As a 2024 University of Oregon graduate, Maddy Nelson knows students lead busy lives on a shoestring budget. Spending time and money shopping around for business clothes is difficult.
So Nelson brings the clothes to the students. Working with the Student Sustainability Center and others, Nelson, of the University Career Center, recently held a clothes giveaway on the Eugene campus that drew over 300 students who want to dress their best for the workplace.
“We’re trying to remove any barriers to students feeling prepared and ready for job interviews, internships and part-time jobs,” said Nelson, career readiness technology manager. “With students, between classes and clubs and life in general, giving them the opportunity to create that ready-to-go outfit is valuable.”
Nelson and Brian Hubbell, a former career center student leader, founded the Career Ready Closet, in which staff, faculty and alumni donate professional attire for a student clothes giveaway. Based on a clothes giveaway that dates to 2020, the Nov. 19 event in the Erb Memorial Union afforded students the chance to choose from more than 800 articles of clothing — blazers, slacks, suits, dresses, polos, button-ups, skirts, ties and more.
Junior Audrey Bederka, a double major in cinema studies and advertising, found three shirts for job interviews. “The event was an amazing way to help college students prepare for more professional jobs,” she said. “Especially with the costs of more formal clothing, it’s a very budget-friendly option that can help students feel more prepared and confident in themselves.”
Bederka’s sentiments were echoed by Taylor McHolm of the Student Sustainability Center, which helped with event management and surplus items. Unclaimed clothes will go to the next Career Ready Clothes event planned for the spring or forwarded to the sustainability center’s Reusable Office Supply Exchange or ROSE Room at 182 Prince Lucien Campbell Hall.
“The Student Sustainability Center is within the Division of Student Life, and the division recognizes the importance of the Oregon Rising strategic goals, including flourishing and career readiness,” said McHolm, the sustainability center’s program director. “This is a prime example of that. We can reduce waste and lower costs for students while helping them prepare for careers.”
James Chang, director of alumni career networking for the UO Alumni Association, took the opportunity to thin his work wardrobe. He donated ties, new dress socks, dress shoes and 10 dress shirts so freshly laundered they were still enclosed in plastic.
“As working professionals, we don’t give professional dress clothes much thought, but some students just don’t have these supplies,” he said. “I love the idea of ‘let’s help out students.’ It was doing something good to help students and it ended up helping me clean out my closet.”
The Student Alumni Association was another partner for the event, assisting with marketing to both SAA members and alumni alike as well as organizing the clothing donations. The goals of the Career Closet align with the goals of the SAA, according to Vivian Schmolke, assistant director of student engagement with the UO Alumni Association.
“We want to connect students to alumni and help students be career ready,” Schmolke said. “This was another opportunity to build that community — alumni giving back to current students.”
Students shopping for classy threads even had the chance to gain fashion tips from a pro. Rachel Williams, owner of Eugene Stylist, volunteered at the event, helping students dress to look their best. Her observation: students are prone to wearing clothes too loosely.
“Clothing, especially since the pandemic, has become incredibly relaxed, a lot more casual, a lot more oversized,” Williams said. “Wearing oversized is fun and comfortable but not best when you’re portraying yourself professionally — it needs to fit at the shoulders, waist, wrist and leg.”
Nelson is planning another event in April, as students prepare to network for Career Readiness Week. She encouraged the UO community to start putting aside donations for a clothing drive at the end of winter term.
Her dedication to the event is rooted in support of students and a deep commitment to the career center itself.
The center hired Nelson in 2022 as a student worker in technology and moved her into a full-time position as career readiness technology manager after her graduation in June 2024. Staff were especially supportive and flexible as Nelson coped with the unexpected loss of her father last year.
“Everything happens for a reason — I’m very grateful for the opportunity with the career center and I want to show my appreciation,” Nelson said. “I’m even considering going back to school for a master’s in educational policy. I hadn’t considered a career in higher ed but being with the career center, my mind has shifted a little bit, to say the least.”
—Matt Cooper, University Communications