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A total of 314 ballots were cast. The winners are listed in bold.
One (1) Student-at-Large position for a two (2) year term of office
Keyandra Cahill — 78 votes
Joshua Mathew — 108 votes
Kyle McConnaughey — 54 votes
Kristine Strosser-Zuniga — 26 votes
Taliek Lopez-Duboff (write-in) — 4 votes
Two (2) Sophomore positions each for a two (2) year term of office
Nicholas Case — 19 votes
Yousif Dajani — 94 votes
Elliana Ebner — 76 votes
Connor Stagner — 59 votes
James Townsend — 113 votes
One (1) Graduate Student position for a one (1) year term of office
Ryan Eichmann — 204 votes
Al Diaz Jr. (write-in) — 3 votes
One (1) Classified Staff/Officer of Administration position for a two (2) year term of office
Cora Bennett — 203 votes
One (1) Faculty-at-Large position for a two (2) year term of office
Brent Harrison — 197 votes
Vote for The Duck Store Board of Directors from Monday, May 6, 9 a.m. - Thursday, May 9, 6 p.m. at UODuckStore.com/vote.
Complete election rules are available here.
Candidate Statements:
Keyandra Cahill | Student-at-Large Position
Major (Student Positions): Student At Large Position
Academic Year: 3rd Year (Junior)
Why are you interested in serving as a Board member of a nonprofit corporation?
While being a student here at the UO, I have come to realize how important it is to be a part of a team and see how amazing concepts and ideas can come together when people with common goals work to make something more effective. I value this aspect of my college career and look forward to serving and contributing to the overall production of fellow members and my peers.
What experiences and skills would you bring to The Duck Store Board of Directors?
I understand that The Duck Store is an establishment that consists of constant changing and consideration of fellow lovers of The Duck Store apparel. With this knowledge, I plan to bring feedback, social strategies, community, and modernization to the Board. These skills stem from my large social media platforms such as Youtube, TikTok, and Instagram whose following put together sum up to 90 thousand friends! With my familiarity of social media, I can help the Duck Store to keep up with trends and also bring in more exposure. With me as a member, students will have someone to be their representative!
In what areas do you feel The Duck Store could improve to better meet its mission?
The Duck Store could do better at feeding into the styles of the students that attend the University. I have heard that students feel like the apparel is very repetitive and also too expensive considering the financial states of some of the students. Also, The Duck Store lacks promotional exposure. What makes people want to stop and shop? I feel as if the store could host events and make people not only see but feel that we are here for their greatest interest.
What can you contribute toward these improvements?
I could host said events that I suggested and suggest surveys be given seasonally so that we can receive what students are expecting to see in the store!
Joshua Mathew | Student-at-Large Position
Major (Student Positions): Political Science
Academic Year: Freshman
Why are you interested in serving as a Board member of a nonprofit corporation?
As a motivated freshman, I'm eager to join a non-profit board because I believe in using my energy and skills to create positive change. Throughout high school, I volunteered at the local museum where I gave tours, was a cashier, and provided an outlook on antique and artifact choices. This experience showed me the powerful impact non-profits can have, and I'm excited to contribute my fresh perspective and enthusiasm at the board level. Being a board member would allow me to learn from experienced leaders while helping steer the organization toward a brighter future.
What experiences and skills would you bring to The Duck Store Board of Directors?
As a motivated and engaged University of Oregon student, I believe I possess several experiences and skills that would be valuable assets to The Duck Store Board of Directors. Here are some key areas where I can contribute:
Fresh Perspective: As a recent student, I bring a current understanding of student needs and preferences. I can offer insights into what products and services would be most relevant and popular with the student body.
Campus Involvement: My involvement in campus activities and organizations would allow me to connect The Duck Store with different student groups and continue to build on the community here at UO
Commitment and eagerness: I am passionate about the University of Oregon and committed to working with the Duck Store to improve the experiences of students at UO. I can bring positive energy and dedication to the board, ensuring that The Duck Store continues to serve the student body's needs in the best way possible.
In what areas do you feel The Duck Store could improve to better meet its mission?
There's room for The Duck Store to enhance its offerings to truly reflect student needs. For example, current offerings might not encompass the full range of UO student's wants and needs. The store could explore being active on social media to assess and keep up with trends that students would love to see in the store The online store could be a game-changer, allowing students to compare prices, order textbooks for pickup, and avoid long lines during peak times. I also think the Duck Store could collaborate with student groups on campus. For example, the engineering club could design and sell phone chargers with a UO twist, or the environmental club could promote the store's reusable shopping bags. By focusing on these specific areas and continuously seeking student input, The Duck Store can become an even more essential part of the UO experience.
What can you contribute toward these improvements?
