Meet Our Alumni
Meet Our Alumni
An Interview with Malika Andrews '17
After her incredible commencement address to the Class of 2026, ESPN host and University of Portland alum Malika Andrews '17 sat down with us to answer some questions about takeaways from her speech, how her experience on The Bluff shaped her, what it's like to come back, and more.
Read More Alumni Stories
Magdalena Salazar ’25
Magdalena Salazar says the unique, real-world scenarios in UP's simulation lab set her up for success as a NICU nurse.
Daniel Rodriguez Peña ’22
Daniel Rodriguez Peña leverages his love of technology and business in his role as Footwear Operations Lead at Lululemon.
Dr. Samantha Rivas '20
Mathematics - Class of 2020
"I knew I wanted to go to medical school and that mentorship during my undergrad years would be very important. That’s why I chose UP."
Connor Heffernan
Political Science, Economics - Class of 2022
"At UP, I was able to focus on the political topics that fascinated me most and intern with two Oregon legislature election campaigns, all of which watered the roots of my public service career."
Erin McConville
Civil Engineering - Class of 2021
"I became interested in studying civil engineering because there are many opportunities to serve the public through public infrastructure projects."
Julia Kimoto
Civil Engineering - Class of 2020
"UP is a great place to pursue anything you’re interested in. Whatever you’re passionate about, there are people around and tons of resources to help you pursue it."
Victor Rodriguez Valdovinos
Nursing - Class of 2020
"During my senior year, my capstone clinical immersion was in an ophthalmology outpatient eye surgery center. This experience gave me great training in pre- and post-operative patient care."
Lydia Heye
Political Science - Class of 2019
"The incredible faculty at UP advised me in my junior year to consider law school, given my passion for racial and social justice."
Kai Takeuchi
Marketing and Operations & Technology Management - Class of 2018
"The business core curriculum gave me great exposure to all the business majors, which helped me figure out what I ultimately wanted to do."
Alex Quackenbush Bartlett
Mathematics and Biology - Class of 2015
"If you are interested in learning and growing, the UP faculty are here to support you."
Michael Solitaria
Elementary Education - Class of 2017
"I chose UP because I felt I could build a community there, it was in a city I wanted to explore, and I wanted to discover what my Catholic faith meant to me outside of my family."
Matthew Mun
Marketing - Class of 2015
"Coming from a small school in Hawai’i, I liked the size of UP and the community made me feel at home."
Peter Chamberlain
Mechanical Engineering, Music Minor - Class of 2014
"I took advantage of every opportunity that was available at UP."
Graham Foster
Mechanical Engineering - Class of 2021
"The experiences that I had with sustainability at UP through different clubs, classes, and experiences has been really impactful on my way of thinking."
Molly Steiner
Elementary Education & Spanish - Class of 2018
"I’m continually drawing on the skills I gained during my four years."
Walter Thompson-Hernández
Political Science - Class of 2009
"The size of campus really fostered an intimate feeling of community."
Kai Seely
Biology, Chemistry & Neuroscience Minors - Class of 2017
"My time at UP really prepared me for the transition to medical school."
Katie Hughes
Social Work - Class of 2002
"When I started Girls Build in 2016, I did it because there was a need and a request, and I found myself, a decade and a half out of college, uniquely positioned in this world as the perfect person to run a nonprofit that teaches girls to build."
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