward Field. My first front row of the stands is just feet you have to make history, right?” said (track) year here in 2018, I didn’t get from the outside lane of the track, senior sprinter Brianna Duncan. “This is to compete that much. Even as a junior so patrons will feel the sprinters and dope. They made sure to accommodate back in Spain before I came to college, hurdlers racing past them. The seats for everybody and everything, and it’s I just missed coming to compete here themselves are wide, with comfortable beautiful to see.” at the World Junior Championships in seatbacks. Images of UO legends adorn 2014, so I’ve been waiting for my big the concourse exits. There are now two With Hayward Field now open for time at Hayward for the longest time. permanent video scoreboards, one at the practice ahead of 2021, the Ducks are It’s coming soon and it’s going to be north and one at the south end. finally home again, and are looking awesome.” forward to competing in the nation’s And while the fans are enjoying those best track-and-field facility, in front of —Damian Foley amenities, the student-athletes will be the nation’s best fans.

11 Innovation Celebration Damonte Bruce by Photo

Virtual grand opening for Knight Campus

In December, the UO community and friends celebrated a 60-year history of interdisciplinary collaboration, the Knight virtual grand opening of the Phil and Penny Knight Campus Campus catalyzes new research opportunities, forges for Accelerating Scientific Impact. UO students, faculty, and partnerships with industrial and clinical practitioners, staff have long looked forward to moving into the first building and provides integrated experiential training for the next of the Knight Campus, an iconic, best-in-class research and generation of scientists and entrepreneurs. education facility. MISSION: Science advancing society They didn’t expect to do so under skies darkened by wildfire smoke, walking across sidewalks covered with ash, amid a VISION: Dramatically shorten the timeline between global pandemic. And yet through it all, they are breathing life discovery and societal impact through world-class into this amazing first building of the Knight Campus. research, training, and entrepreneurship in a nimble scientific enterprise The Knight Campus was made possible by a $500 million lead gift from Penny and Phil Knight, BBA ‘59, and $70 million GOALS: in state bonds. Generous gifts from other donors continue to help fulfill the vision. The ambitious initiative fast-tracks • Redefine the modern research university by fostering scientific discoveries into innovations that improve the quality world-changing research unfettered by traditional of life for people in Oregon, the nation, and the world. The academic boundaries campus creates the intellectual infrastructure to establish • Serve as the educational engine driving the new Oregon as a center for both research and development, making economy of Oregon Oregon a place where companies can start up, grow, and stay. • Transform student education through discovery- driven learning LEVERAGING UO STRENGTHS • Engage the public in the excitement and creativity of scientific research The Knight Campus is a bold new initiative designed to • Foster diverse perspectives and participation in accelerate the cycle of translating scientific discoveries into scientific research innovations that improve quality of life for people in Oregon, • Improve the health and well-being of the citizens the nation, and beyond. Rooted in the University of Oregon’s of Oregon, the nation, and the world

12 Philanthropreneur

A gift to the Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact is a way to pay it forward for scientist, alumnus, and entrepreneur Dennis Beetham

Dennis and Janet Beetham visit the Phil and Penny The Beetham Family Seminar Room at the Knight Campus is Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact a hub for innovation and collaboration across disciplines during construction

“I’m never going to retire,” says Beetham studied mathematics and very collaborative. That’s the key Dennis Beetham, MS ’67 (chemistry). physics at Portland State University and to taking academics to the level of “I’m having too much fun.” chemistry at the UO. After starting his creating new ideas.” career, he also independently studied Beetham is founder and CEO of DB engineering, earning a professional DB Western has been successful building Western, a firm in North Bend, Oregon, certification. what Beetham calls “turnkey chemical that has designed, fabricated, and built plants” because the firm leverages 41 chemical plants around the world over Long before “interdisciplinary” was a expertise in chemistry, engineering, the past three decades. He credits his buzzword, says Beetham, the UO was and other disciplines around common success to a life of hard work—starting developing teams of scientists from objectives. Many of those experts, he with a paper route in the second grade— different fields to solve problems and adds, are also Beetham family members. and the science he learned at the UO, create new applications. The university especially from his mentor Professor also welcomes students to participate in “I don’t know how many technology CEOs Emeritus John Keana. research, he adds. can say they have three generations of scientists working in their company,” In recognition of a $2 million gift from Dennis and Janet see the Knight Beetham says. “My grandson works here. Dennis and his wife Janet, the university Campus as an exciting next step for That’s something I’m very proud of. It will name the Beetham Family Seminar the sciences—and industry. all started with that spark of knowledge Room at the Knight Campus. As a hub from the UO chemistry department. This for innovation and collaboration across “When I attended the UO, it was a is a way to pay it forward. This gift is disciplines, it’s a fitting space for the team-oriented program,” Beetham to help the people who can help future Beetham name. says. “From what I can see, it’s still generations do better.”

