Arlyn Schaufler Retires After 49 Years, Alex Lyons Named Duck Store CEO

Arlyn Schaufler has retired after roughly 49 years with The Duck Store at the University of Oregon, stepping down after 14 years as chief executive and handing leadership to Alex Lyons. The change signals continuity for a campus institution that has remained an independent nonprofit since the 1920s and is governed by a board that includes students, faculty and staff.

Schaufler emphasized the human side of the operation in reflecting on his career. “For me, it always comes down to the people. I love working here. I love the people that I work for and serve on this campus, the community, the students, the fans,” he said, and he framed the store’s relationship with campus stakeholders plainly: “We’re owned by the university students, faculty and staff, but we’re not owned by the institution.” That people-first approach underpinned the board’s succession choice and Schaufler’s decision to train a successor.

That succession is Alex Lyons, who has been prepared for the role through nearly a decade of training with Schaufler. Schaufler and the board chose Lyons to be the next CEO, and Schaufler praised her capabilities: “She’s wicked smart, OK? She’s gonna do things that I couldn’t do. She can take this place, this store, places I couldn’t take it to.” Lyons has said that hearing opinions from the University of Oregon community helps determine the store’s direction, signaling a participatory approach to merchandising, course materials and campus outreach.

Schaufler’s tenure covered major retail shifts on campus. As one report summarized his leadership, “Schaufler led the store through major changes - from analog retail (film processing, Walkmans) to digital a”, a fragment that underscores how the bookstore adapted across generations of student needs and technology.

The Duck Store’s nonprofit, community-governed model stands in contrast to national trends in campus retailing. While The Duck Store has remained an independent nonprofit since the 1920s, other campus bookstores, such as The Husky Shop at the University of Washington, have transitioned to for-profit models. For Lane County residents and students, that governance model means continued input from those who use the store most and a structure that can prioritize campus service over outside shareholder returns.

Details about the effective date of Schaufler’s retirement and the formal start date for Lyons were not specified in the available reporting. For readers, the most immediate implication is institutional continuity: a long-serving leader has passed the baton to a successor groomed internally, and the store’s community ownership and board structure are likely to keep student and faculty priorities central. Expect The Duck Store to solicit campus input as Lyons settles into the role and to announce transition details in coming weeks.