I'm eager to contribute to The Duck Store's improvements in tangible ways. My skills can be used to conduct surveys and focus groups with student organizations, pinpointing exactly what products and sustainability practices students care about. While I might not be building the online store myself, I can brainstorm features that would make it user-friendly and convenient for students. Collaborating with student groups is another area where I can shine. I can help organize and promote events between the Duck Store and student organizations on campus. I believe my combination of research, communication, and data analysis skills will be valuable assets in helping The Duck Store continue to improve its store and help students with their needs.
Kyle McConnaughey | Student-at-Large Position
Major (Student Positions): Business Administration
Academic Year: First year (c/o 2027)
Why are you interested in serving as a Board member of a nonprofit corporation?
I am interested in serving as a Board member because I believe I can make sure funds are used efficiency and maximized to help the student population.
What experiences and skills would you bring to The Duck Store Board of Directors?
I would bring a business mindset and active involvement throughout this campus to bring a wide variety of views and populations.
In what areas do you feel The Duck Store could improve to better meet its mission?
I believe The Duck Store could do more fun raffles and loyalty/discounts for students.
What can you contribute toward these improvements?
I can help bring new ideas and experiences in using these to help boost The Duck Store.
Kristine Strosser-Zuniga | Student-at-Large Position
Major (Student Positions): Journalism
Academic Year: First-Year
Why are you interested in serving as a Board member of a nonprofit corporation?
I am interested in serving as a board member for a nonprofit corporation because I want to be a part of the fight for diversity. I want to serve as a board member for a nonprofit corporation because I believe in wanting to make change and I feel that I can do that within my position. To be serving on the board of the Duck Store would mean that I am a part of the diversity that the Duck Store is striving to have. Being a Hispanic female from Las Vegas, Nevada, I can bring new ideas to the table. Being a part of the board would mean that I am getting an opportunity to make a change and be a part of a great group of like-minded people.
What experiences and skills would you bring to The Duck Store Board of Directors?
Some experiences that I would bring to The Duck Store Board of Directors would be new ideas to get student involvement within the Duck Store. As someone who works within Student Services and Enrollment Management (SSEM), I interact with incoming families daily. I would like to be able to let them know that there are events that the Duck Store hosts and students and visitors can win prizes, discounts, or incentives. I feel that this would incentivize families to check out the Duck Store and want to participate in these activities.
Another idea that I would bring up ideas of new merch like new stickers and merchandise. At the Duck Store currently, there is amazing merchandise but I feel that it would be a good idea to have merchandise for the individual schools on campus. To have merchandise, like shirts or sweatshirts (or something similar) for the College of Education or for the School of Journalism and Communication would mean more diversity and allowance for students to show off their school. This is something that I feel is important, especially for someone who works with prospective students because if they choose to commit to the University, they can purchase a sweatshirt or a piece of merchandise with their specific school's name on it.
In what areas do you feel The Duck Store could improve to better meet its mission?
One area that I feel that the Duck Store could improve to meet its mission better is the diversity of the Board of Directors. The Duck Store's mission is to be diverse but when you look at the Board of Directors, there are a handful of female-identifying members on it and the rest of the members are male. There is nothing wrong with that but there needs to be some diversity within those who help make decisions for the corporation.
As well, I feel that there aren't many outreach events, especially with either the current Ducks or the past ducks. Being a new student on campus, I've gone into the Duck Store to look but I feel that there haven't been any events that have brought the community together.
What can you contribute toward these improvements?
The first way that I could contribute to these improvements is to fight for diversity and try to recruit female-identifying members when there's an election or an available position. Again, there is nothing wrong with males but if the Duck Store is focusing on diversity then that is what they should focus on. When I was asking to be nominated for this position, I had heard that there was very little female diversity on the board and that was my main reason to run. I want to give female-identifying students a voice and the opportunity to help make decisions.
As well, for the outreach events, I would try to involve the Alumni Association or current campus partners to host an event (at least once a term) that brings students together. This could be at the Flagship location or somewhere in the Erb Memorial Union (EMU) that just brings students together, and the Duck Store is a main contributor to these events.
Nicholas Case | Sophomore Position
statement pending
Yousif Dajani | Sophomore Position
Major (Student Positions): Sports Business
Academic Year: Sophomore
Why are you interested in serving as a Board member of a nonprofit corporation?
I am interesting in serving as a Board member of a nonprofit corporation because of the opportunity to gain helpful skills, relationships, and an overall better understanding of how business works in the real world. I have been interested for years now of getting involved with some kind of business or company that falls in line with my interests and it feels like this opportunity with The Duck Store checks all of the boxes I was looking to check.
What experiences and skills would you bring to The Duck Store Board of Directors?
