Staff Spotlight: Jorge Calderon Galvin

Jorge Calderon Galvin is currently a senior at Portland State University and will graduate this winter with his degree in Arts and Letters. Jorge’s passion lies in Graphic Design, where he hopes to find a career post graduation. He is a lover of gaming and enjoys watching anime, YouTube, and Twitch. Jorge is a first-generation college student and one of the first to graduate in his family. 

Born and raised in rural Hood River, Jorge is a native Oregonian. He grew up on a farm and gained early work experience cherry picking with his father who is an agricultural manager. Jorge says that the transition from rural living to Portland “wasn’t too difficult” because he spent a lot of time in Portland growing up. One of his favorite events to attend with his family was the Portland Cinco De Mayo Festival.

Jorge began working at Campus Rec in 2015 after his RA encouraged him to join the FLASH (Freshman Learners Acquiring Skills in Higher Education) program. The FLASH program helped Jorge to develop his skills and gain on-campus employment as a Fitness & Inclusive Rec Monitor during his freshman year. He even made some good friends along the way!

“It felt like the role fell in my lap," Jorge says. "I went from not knowing what a real job was to getting a leadership role." 

Jorge is now the Fitness Student Coordinator at Campus Rec. His work ethic is inspired by his parents. He is a dedicated worker and team player, and has advocated for staff and patrons through his different positions. Even in his role as a coordinator, Jorge works on the gym floor because he doesn’t want his leadership role to make him feel disconnected from his team. He has learned how to manage his time, stay organized, effectively communicate, and be attentive to coworkers and patrons. Jorge has been working to build connections with other student coordinators, and plans to continue this until he hands off his role to his successor. 

“Treat this job like it is a job in your field," Jorge advises his fellow Campus Rec employees. "The responsibilities of a fitness employee may feel small, but take responsibility for the work you’re doing and do a good job no matter what to set yourself up for success!”

After graduation, Jorge hopes to find a career in the graphic design field. In the summer of 2021, he plans to continue working on a project that he is collaborating on with two of his good friends. Stay tuned for Jorge’s exciting adventures and designs, and be sure to say hi if you see him at the Rec Center.

Thank you, Jorge, for the hard work and dedication you bring to Campus Rec!