1999

Shannon Allen
Sevilla, Spain (1998)

After graduating in Spanish from the UO, I moved back to Spain where I taught English in Madrid for three years. It was an incredible experience and a wonderful way to build upon my experiences abroad through our university. I now live and work in San Francisco, my hometown. Although I miss Spain terribly I'm happy to be close to my family again and around for duck season!

Kari (Otness) Baekkelund
Uppsala University, Sweden

Married, one 14-month old son, living in my home town and being a professional mom.

Remy Barnes
Seville, Spain

Living in Evanston, Illinois. Teach art at a Chicago Public School and at a private Montessori school in Evanston.

Lee Brockett
Budapest, Hungary

Justin Brodeur
Sevilla, Spain (1998)

Currently I'm teaching 7th grade English at Homer JH in upstate New York.

Ernesto Bruce
Sevilla, Spain

Married for two years to Annie Bruce from Portland, OR. We have a one-year old baby girl named Isabel Maria Bruce. Currently working for Adidas America in the sports marketing department.

Anthony E. Clark
Beijing, China (1996)

Assistant Professor of Chinese History in the Department of History, The University of Alabama

Kelly Delaney
Avignon, France

Corporate Communications, Senior PR Manager, Yahoo! Inc.

Leah Emery
Oviedo, Spain

After a very bad car accident that made me evaluate my life, and after two years of surgery, I got my master's in Social Work. I was given an amazing opportunity in the UK and have been living here for about 6 months. I live in a small town outside London and work with adults who suffer from brain damage. I travel about every other weekend to some place in Europe.

Sarah Emery
Copenhagen, Denmark

Designer at Kahn Design Associates, Berkeley CA, and engaged to be married in June, 2007.

Aaron Feldman
Quretaro, Mexico

I live in Chicago and sell software. I am not married.

Samuel Kasdin
Uppsala University, Sweden

I am a high scchool resource teacher at Northgate High School in Walnut Creek, CA., living with my girlfriend.

James (nickname: Mickey) Kerr
La Trobe University, Australia

Recently engaged, live and work in NYC as a photographer.

Sheila Miller
Sevilla, Spain
Global Graduates Internship in Santander, Cantabria at the University of Cantabria

I am in my sixth year working at Georgetown's Office of International Programs. My position is Assistant Director for International Student and Scholar Services. I love my job! I am responsible for programming for this community - including our orientations programs and I-WEEK, and advising of the International Student Association and the Global Living Community. In the meanwhile, I am completing my Masters in Public Policy here at Georgetown's Public Policy Institute. My focus is International Policy and Development, and I am researching international education migration trends for my thesis.

Peter Noe
NCSA/AHA Siena

Married to wife Ashley in October 2004 and have a 9-month old daughter Stella. Account Executive at salesforce.com. Just moved from SF to Walnut Creek, CA.-

Ann (Simmons) Smith
LaTrobe University, Melbourne, Australia (March-November 1999)

Married to Patrick Smith (also a UO alum), have one daughter, Brooke (born May 2006). Lived in St. Louis for three years before returning to Oregon. I manage the Portland office of Standing Partnership, a strategic public relations agency. Still keep in touch with several friends in Australia and around the world who I met during my time overseas.

Jesse (Sartain) Steele
Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan (1997-1998)

After graduating in 1999 with a BA in Asian Studies focusing on Japan, with a business minor, I worked briefly in Paris, France, for an Internet start-up, which couldn't quite well start up. However being in Paris was a wonderful experience, and made up my mind that I wanted to get involved in the Hi-Tech industry. The "Where" was easy, the Tech mecca of Silicon Valley California. The "what" ended up being "Sales & Marketing", and the "who" turned out to be a globally focused company named DASAR. Getting good job offers wasn't that difficult, and I was very pleased at how my international experience was able to differentiate me in the marketplace. I was able to land a good salary, and a job that gave me the chance to travel.

I directly benefited by my studies and experience in Japan as in this new job I became the director of Asian relations, and would travel to Japan at least a half dozen times a year. The company maintains relations with technology CEOs and creates networking conferences for them globally throughout the year. Because of this I was in charge of creating introductions with some very high ranking business leaders throughout Japan, and furthering international business relations. As well as setting the way for a new conference in Asia that has since been held in Japan, Korea, and China, I had the chance to organize and attend elite CEO conferences in New York, and Rome, Italy.

Living in Silicon Valley gave me new insight on business, as I prepared to further my studies at Stanford University. I was involved with the Stanford Taekwondo team and took what I had learned from the U of O Taekwondo club and went a few steps further, getting my black belt, and winning several local and state championships.