I have experience running a buisness during my last two years in high school. I along with some administrators and parents came up with a near "Bleacher Report" type business for our high school where we designed, manufactured, and distrubuted merchandise as well as writing weekly stories, creating weekly podcasts, and generating excitement throughout the student body buy also trying to grasp the attention and support of the community. I learned so much from the two years spearheading the company and I am ready to put what I learned into another project that I am very passionate about. You can expect hard work from me at all times and a person who won't quit until a solution is solved.
In what areas do you feel The Duck Store could improve to better meet its mission?
The Duck Store has done a great job of representating the University of Oregon and Eugene in a great light, welcoming in any new visitors looking for a bit of Duck merch while supporting students in there academic needs with textbooks and supplies and such. I think the Duck Store could continue to expand their stores and create a maybe cheaper or more affordable section for college kids who can't afford the new Nike Oregon drop or people not willing to spend that money on clothes. Keeping a balance between the newest and best and also the most affordable I feel is a mandatory balance.
What can you contribute toward these improvements?
I can contribute a plethora of ideas towards continued building of The Duck Store on all levels. If I need to be on the front lines at the store asking people what they think we need to do better, I can fill that role. If I need to work behind the scenes on figuring out numbers and logistics on our new ideas, I can do that. I hope to be a person that the company finds very flexible and able to work in a number of important and necessary roles for the company.
Elliana Ebner | Sophomore Position
Major (Student Positions): Marine Biology
Academic Year: Sophomore
Why are you interested in serving as a Board member of a nonprofit corporation?
As a newer member to the UO community, I have been searching for more ways to become more involved and make a meaningful impact as well. Serving as board member is the perfect opportunity for me to expand my skills working with a team as well as caring for the community that I care so much about. As an out of state student, I have found a second home here in Eugene and it seems only right that I find a way to give back as it has already given me so much.
What experiences and skills would you bring to The Duck Store Board of Directors?
Throughout high school, I was involved in numerous nonprofit organizations. One of which was as President of the Youth Advisory Council for a large Community Foundation in my city. This opportunity allowed me to lead over 40 students in allocating donations and funds to help youth in my area. I also work with and for a local community theater for over 8 years in multiple areas. This experience has helped me build collaborative skills, technical skills like graphic design and video editing, and how to manage money to create successful projects within a set budget.
In what areas do you feel The Duck Store could improve to better meet its mission?
Since 1920, The Duck store has been excelling in its overall mission. However, I feel that The Duck Store could improve its social media outreach. The instagram used by The Duck Store is fantastic for advertising products and keeps many students engaged. One way I can see to improve this would include emphasizing that the work done at The Duck Store is nonprofit. Rather than just having a nonprofitin the social media biographies, adding more posts about the philanthropic side of the organization could grow these platforms further. Given The Duck Store's mission is to foster a sense of community between past, present, and future ducks, leveraging social media to highlight nonprofit initiatives creates an opportunity to connect with all three demographics from any distance.
What can you contribute toward these improvements?
I have an extensive amount of experience in social media outreach and the analytics of posts. I would love to dive deeper into what posts get the most engagement from students and others. From what I have seen, nonprofits can grow their platforms greatly by sharing more behind the scenes information rather than just advertisements. Using The Duck Stores current platforms like Instagram and TikTok are a great place to start this.
Connor Stagner | Sophomore Position
Major (Student Positions): Sports Business
Academic Year: Sophomore
Why are you interested in serving as a Board member of a nonprofit corporation?
I am interested in serving as a Board member of a nonprofit corporation because I would love to get more involved with the school on campus. Having a leadership position where I can help contribute to maintain and grow such a big part of this university is something I have always wanted.
What experiences and skills would you bring to The Duck Store Board of Directors?
I have a lot of experience in leadership positions as well as jobs relying on teamwork and communication. In high school, I was apart of the Associated Student Body for all four years where I was Class President for two years and Spirit Director for the last two years. During these years, I was responsible for managing profits, hosting meetings, running pep rallies, and many other tasks. These allowed me to develop important leadership and communication skills that I believe will be a great help to bring to the Duck Store Board of Directors.
In what areas do you feel The Duck Store could improve to better meet its mission?
With The Duck Stores mission of advancing educational goals to create a sense of community among the student at the University of Oregon, I feel that making educational tools as accessible and affordable as possible will greatly contribute to the said mission.
What can you contribute toward these improvements?
There are several ways to complete these improvements. Giving students countless options of educational materials with a variety of price points will allow more students to fulfill there needs. Working with fellow Board Members to find more options and ways to reduce prices while still being reasonable will require a lot of communication that I believe I can do.
James Townsend | Sophomore Position
Major (Student Positions): Business Administration
Academic Year: Sophomore
Why are you interested in serving as a Board member of a nonprofit corporation?
Looking for experience in navigating the ups and downs of a multimillion dollar business as a Board member, and helping the Duck Store to maximize its potential for the UO community.
