Q & A with Southern Cal Chapter Board Members
Susan Ross ’99 M.S. ’01 and Grier Ross ’98

Susan and Grier Ross met in 2002 at a UOAA Happy Hour in Los Angeles, and 8 years later, they are married with a future Duck named Henry.

Grier grew up in Fair Oaks, CA and graduated from Del Campo High School. At the UO, Grier was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity and held leadership positions with the Interfraternity Council. When he wasn’t attending Duck sporting events, Grier spent his free time mountain biking, fly fishing, hiking, camping, and skiing. He graduated from the UO in 1998 with a degree in Economics and a minor in Business. Currently, Grier is a Vice President / Relationship Manager for the Los Angeles area Middle Market Commercial Banking division of Wells Fargo Bank.

Susan grew up in San Marino, CA and graduated from San Marino High School. While at Oregon, Susan was a member of the women’s cross country and track teams, she was a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, and she was a Peer Health Educator. Susan graduated in 1999 with a B.S. in Exercise and Movement Science, and she received her M.S. in 2001 in Exercise and Movement Science with a specialization in Sports Medicine. During graduate school, Susan was a graduate teaching fellow in the Physical Education Department. Currently, Susan is a District Sales Manager in the Los Angeles area for Nestle Healthcare Nutrition, and she also coaches the Women’s Cross Country team at the California Institute of Technology during the Fall.

UOAA—what is (are) your fondest memories of UO?

Susan: I was very lucky to be a part of the UO Track and Cross Country teams, not only because I trained in beautiful Eugene and ran for such an amazing program, but because I met the most wonderful lifelong friends who remind me of the experience every time we see each other.

Grier: My favorite memory while attending the UO was, without a doubt, watching 'The Pick' my Freshman year. Oregon Football beat the Washington Huskies that day and went on to be invited to the Rose Bowl, which was another amazing experience. Other memories include taking the History of Jazz class in the summer of '97, snacking on a Hammy's hamburger, watching the SAE's play air tennis in front of the Knight Library, and taking in the amazing aroma of freshly baked Williams Bakery bread on my morning walk to Willamette Hall.

UOAA—could you describe what it is like volunteering for your local Chapter?

Susan & Grier: Volunteering for our local chapter helps us give back to the UO and bring a little bit of Eugene to LA. As board members, we meet every couple months and plan events ranging from football watch parties, to networking happy hours, to bowling parties, to signature UOAA events with keynote speakers. Our chapter is full of committed Ducks, and part of why we volunteer is to create events that gather even more Ducks and help grow the future participation (and potential) for the chapter. The amount of time we volunteer is minimal, and helping out at events is usually more fun than work.

UOAA—what do you enjoy most about being a part of the local Chapter?

Susan and Grier: We love the connection with fellow Ducks. People at a chapter event might be total strangers, work in completely different fields, or have graduated years apart from one another, but you can rest assure that you have one big commonality…Being a Duck!

UOAA—what qualities, experiences or opportunities do you most appreciate regarding your education at the University of Oregon?

Susan: I went to college to” experience it all.” I went to the Folk Festival in my preppy polo shirt and khakis, I handed out condoms and coordinated a 5K on campus as a Peer Health Educator, I took class notes for students with disabilities, and I took a class on Gang Culture despite being an Exercise Science major. The feeling of belonging in everything that interests you is what I value most about my UO education and experience, and it is why I feel normal doing everything I take on in my personal and professional life today.

Grier: I remember as a Freshman having no idea what I wanted to do with my life and as a result, no clear path of what my academic major should be. The guidance counselors at the UO were instrumental in assisting me in finding an area of study that best suited my interests and goals. Because of the advice I received, I was able to change my major and still graduate in four years, which is very difficult to do at other colleges and universities these days.

UOAA—What are some of the improvements or changes at the UO, UOAA or local chapter that you are most excited about?

Susan and Grier: We just got a preview of what the UOAA Center that is being created will offer alums visiting campus, and we are so excited to see the finished product next year. At the chapter level, we’re excited to revamp the Southern Cal chapter image. We’re focused on creating a networking system for recent alums and hosting future events that really take members back to their memories as a Duck whether it was yesterday or 50 years ago.

UOAA—Do you have a single contribution as a UO student or volunteer that you are most proud of?

Susan: A year after I graduated, I donated to the UOAA and purchased a brick with my, my father, and my grandfather’s names and graduation years on it. I didn’t realize how special that was going to be to me in future visits to campus nor the pride that giving back to the UO (whether it was money or volunteer time) would give me.

Grier: I planted a couple of trees while attending the UO. It's enjoyable to see these trees each time I return to visit Eugene.

UOAA—If you were to sum up why you are “a part of the UOAA” in one sentence or paragraph, what would that be?

Susan and Grier: We are a part of the UOAA because it literally is a big part of us. We met at a UOAA happy hour 8 years ago, and while we didn’t know then that it would lead to the fight song being played at our wedding reception, we did (and still do) know that staying connected with people who proudly call themselves a Duck is something we don’t want to miss out on.