13 Helping Us The COVID-19 Monitoring and Navigate Assessment Program (MAP) combined the UO’s strengths in genomics, prevention science, and data science with on-the-ground testing. It’s COVID-19 another example of the UO leading the way, thanks to help from generous donors, as well as state and federal agencies. Philanthropic contributions help launch UO’s innovative COVID-19 Monitoring The logistics, the science and technology behind the testing, and Assessment Program (MAP) and the data gathering and analysis are complicated. But our mission is simple: Help the university, Lane County, and One of the UO’s most important tools for addressing the state get back to business safely. COVID-19 has been testing and contact tracing. Leveraging the strength of its research capacities, the UO launched an The MAP program is helping leaders make more accurate, expansive testing initiative in spring 2020. data-driven decisions—and, ultimately, save lives.

GIFTS MAKE Beyond the basics of safely the Knight Campus, we have kick-start the renovation of INNOVATION opening up campus, the the capacity to stand up and Pacific Hall. The Fords, along POSSIBLE COVID-19 monitoring and operate SARS-CoV-2 testing with the entire university assessment team has capacity at a statewide and community, were excited to Plans for MAP started in been able to work on novel multi-state scale. begin upgrades for the UO’s spring 2020, as Oregon and solutions that benefit the original science building. other states began taking entire state. UNEXPECTED steps to limit the spread of PHILANTHROPIC At the time, no one could the virus. During the earliest That effort is advancing IMPACT have imagined their gift stages, PacificSource Health due in large part to the would someday help UO Plans contributed $800,000 capabilities of the UO’s In 2016, the UO celebrated researchers respond to a to launch the testing genomics core facility, which a $7 million gift from Cheryl global pandemic and help program. Additional support can process thousands Ramberg Ford, class of the university, the local from longtime donors Amy of samples per week 1966, and Allyn Ford to community, and the state and Ross Kari and the OCCU at relatively low cost, a Foundation also helped necessity for the next the university move MAP generation of COVID-19 forward. testing methods. It’s also advancing because of the These investments helped new Phil and Penny Knight the university leverage the Campus for Accelerating strength of its research Scientific Impact. capabilities to implement MAP and help the university, Thanks to a historic $500 Lane County, and the state million gift from Penny and get back to business safely, Phil Knight, BBA ’59, as well including a return to some as the additional support on-campus instruction in of several other donors who Cheryl Ramberg Ford and Allyn Ford at the fall 2019 grand opening of the newly October. made major commitments to renovated Pacific Hall