What experiences and skills would you bring to The Duck Store Board of Directors?
I would bring an upbeat attitude with a desire to complete tasks and generate ideas, as well as a logical mind that is able to rationalize decisions as a member of the Duck Store Board of Directors.
In what areas do you feel The Duck Store could improve to better meet its mission?
I think that the Duck Store could increase its outreach into the community through sponsorship of campus events and events in the Eugene area. Having the Duck Store as a sponsor for community events can help improve the community and give the Duck Store more brand exposure.
What can you contribute toward these improvements?
I could help to generate ideas, and use my connections in the community to find ways for the Duck Store to increase its outreach and exposure in the UO community. With the amount of other clubs and organizations I am involved in, I could easily bridge the gap and assist in communication between the Duck Store and possible outreach projects.
Ryan Eichmann | Graduate Position
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Major (Student Positions): Masters of Business Administration (MBA)
Academic Year: Graduate Year 1
Why are you interested in serving as a Board member of a nonprofit corporation?
I am a current MBA student here at the University of Oregon and also a Duck alum with a Bachelors in Business Administration.
This board position would be a great opportunity to gain more practical business experience, as well as share my real world experience with the rest of the board all the while supporting the duck brand.
What experiences and skills would you bring to The Duck Store Board of Directors?
I have significant professional background in finance, accounting, business operations, & leadership. My experiences in a variety of professional fields as well as my ongoing MBA education would likely be a valuable asset for my team of fellow board members and the Duck Store as a whole. Having played an important role in high functioning business units in my career, I have a strong sense of best practices, especially around communication and leadership. I believe these factors strongly position me to be a valuable team member on the board.
In what areas do you feel The Duck Store could improve to better meet its mission?
I have been a customer of the Duck Store for at least the last 15 years. During most of that time, I was unaware of the Duck Store's mission or its status as a nonprofit. Knowing this information, I am sure that I would have made different purchasing decisions and more often visited the Duck Store. The Duck Store should work hard to get its message out, informing the student body of its mission and nonprofit status. This will not only enhance the organization itself, but also directly positively impact the students involved.
What can you contribute toward these improvements?
My experience with marketing (both professionally and in coursework) has given me a set of tools to help an organization apply positive messaging to its brand. As a member of the board, I would seek to use these tools to build a Duck Store brand as well as identify financial and operational opportunities.
Cora Bennett | Classified Staff/Officer of Administration Position
Position: Director, Student Orientation Programs
Why are you interested in serving as a Board member of a nonprofit corporation?
I'm interested in continuing my service to the UO and the Duck Store membership as we are at a critical time in the future of the store and how it serves students, faculty and staff. With the stores professional staff leaders, we have begun a long-term project toward the store's sustainability and continuity that I hope to continue to see through to fruition.
What experiences and skills would you bring to The Duck Store Board of Directors?
I am in a unique position in my work to be able to effectively serve the Duck Store's mission in the work and opportunities for new students and their families, who are learning how to be Ducks.
In what areas do you feel The Duck Store could improve to better meet its mission?
The Store has done an excellent job recently in supporting basic needs and the missions of several critical student populations. The store needs to continue to find new and innovative ways to serve underserved and underrepresented student populations, specifically students who have mobility, accessibility, or size-related needs that are not being met.
What can you contribute toward these improvements?
I will be an advocate, provide guidance, and help seek out solutions for the team to tackle these issues.
Brent Harrison | Faculty-at-Large Position
Position: Senior Associate Director
Why are you interested in serving as a Board member of a nonprofit corporation?
It is my hope that I will continue to the help the Duck Store progressively move forward and champion its mission of serving the academic mission of the University of Oregon.
What experiences and skills would you bring to The Duck Store Board of Directors?
I have been an employee at the University of Oregon for thirty years in the Department of Physical Education & Recreation. I have been a frequent customer of the various Duck Store locations including the amazing store located in the Student Recreation Center. For the past 13 years I have had the honor of serving as a member of the Duck Store Board of Directors. It has been an incredibly productive and rewarding time for me being a member of the Board. I have gained so much more appreciation for all the positive benefits the Duck Store brings to the University of Oregon and its surrounding community. I value the diversity of services the Duck Store has to offer to its customers and it is my hope that as a returning member of the Board of Directors I will help contribute to the Duck Store's continued success.
In what areas do you feel The Duck Store could improve to better meet its mission?
This major development improvement is soon to be a reality! I'm really excited about the future of the Duck Store especially with its upcoming Flock 13 property development that will open this fall. Flock 13 will feature convenient, high-quality student apartments and a mix of retail and dining options curated specifically for the campus community.
What can you contribute toward these improvements?
I've been involved in two major expansion and development projects at the Student Recreation Center and my experience gained from these two projects will allow me to contribute to the success of Flock 13.