However as the technology economy started struggling, I left DASAR and joined a new Software Start-up as their international marketing director. And just as all was looking bright, the economy crashed hard, and I took an early tumble in my career that allowed me the chance to make some decisions about what I truly wanted to do for the rest of my life. So my plans in the technology industry, and of graduate studies at Stanford were pushed aside as I moved to Los Angeles to pursue an industry that had long captured my heart.

Several years later I had finished graduate studies from the Los Angeles Film School, where I studied producing, directing, and editing. I was involved in a number of projects on every level. From the smallest position in the largest Hollywood films, to the largest position in the smallest of Hollywood productions. I received awards for my editing short films, small success in producing, and some creative accolades for a number of commercials that I directed.

In a matter of strange coincidence and combination of my prior experience, I took a position as international coordinator for Steven Seagal. Again I have to attribute my experience with the Asian Studies program, and my time at Waseda University in Japan for making me stand out as a candidate. It seamed that no other candidate had the trifecta of a degree in Asian Studies and Film, International experience and foreign language, and several black belts.

This position gave me the chance to view the film industry and film making process up close and unmasked. And furthermore gave me the chance to go abroad once again. I worked with Mr. Seagal on a film in Sofia, Bulgaria. This gave me the chance to learn about a new culture, one that very few Americans seem to know anything about. And I was able to learn that there are a lot of opportunities for new film business with connection to Eastern Europe.

Just at a time when Hollywood seems to be "going East," I left my work with Steven Seagal and started up a new production company with a Bulgarian/Swiss producing partner. The new company SuperNova Productions is incorporated in Switzerland, but currently operating in Sofia, Bulgaria, where we are in development on a large feature film. With local support and Hollywood super-talent, we are looking to make the first international feature film about Bulgaria. Something that will not only entertain international audiences, but give people around the world an introduction to a little known country.

So that is where I find myself in 2006. Once again living and learning abroad, on the forefront of a current trend in the entertainment industry, and maximizing my proprietary blend of internationalism, artistic strength and business savvy to create high quality motion pictures in a very low-cost environment, maximizing profit for investors while creating new industry and awareness for the local culture.

For the future, SuperNova is developing projects to shine light on other little-understood cultures, people, and events. I hope that the coming years will see me continuing to travel, produce quality products, and direct commericals and films around the globe. GO DUCKS!!

Lindsay Steiner
Siena, Italy (Winter and Spring 1998)

Went back to school to get a BSN and am now a nurse in pediatric oncology.

Joe Swinehart
Queretaro (1994)

Happily married and teaching in Central Oregon, with one son turning four in October, another baby arriving in December. Using my Spanish daily in the classroom, and learning Italian in Italy during the summers...even better than a UO study abroad!

Cassandra (Cassie) (Reiner) Williams
Senshu University, Japan

After graduating I worked in commercial real estate in Portland. In May of 2000, I married Ryan Williams who also graduated from the U of O and studied at Senshu. We had a beautiful baby girl in December of 2004. We currently live in Sherwood, Oregon. Ryan works as a software engineer and I am a full time mommy to Brooke.

Kyle Yamada
Baden-Württemburg, Germany

I teach economics at Eugene International High School. I got married to Debbie Levy in 2002 and our first son, Ari, was born earlier this year.

Christine Bravo
Queretaro, Mexico (1997)
Quito, Ecuador (1998)

My husband Nathan and I returned to Portland after 3 years in Hawaii in early 2007 and welcomed our daughter Leila on 6/14/07. Prior to that time I worked for a study abroad program through Portland State Univerisity and am now taking time off to be with my daughter.

Harmony DeFazio
Germany

Working as a Study Abroad Advisor at the University of Arizona

Elsa Feiring
Copenhagen, Denmark (1998-99)

After graduating from the UofO, I did a great deal fo traveling, and went back to Denmark once. I lived in Portland for a couple of years and have just recently moved to New York City with my boyfriend of eight years. I am currently earning my master's in Library Science.

Timothy Irons
Angers, France (1999)

After graduation, I moved to New York to pursue a career in international finance. I still keep in touch with a few of my study abroad colleagues/friends and often reflect on my time in France.

Corey Johnson
Sevilla, Spain (1998)

I am now attending OHSU School of Medicine to become a physician.

Colby Phillips
UEA, Norwich, UK

I'm working in Boston as a hospital chaplain and in grad school for an M.A. in philosophy

Graham Post
Rome, Italy

Working as an architect as an associate with MBH and recently engaged.

Alex Thomas
Seville, Spain

Livining in Denver, CO with wife, Madelyn and two sons. Director of Marketing for ADCO General (a commercial insurance wholesaler)

Staci Yoshihara
Senshu University, Japan

Married with one daughter living in Hawaii and am the Director of Business Development for INGAGE, a management training and leadership development company.