As sweet as PIE

Meet the students and employers who make the Portland Internship Experience a recipe for success
  

What did you do this summer? 

More than forty-seven University of Oregon students spent their summers building professional skills and connections at nonprofits, educational organizations, and small businesses in the Portland metro area through the Portland Internship Experience (PIE). 

Launched in 2021 with donor support, PIE’s aim has been to connect historically underrepresented, social-justice oriented employers with students interested in working with mission-driven organizations. The host sites have no financial commitment to the program; rather, interns receive a philanthropically funded stipend and support services directly from the university. 

"PIE was started with a goal of providing access to internships and professional experiences to students who need it most,” says Elizabeth Gillingham, program coordinator for PIE. “By carefully recruiting site partners with shared values of access, learning, and service we have developed a program that benefits students, sites, and the Portland community. PIE interns consistently report that they leave these opportunities feeling more confident in launching a meaningful career after graduation. And, they have the benefit of a growing network of PIE alums." 

Many of UO’s students hail from the Portland area, making the UO Portland campus a great access-point to career-launching opportunities in their own backyard along with access to an extensive network of over 48,000 Portland-based alumni. The Rose City is also undoubtedly an industry hub, and Oregon aims to accelerate the economic vitality of the region through connecting students and business leaders. 

One such leader is Geff Zamor. Zamor is the owner and creative director of GMS Media, a full-service creative and visual production company and PIE partner. He says the opportunity to mentor Oregon students was a deciding factor in GMS becoming a host site. 

“There were key mentors that shepherded me through my filmmaking career,” Zamor says. “To be able to pass that knowledge along and share those skills ... I think that’s important because it’s a challenging workplace in America right now. We have to make sure that college grads are as ready as possible for it.” 

He adds that young people bring a fresh mindset and perspective to any organization, a statement echoed by Derrick Olsen, president of WorldOregon. WorldOregon is a nonprofit that helps Oregonians develop a deeper understanding of international affairs and has partnered with the UO for many years. 

“We know the caliber of these students,” Olsen says. “They come in prepared, eager to learn, but they also help push us and have creative ideas. They’re not just doing tasks ... it’s a real dialogue back and forth.”

Meet the students

No two PIE internships are the same. Students might spend their internships behind a camera, helping an organization expand their social media presence, or they get their hands dirty in a community garden.  

The possibilities are endless, but wherever students end up, they have a supportive cohort making memories alongside them and working toward the common good—for the city of Portland, for Oregon, and for the world. Learn about the experiences of four 2024 PIE interns below and how you can get involved in this philanthropic effort.  
 

Alex Gray and Ben Prado, interns at GMS Media

Alex Gray, class of 2025 (advertising), and Ben Prado, class of 2025 (art and technology), were both nervous during their first day at GMS Media. 

Immediately, Geff Zamor took the role of mentor and helped them feel comfortable in their new environment. 

“Coming into the intern process can be scary and you don’t know what to expect,” Ben says. “Geff made us coffee, played music, and we talked about uncertainty and imposter syndrome.” 

Alex worked in client relations for GMS, while Ben helped magnify the brand through video and website magic in their creative department. Both feel that the experience has been invaluable. 

“Most people that I know had a lot of trouble finding an internship this year,” Ben says. “The Portland Internship Experience was a great way of the university helping and fostering a relationship between local businesses and students.” 

Alex echoes that statement, adding that the experiences he’s had have been monumental in setting him up for career success in the future. 

“The biggest area where I’ve seen growth is confidence,” he says. “I’m comfortable in the workplace. I’m comfortable being myself. This experience has given me confidence to go to post-grad and find a job and work hard wherever I’m at and apply some of the skills I’ve learned here.” 
 

Hunter Eller, intern at World Oregon

For some PIE interns, working in Portland is a reward in and of itself. That was the case for Hunter Eller, class of 2026 (political science), a veteran and nontraditional student who wanted to learn what life was like in another city. His internship with WorldOregon was his first experience working in an office. 

“I've definitely grown as a person in knowing how to operate around an office environment as compared to a military perspective,” Hunter says. “I think the greatest experiences I’ve had consist of being able to connect with the full-time staff here because they feel so deeply about their mission ... it really touches my heart.” 

Hunter is working toward a law degree and is using his experience at PIE to build professional skills related to his future career. He urges others not to underestimate the potential of student interns, noting that the connections between students and businesses create community and can propel growth. 

“The applicants that are coming into the Portland Internship Experience offer such a diverse and wide range of skills and experiences that are invaluable to any employer that someone could be looking for,” he says. 
 

Stephanie Yang, intern at Stone Soup

For Stephanie Yang, class of 2026 (business administration), it’s all about community. 

For her PIE internship, she worked with Stone Soup, an organization that “empowers people experiencing barriers to employment to achieve self-reliance through training for careers in the foodservice industry”. 

Stephanie says she’s always been interested in nonprofit work and that it’s important for her to give back to the Portland community. 

“I moved here when I was twelve,” she explains. “I was really fortunate to get the help that me and my family needed to find a home here.” 

At Stone Soup, Stephanie works in marketing and conducts outreach for the organization. Her photojournalism skills help the nonprofit collaborate with other restaurants and tell the stories of the individuals benefitting from Stone Soup’s program. Stephanie considers storytelling one of the most challenging yet empowering aspects of the internship. 

“It requires consideration of past trauma and sensibilities that I may not be able to understand,” she says. “The most rewarding part of this internship is contributing to and participating in the growth of our participants and their stories.” 

Stephanie encourages other students to get involved with PIE, which has given her a sense of community and support. 

“If you're interested in nonprofits or businesses that are benefiting Portland, I would say this internship is definitely the one for you,” she says. 
 

Everyone should want a slice of this transformative program which affects the entire Rose City community and gives students crucial professional development opportunities. 

Zamor says, “I would absolutely recommend the Portland Internship Experience to a local small business, because it's a great way to support the next generation of young leaders. It's important for Portland businesses to invest in the future workforce.” 

Looking ahead to the program’s five-year anniversary next summer, here’s to serving up UO students an even bigger slice of PIE.