Portland State University

The most memorable class I took in college was taught by an adjunct professor. Every Wednesday night from 6-9 PM, I couldn’t wait to get to Business Leadership. Most of us were adult students juggling jobs and families. The professor would cater dinner every week, he wasn’t teaching the course for money but to give back & inspire the next wave of leaders. The guest speakers were next-level. We had CEOs from top Oregon companies like Tillamook Cheese’s Patrick Criteser and Dutch Bros’ Joth Ricci. Each week, a new leader would come in and share their journey with us. Our big project? We were supposed to pick someone we thought was an outstanding leader in Portland. After a class vote, we agreed: NBA All-Star and Portland Trail Blazers Captain, Damian Lillard. None of us (or our professor) had any direct connection to Dame, but we took to social media, tagging him and using every Portland State resource we could to get him to come speak on our last day. And we kept at it all semester. On the final night, without any heads-up, a group of hooded figures walked in… and there he was – #DameTime himself. Huge thanks to Frank Reppenhagen for showing us what real leadership looks like. Maybe one day, I’ll get to be an adjunct and inspire others like he did.

For Eden Millan, Taylor Hunter, Kennedy Freeman, and Gavin Miller, this fall brings new opportunities to excel in their sport — and new academic challenges to overcome as they enter their first season as graduate student athletes at Portland State. Learn more about their journey: https://lnkd.in/gKrqWnzu

For second consecutive year, Portland State University professor nominated for GRAMMY Music Educator Award. Read more: https://lnkd.in/g6d_6zXD

 “Coming at conflicts such as social injustice, racism and oppression with the old narrative is not an effective strategy for change,” says Amanda Singer, co-leader of PSU’s new Social Justice & The Arts program. “Bringing innovation and creativity, and inviting the kind of collaboration that the arts necessitate, is a great way to bring about transformative conflict resolution, liberation and justice.” Read more about PSU’s new interdisciplinary degree in our October magazine feature: https://lnkd.in/g2V6hbWp 

LAIKA and Portland State University have announced an exciting new partnership aimed at fostering a more inclusive creative workforce within the local community. This three-year pilot program will provide funding for fellowships, scholarships, and curriculum development, directly benefiting faculty and students from PSU’s College of the Arts. Participants in the program will have the opportunity to collaborate closely with LAIKA’s creative professionals. Learn more about the collaboration in this article at Animation Magazine.

We're honored to be teaming up with our friends at LAIKA Studios in a big way to bring new opportunities to our region. Together, we'll launch a three-year pilot program to develop a cohort of LAIKA faculty fellows and student scholars from Portland State University College of the Arts. The group will work with LAIKA to help prepare a diverse pool of career-ready graduates who'll lead Oregon's creative industries. https://lnkd.in/gWXxNMu3

This fall, PSU’s College of the Arts launched a new undergraduate major for students who want to combine their creative practice with the power of community engagement and advocacy for justice. Led by interdisciplinary educator Amanda Singer and celebrated jazz musician and professor Darrell Grant, the Social Justice & The Arts program is the first of its kind in the nation. Read more about PSU’s exciting new degree in our October magazine feature: https://lnkd.in/g9jBWNre

The Portland State University Board of Trustees recently voted to approve a new strategic plan for Oregon’s urban research university that will guide the institution through 2030 and aims to deliver on institutional priorities including improved service to students, employees and the Portland region. PSU also released an Economic & Social Impact Study detailing the university’s economic contribution to the Portland Metro Area, which exceeded $1.8 billion in Fiscal Year 2023. PSU supports 11,274 jobs and generates $714 million in labor outcome, as well as contributing $253 million in tax revenues, nearly $94 million of which benefits Oregon state and local governments. The report found that 81% of PSU bachelor’s degree graduates are employed in Oregon one year post-graduation, compared to 71% across all Oregon public institutions. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gZB3-8U6

Portland State University has once again been ranked #1 in social mobility and service learning for the state of Oregon, by the U.S. News and World Report. “These rankings speak to the core of PSU's mission and celebrate our focus on student success and providing traditionally marginalized communities with access to high-quality education," said PSU President Ann Cudd. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gSbtiQuC

When the Vernier Science Center opens this month, PSU will get more than a new building. The center will also play a key role in the university’s mission to become a top choice for Indigenous sciences — a place that attracts and supports more Native students in STEAM programs and that bridges Indigenous and Western approaches to science. Learn more about the new center — and the many ways staff, faculty and students are helping PSU become a top destination for Indigenous STEAM — in this month’s PSU magazine story: https://lnkd.in/gcPKSFra