Preparing the Next Generation of Development Leaders
When Dave Petrone was in school, he knew exactly what he wanted to do. “I wanted to be in baseball,” he explains.
A few years after graduation Dave got his chance when he was offered the position of assistant freshman coach at UO.
“And I was going to take it,” he’ll tell you.
But a phone call from a high-level work mentor and the chance to go deeper into management training turned the tide. And today, Dave can look back on a career built on knowing people and managing teams. “It turns out the part I liked best about baseball was the coaching,” he says. “And I have done plenty of that in my career.”
So, when the then-Vice President for University Advancement asked Dave if he’d be interested in supporting an Advancement Leadership internship program (ALI), the answer was a quick and resounding “yes!”
The highly popular Advancement Leadership Internship (ALI) program will mark its seventh year and welcome a new cohort of student interns this fall.
A popular program since its inception, the ALI has connected more than 35 students with University Advancement staff for a range of skill-building, professional development, and development-focused experiential opportunities.
“It has been managed so well. The program is so good, and the people who apply for it are exceptional. You look at their resumes and you say, ‘you’ve got some top people,’” says Dave.
“They get experience, and they get to do different things. They rotate into different teams and projects, so they have different managers and are in different areas. They learn parts of fundraising. And they can leave there feeling better about themselves. They have done something, proved something and made a mark. They become a little bit of a team. I just think it’s a wonderful experience to have in college.”
Elise Steinberg, ’24 (sociology)
Elise is one of seven participants in this year’s ALI cohort.
“I hadn’t been in a work environment the way that Advancement is structured prior to the internship, so I really appreciated the experience that it gave me,” says Elise. “I think that my professional writing and my professional speaking skills were also strengthened.”
Elise plans to carry forth the skills she learned through the ALI program in her career.
“I’m applying to a few different master’s programs for early elementary education, clinical mental health counseling, and clinical mental health school-counseling. I’d like to work with kids,” she says.
Mimi Endo, ’22 (sociology)
Mimi also participated in the program during her time at UO.
“I’ve always been very people-oriented, so I decided to go with Sociology because basically you study people, human behaviors, and societal behaviors,” says Mimi.
She’s already using the skills she learned through the program to work in community engagement, something she’s always wanted to do.
“I really liked the community aspect of it, and the ability to be directly involved with Advancement,” says Mimi. “I learned a lot about organization, especially in a professional setting. I learned how to manage my time better and create deadlines for myself.”
In July of 2022, Mimi accepted the position of Advancement Associate! She is currently working with the UO Alumni team.
Leah Friedman, ’22 (public relations)
Leah Friedman, ‘22 (public relations) is originally from Arroyo Grande, California. UO’s notable reputation stood out to Leah throughout her college-search process.
“You see the O everywhere,” says Leah. “You definitely feel the energy.”
According to Leah, it was the hands-on learning approach that inspired her to attend the School of Journalism & Communication. She even dedicated time to the SOJC outside of class – as a multimedia producer for The Student Voice and video editor for OR Magazine.
"College teaches you –and the school I was in- taught me how to follow through with something,” she says.
According to Leah, the ALI program connected her with a strong support network of Advancement professionals. This unique opportunity allowed her to build a portfolio of tangible work, while directly applying the skills she learned in class.
“For International Women’s Day, I wrote an article about women breaking barriers,” she says. “That’s a piece I’m super proud of.”
Leah was offered an internship at Cornell University after graduating from the UO. She credits this accomplishment to the networking skills that strengthened through the ALI program.
"I really can’t say enough good things about this program,” says Leah. “It was just an amazing experience.”
Morgan McPherson, ’23 (public relations)
Morgan McPherson ‘23 (public relations) is from Plymouth, MA. She was drawn to UO’s warm, welcoming community, all the way from the east coast.
"Embrace the adventure that would come with it... since it is far away from home,” says Morgan.
The SOJC’s unique PR program combined her passions for videography, cinematography, and storytelling.
"I liked how professionally focused the public relations program was,” says Morgan. “They put us in a lot of great positions to get that real world experience.”
She describes the degree as very hands-on. “You’re able to put strategy into action,” she says.
Morgan also became involved with the SOJC outside of class– as a member of UO’s Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA). She also worked in the offices of stewardship and donor relations for UO Advancement.
The ALI program had been on Morgan’s radar since her first year at UO. She was selected for the internship during her senior year.
“The main thing that kept me applying was just how much experience you’re able to gain from it,” says Morgan. “You’re able to rotate into all these different departments... and talk to all these professionals at the highest level."
The community-building aspect of the internship was a key take-away for Morgan. She will continue putting strategy into action in her new position as development coordinator at Boston University.
Reflecting on the importance of programs like ALI to the student experience Dave said, “college is so much more than the education, it is living with others and learning what you are passionate about, but also what you are good at.”
Reflecting on his personal involvement with ALI, in which he has interviewed and talked to every candidate since the program’s launch, he says with a smile “it’s a two-way street – I learn from them, maybe they learn from me.”