14 Leslie Leve, associate vice president for research and professor of of Oregon. MAP started in in funding to the UO for a populations, making testing prevention science the modern labs created major expansion of MAP as more accessible to vulnerable by the Fords’ gift, and later part of a statewide testing and underserved populations, expanded to the Knight strategy led by the Oregon and diversify testing within Campus. Health Authority. The support Oregon, making us less helped the UO acquire susceptible to national Opened in 1952, Pacific Hall advanced analysis equipment supply chain issues. supported cutting-edge that will be placed in the research in the natural newly opened Knight Campus The National Institutes sciences and provided a and allow innovation around of Health also awarded top-notch facility for the new sample processing professors Leslie Leve, science of the time. As approaches to increase Bill Cresko, and David Bill Cresko, executive director of the newer buildings and labs capacity and decrease DeGarmo—part of the Data Science Initiative and professor were designed to facilitate costs. The investment team behind MAP—$4.9 of biology interdisciplinary approaches, comes primarily from federal million to expand testing Pacific Hall was repurposed COVID-19 response funds. to underserved Latinx for other fields. The $20 communities in six Oregon million renovation completed Governor Kate Brown’s office counties using testing in 2018 included 16 new labs and the Oregon Health capacity created by MAP. and revived the facility as Authority approached our The UO was one of 32 a center for science in the faculty because of their institutions that received heart of campus. expertise in prevention an NIH award through science and next generation the Rapid Acceleration of STATE AND sequencing, a cutting-edge Diagnostics Underserved FEDERAL SUPPORT technology they hope to Populations program to bring online by the end of expand COVID-19 testing David DeGarmo, research associate In October, the Oregon the calendar year. This new strategies in populations professor Legislature’s Emergency testing method will reduce disproportionately affected Board authorized $4.3 million the costs of testing large by the pandemic.

15 Upward Trajectory —Ed Dorsch, BA ’94, MA ’99

As we look back on a challenging year, we’re also A gift to our Students in Crisis Fund might immediately help planning for a bright future one individual with an urgent, acute need. By contributing to a construction project, you join a long-term effort to build a Demonstrating remarkable resilience and tenacity, Ducks new facility that will serve thousands of students, for years to have overcome adversity throughout a year like no other. As come. students, faculty, and staff worked hard to adapt and succeed despite the challenges of 2020, the importance of philanthropy Your gifts to scholarships, programs, our faculty, new facilities was apparent across campus (and, through remote classes, and other impact areas make it possible for us to help across cyberspace). students succeed—at the UO and after they graduate. In the pages that follow, we take a closer look at several of these Your gifts make the difference. Sometimes the difference gifts. So far, more than 140,000 dedicated Ducks have stepped they make is immediate and apparent. Other times, your up to join the current campaign. investments in the university and its people yield surprising results—often years after the contributions are made. Here’s to a new year.

16 Renovations to the lawns surrounding Tykeson Hall will create new spaces for outdoor activities including advising and tutoring sessions, classes, special events, and group discussions

Inside Out Anonymous $2 million gift will create beautiful new outdoor spaces and bring activity from inside bustling Tykeson Hall out to campus

Can we have class outside? You may remember posing that question to your grade school teacher—or even your college professor. Sometimes, a breath of fresh air and a change of scenery can stimulate lively class discussions. Architecture 52 OFFICE of courtesy Images

Thanks to an anonymous $2 million gift, more outdoor activity is coming to the lawns surrounding Willie and Donald Tykeson Hall. Scheduled for completion next fall, the staff members and Portland firm OFFICE 52 Architecture have project will transform the space outside the university’s been planning innovative solutions for this campus space. They headquarters for college and career advising, adding hope to bring all the exciting activity happening inside Tykeson contoured landscaping, a new seating wall, and benches. Hall out into campus.

Students, faculty, and staff all have their favorite spots Picture small group discussions, classes, job fairs, and one- on the university’s 295-acre campus. But this new space on-one tutoring and advising sessions—all outside. By setting will create something unique. It will be smaller and more up a podium and chairs, the university can host speeches, informal than other outdoor areas, providing a mix of sunny presentations, and performances in the new space. The project and shady spaces. It will offer seclusion, but it’s also a highly will also serve the Robert D. Clark Honors College, which is visible feature that will draw people in—a sort of eddy for the housed in adjacent , and will now have ideal flow of foot traffic. spaces that fit their typical class size.

The landscaping will add inviting outdoor spaces for Although COVID-19 has temporarily changed campus students, faculty, and advisors to use, both formally and operations, the building has been a hub of activity in the past. informally, says Bruce Blonigen, the Tykeson Dean of Arts And it will be again. and Sciences. With ample light and plenty of comfortable, interesting “We’re very grateful for this gift,” says Blonigen. “I’ve seen, spaces, Tykeson Hall has become a sort of living room for firsthand, what a difference Tykeson Hall is making. This undergraduates—a place to study, meet friends, and get exciting renovation will create an outdoor center to further tutoring or advice. The outdoor renovation will expand this engage students and leverage our important efforts to help concept, Blonigen says. them get the advising they need and connect academics to career pursuits.” “Students have made themselves at home in Tykeson Hall, which is exactly what we wanted them to do. When it’s finished Drawing from research and observations about how students next fall, we hope they make this new space their proverbial have used Tykeson Hall since the facility opened in 2019, UO backyard.”

