Business Matters

Jerika Ferguson knows her commitment to teams, programs and the public sector 

Jerika Ferguson ’23 had five graduate business schools written down — including some as far away as Georgetown, as prestigious as Berkeley, and as practical and flexible as OSU. She’d been researching prices, programs and opportunities and speaking to recruiters for months. 

But there was something else lending influence on this first-generation college graduate, the memory of her grandmother.  

“It ultimately was my grandmother,” Ferguson said, recalling the woman who was never able to finish her schooling at OSU. “Then it was called Oregon State College, and she was going to be the first in her family to earn a degree. Instead, she had my mother. In August of 2020, she passed away. It was then when I knew this is where I was meant to go.” 

Ferguson earned her undergraduate degree from Eastern Washington University, initially drawn to athletic medicine, which was inspired by her success as a student-athlete. After an injury sidelined her from the sport she loved and the family experienced financial hardship due to the 2008 Great Recession, she turned to the thing she truly knew: teamwork and community. 

“I reassessed my path,” Ferguson said. “With guidance from my TRiO counselor, I switched my major to government and political science with a history minor.”  

The term “TRiO” initially described a series of federal educational opportunity programs for people with disadvantaged backgrounds. First designated by the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, TriO included Upward Bound (1964), Talent Search (1965) and Student Support Services (1968). More than sixty years later, TRIO includes eight programs to assist first-gen and disadvantaged students’ progress through the academic pipeline, but with federal funding currently under review, broadly. 

For Ferguson, TRiO was a guiding light. By junior year, she was a member of the political science honor society, was selected for the Washington State Legislative Internship Program, and had ignited her passion for public service. After graduating, Ferguson spent six years at Washington’s Office of the Secretary of State.  

After graduating and during her time in state government, Ferguson decided she should pursue her MBA. “I learned two key lessons: many people are uninformed about how our government works and how to engage with it, and nonprofits serve as a crucial conduit, connecting solutions between the public and private sectors,” she said. 

She identified goals: deepen knowledge of finance, strengthen leadership and organizational abilities, and identify solutions that bridge the public and private sectors. She recognized that the Oregon State MBA in supply chain and logistics management would best suit the goals she had. 

“I believe the MBA was essential for gaining expertise in these areas, expanding my network, and discovering new and innovative ideas,” Ferguson said. 

Still working full time, Ferguson entered the Portland Hybrid — “it was the perfect fit for balancing a full-time job while staying actively engaged with OSU and our Oregon community. 

Committing firmly to both studies and community, she became the co-chair of the Portland Region Habitat for Humanity Ambassador Council and joined its Strategic Community Committee. She is a member of the OSU Supply Chain and Logistics Management Advisory Group, OSU Foundation’s MBA Alumni Network (MBAAN) and helped relaunch the student-led MBA Association. 

Today, since January, she is interim executive director of the Portland Community Football Club, sports program with the mission to provide access, belonging and opportunity through high-quality soccer and wraparound services for low-income and historically underserved youth. 

“I am so excited, and this would not be possible without my education from Oregon State University,” Ferguson said.  

It seems like she knows this is where she was meant to go. 

“From my own experience, higher education is not just about the knowledge you gain — it’s about the people you meet and the connections you build. I found that the more I got involved with peers, clubs, and engaged in the college community, the more I grew personally, professionally, and it prepared me for the workforce. It’s those friendships and shared experiences that really shape your journey and help you thrive during school and beyond.”