Erica Rife

This is a photo of me giving a tour of the winning bench designs that was part of the Design Museum Portland Street Seats exhibition. The exhibition included the winners from a worldwide design competition to create new public benches. The bench I am standing next to, the “B_tween Bench,” is designed with space in the middle for a person in a wheelchair to roll up.

Degree: Master of Nonprofit Management, Arts Management Graduate Certificate

Expected Graduation Date: Spring 2022

Previous Degree: BA in Health Science, Community Health Promotion, Minor in Art History, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA

I’m From: Tucson, Arizona

Why I Came to the UO and How I Chose My Major
I chose UO because of its accredited program in Master’s in Nonprofit Management (MNM) and its proximity to where I live in Portland, Oregon. After being in the professional field for ten years, I wanted a deeper understanding of the nonprofit industry from a well-respected school nearby and was delighted to find the MNM program at UO. I have been very impressed with the faculty and how involved they are in supporting incoming students and their passion for the nonprofit world, understanding that this is an essential field for the betterment of our world.

My years in the nonprofit world have shown me that there is a need for improvement in the way things work and the voices that are at the table. I chose to study nonprofit management because those leadership skills can be applied at any mission-driven organization, especially those that serve the arts. I believe that applied learning will allow for a shift in the way that nonprofits operate for a more inclusive and equitable system.

I’m looking forward to working with Patricia Lambert to learn more about the work of arts and cultural leadership, as well as Julie Voelker-Morris, John Arroyo, and José Meléndez based on their work on community development and human-centered design practices.

Unique Qualities I Bring to My Studies
I most recently served as the Managing Director of Design Museum Portland, a nomadic museum about the impact design has on our lives. During my time there, I learned that the process of human-centered design can be applied to issues large and small, from playgrounds to prosthetics, and that museums do not have to be tethered to their brick-and-mortar space to be impactful. I bring both of these concepts to be studied as they related to the nonprofit field, and plan to apply them to arts and cultural institutions.

Extracurricular Activities I Want to Pursue
I’m extremely passionate about engaging in social justice conversations, and anticipate getting more involved in that area. I am also looking forward to getting more involved with the museums on campus, as I believe they are the educators of the community and hold the key to understanding the history and impact of social justice reform.

After Graduation
My greatest hope is to be a leader in arts and cultural development that engages communities and neighborhoods that have been historically underrepresented. I hope to create opportunities for previously unheard voices to tell their stories in their own communities, and to connect them with larger institutions/public art programs so that more people may learn about the diversity in their own city. Art has been, and will continue to be, the illustration of revolutions, and it is being created now to capture the systemic change that is occurring nationwide. I believe it is our responsibility, as arts and culture leaders, to open up the doors for more artists to be known to the world.

Your Gift
The June King McFee Scholarship Award means so much to me because of the legacy of June King McFee herself. As a leader in arts education and cultural diversity in the arts, Ms. McFee paved the way for others like me to carry on her work, and I intend to do that with my studies. The realm of opportunity on this subject is huge and, at times, overwhelming, and receiving this award solidifies my goals for my studies based on her expertise and wisdom. We are not reinventing the wheel when it comes to nonprofits and arts leadership, but we are continuing to pull it uphill based on the groundwork built by our former leaders.

Thank you so much for your contributions to the field and this scholarship!