17 Upward Trajectory Renaissance Ducks Gift reflects couple’s diverse interests

“We believe in public education.” —Greg Hatton

Betsy, BA ’71 (Romance languages and education), and Greg Hatton, BA ’71 (business environment)

What kind of philanthropic opportunities Betsy added that their gift was a returned to the university and were inspire a couple of loyal alumni meaningful way to give back to the married. who—along with their 50th wedding university that gave them so much. anniversary this year—can celebrate Greg started out in banking, but soon launching an international business, a “We both had professors who gave us realized corporate life wasn’t for him. life of violin performance and community a lot of their time,” she says. “Those And he couldn’t stop thinking about a arts leadership, and years of cheering for relationships were invaluable. They business plan he’d developed for a UO the Ducks? invested in us, and that fostered term paper. He transformed that idea success in our lives.” into KIC Holdings, a successful global A gift that’s as diverse as their interests. business. For Betsy, it was Perry Powers in Betsy, BA ’71 (Romance languages and Romance languages. For Greg, Gerald Betsy, who started violin at age 12, education), and Greg Hatton, BA ’71 Albaum at the business school was an went on to play with the Portland (business environment), in addition to important mentor. Chamber Orchestra, Yaquina their annual giving, have pledged a $1 Orchestra, Vancouver (Washington) million planned gift that will support four They first met during one of Professor Symphony, and Eugene Symphony. of their favorite areas: PathwayOregon, Powers’s Spanish classes when Greg Since 1992, when she became the Intercollegiate Athletics, the Lundquist asked Betsy about her summer first executive director of the Portland College of Business, and the School of plans. She was headed to Spain with Columbia Symphony, she has served Music and Dance. a UO program at Menéndez Pelayo the organization—and the region—as an International University. As it turned ardent advocate for the arts. “We believe in public education,” says out, Greg was joining the same group. Greg. “This was a way to help the And, she’s quick to add, both she and university and the students have life- Their first date was a Ducks Greg are still big fans of Ducks football transforming experiences they might game and, after spending the summer and basketball. not otherwise be able to have.” of 1969 together in Spain, they

18 Smart Money Gift from Nancy and Dave Petrone will promote financial literacy among all majors GIVING ACROSS CAMPUS In recent years, Nancy and Dave Petrone have continued their rich history of giving to different areas of the university

2020 Innovation, Commercialization, and Economic Development Fund Women’s Intercollegiate Athletics (yearly contribution) Students in Crisis Fund

2019

Dave Petrone, BS ’66 (economics), MBA ’68 Petrone Business and Law Success Initiative Fund Today’s Ducks can choose from more “I think part of the problem is a fear of Financial Literacy than 300 undergraduate programs. numbers. But this isn’t complex financial But alumnus, donor, and longtime analysis. It’s basic and it’s essential— Petrone Knight Campus UO advocate Dave Petrone, BS during college and after you graduate. If Undergraduate Scholars Fund ’66 (economics), MBA ’68, says all I could come up with one set of lessons undergraduates will benefit from more that students should get before earning 2018 of one subject: financial literacy. their diplomas so that they can leave the university ready to succeed and take care Nancy and David Petrone A recent gift from Nancy and Dave of themselves, this would be it.” Chair in Economics Petrone will provide lead funding to expand the UO’s current programming The Petrones’ gift has allowed the David and Nancy Petrone Fund and create the Financial Wellness university to expand its former for Science Center to teach students of all majors program, Financial Flight Plan, into the budgeting, money management, credit new Financial Wellness Center and to 2017 basics, and more. recruit a national leader, Gilbert Rogers, as director. He is training a cadre of David and Nancy Petrone “Over the last few decades, I’ve noticed— students to work as paid peer coaches Clinic Fellow Fund (College of from spending time with university and workshop facilitators. Education) students, as well as my kids and their David and Nancy Petrone friends—that many young people lack “Nancy and I have given to a lot of Fund for Excellence in Sports basic financial literacy,” Dave says. different areas at the university,” Dave Business says. “But it’s always about the people. It’s a pervasive issue, he added. A recent This is no exception. We have tremendous Black Cultural Center lead gift national study from the Hartford Financial confidence in the people who are leading Services Group found that 88 percent this initiative. We also like investing seed of students had never taken a personal capital in exciting new ventures. This one finance course before starting college. definitely fits the bill.”

19 Upward Trajectory Helping Create Resilience Gift from Julie and Keith Thomson enables College of Education to support talented faculty

Emily Tanner-Smith, the inaugural Thomson Professor, works to end youth substance abuse, improve schools, and help children lead better lives

20 TELLING STORIES OUT OF SCHOOL Have a giving story to tell? This winter we are launching a new storytelling series on the impact of philanthropy at the University of Oregon. We’ll be featuring stories about gifts that have made a difference. Want to share your story? Contact us at [email protected]

Helping Create Resilience Gift from Julie and Keith Thomson enables College of Education to support talented faculty Thanks to a $1 million gift from Julie and “I am grateful for the education I Keith Thomson, the College of Education received at the University of Oregon,” (COE) faculty is more flexible and says Julie Thomson. “I enjoyed a very resilient. As 2020 has demonstrated, rewarding teaching career and I know, these are important qualities for future firsthand, the difference that teachers educators, clinicians, and social service make. Sometimes it can take years to providers trained by the college. see the results, but teaching transforms lives. The new Thomson Endowed Professorship offers flexible financial “I am confident that the teaching and resources to help the college retain research happening in the College top talent, help advance the COE’s of Education will help children and mission through economic challenges, families—no matter what tomorrow or support high-priority research—or all brings.” three. The award includes funding that may be used for graduate employees, A second-generation alumna and research costs, pilot projects, and more. member of the college’s advisory council, Julie Thomson graduated from “Flexibility and resilience will always be the COE in 1965 and went on to become vital attributes in education, in normal a grade school teacher. times as well as those challenging chapters in human history, when we She helped lead the fundraising must rise to the occasion,” says Dean initiative to construct the college’s Randy Kamphaus. “Flexible financial current facilities and serves on the COE resources offer tremendous value Advisory Council. for our college, helping us respond effectively to change. We’re all very Keith Thomson is retired vice president grateful for yet another generous gift and Oregon site manager for Intel from the Thomsons.” Corporation. A pioneer for Oregon’s high-tech industry and an advocate for Longtime UO donors, the Thomsons education, he has served as chair of the also gave $2 million to endow the UO Foundation Board of Trustees and directorship of the college’s HEDCO the Governor’s School Transformation Clinic, which provides low-cost Advisory Committee. He is currently an educational and health services to the OHSU Foundation Life Trustee. Eugene-Springfield community. “Julie and I continue to be impressed The Thomsons supported construction with all the important work happening at of the college’s new facilities, which the college,” says Thomson. “Education opened in 2009, as well as the is so important to our society. We Allan Price Science Commons and consider this a worthy investment in Research Library. They have also the future of our state, our nation, and established a charitable remainder the world. That’s not hyperbole. The trust, a planned gift that will someday research happening at the UO and the support scholarships—half for COE interventions and teaching methods students and half for all UO majors. that are developed at the COE have a Part of this irrevocable trust will also global impact.” provide discretionary resources for the university to use in strategic ways.

21 Ten Ways to Give

3 Provide Urgent Help

In 2018, when three generous, farsighted 1 UO parents created the Students in Crisis Reward Patience Fund, they couldn’t have imagined how a global pandemic would intensify the For our student-athletes, competing as need for it. This vital resource has helped Ducks represents a high point they’ve students overcome short-term obstacles worked for years to reach. The coronavirus created by circumstances beyond their put their dreams on hold, but the NCAA control. And it will continue to help—no Diagnosed with terminal cancer, Robbie McEachern— is allowing some seniors to regain their matter what the future brings. pictured here with his wife Courtney and children eligibility for 2021. Your scholarship gift Jonathan and Alexandra—had an opportunity to visit helps the university cover the additional Go to giving.uoregon.edu/crisis one last time and watch his children expenses involved in helping them cap off play on the field just weeks before he passed away on their college careers. June 17, 2020.

Contact the Duck Athletic Fund, 541-346-5433, [email protected], duckathleticfund.net 4 5 Advance a Vision Honor a Loyal Duck

Invest in Black Student success at the When Robbie McEachern (1984–2020), UO. Your gift to the Lyllye Reynolds-Parker earned his accounting degree in 2006, Black Cultural Center funds initiatives he was the first in his family to graduate 2 that increase the recruitment, retention, from a four-year university. Remembered Build Community and graduation of Black students while by his family as “one of the greatest Duck nurturing a sense of belonging and fans ever,” McEachern will be honored at Your gift to the Student Recovery Corps community. a memorial space on the north concourse helps UO students, along with small of Autzen Stadium. Your gift supports businesses and nonprofit, educational, Go to giving.uoregon.edu/bcc the memorial plaque and athletic and civic organizations affected by scholarships. COVID-19. This UO program provides internships for students to gain vital Contact Justin Fisher, 503-412-3751, experience while helping Portland-area [email protected] organizations. Preference will be given for organizations committed to racial justice and to businesses in sectors affected by the virus.

Contact John McGrath, 503-412-3726, [email protected]

Lyllye Reynolds-Parker, a civil rights activist and UO alumna who touched countless lives of UO students in her career as an academic advisor

22 6 Boost Innovation

8 9 Invest in Futures Give Students an Edge

Your gift to the University Venture What’s the impact of a scholarship? Financial literacy will give UO students—of Development Fund helps the university The answers are as diverse as the all majors—a leg up on life (see story, page transform research on campus into accomplishments of our alumni. Your gift 19). Your gift to the Financial Wellness products and services. It could also to merit- or need-based scholarships Center supports the UO’s efforts to teach provide a 60 percent Oregon income tax represents an investment in future students about budgeting, credit, money credit. generations, and the dividends will management, and more. continue for years to come. Contact Chelsea Paris, 541-359-6379, Contact Jen Parker, 541-285-0503, [email protected] Contact Jen Parker, 541-285-0503, [email protected] [email protected]

PathwayOregon graduate Violet Mittelstadt, BA ’20 (family and human services), has started her career in teaching 10 7 Grant a Wish Clear a Path Graduation incentive grants provide The innovative PathwayOregon qualified students with emergency scholarship and success program gives microgrants for tuition, housing, and Oregonians—many of them first-generation books to help them overcome short-term college students—the opportunity to barriers to success. Your gift helps the UO earn a degree. In addition to access, Division of Undergraduate Education and PathwayOregon offers scholars the Student Success keep students in class— support and resources to help them and on track to graduate. complete the journey successfully. Contact Alison Pitt, 541-517-6025, aepitt@ Contact Susanna Wise, 541-346-3029, uoregon.edu [email protected]

23 Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Eugene OR UNIVERSITY ADVANCEMENT Permit No. 63 1720 E 13th Ave Ste 312 Eugene OR 97403-2253

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

PARTNERS FOR DIVERSITY In October, the Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact and PeaceHealth announced a joint center for biomedical research, initially focused on facilitating clinical, need-based research collaborations and supporting careers of underrepresented scientists and engineers.

This is the first collaboration of its kind between the Knight Campus and PeaceHealth, a health system operating throughout the Northwest. The Knight Campus will recruit fellows to work with UO faculty members and PeaceHealth providers on mentored, independent research with a clinical emphasis in the PeaceHealth medical domains.

The University of Oregon is an equal-opportunity, affirmative- action institution committed to cultural diversity and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. This publication will be made available in accessible formats upon request. ©2020 University of Oregon MC090820