Dear Maseeh Community,
While the nation celebrates Native American Heritage Month, Portland State University celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Native American Student and Community Center (NASCC) with an event on November 17th. Of all the universities I’ve been at as faculty or a student, PSU is the only one with such a facility. The commitment to the Native community and the opportunity to build on PSU’s accomplishments in this area were part of what attracted me to the Maseeh College.
My goal at PSU is to establish it as a destination for Indigenous STEM, enhancing the student experience. Diverse teams are crucial for effective problem-solving in engineering. Meeting Oregon’s engineering and computer sciences workforce needs requires broader STEM participation to adapt to the state’s growing diversity. Everyone, including tribal communities, should have the opportunity to be involved in co-creation of new technology that will serve their communities. Indigenous knowledge, spanning areas like ecological knowledge, wildfire management, fisheries management, community building, brings significant value to STEM. With Portland’s sizable Native population and nine federally recognized tribes in Oregon, PSU is well positioned to be a national leader in this area. While my tribe isn’t from Oregon, connecting with other Native folks in the local community and building authentic relationships has been a wonderful experience. I’m excited to collaborate in true partnerships and embrace the work and opportunities ahead.
Supporting diverse learners and fostering an inclusive community benefits all students at PSU. . As part of our student experience priority, we focus on supporting student success, justice, equity, diversity and inclusion, as well as inclusive innovation. Dr. Tong Zhang, Assistant Dean for Inclusive Innovation, leads the Futures initiative within the Maseeh College. This multi-phase initiative empowers students from all backgrounds to become leaders in engineering and beyond through specialized programs and cohort experiences.
Maseeh College's additional priorities include enhancing visibility through increased storytelling, and focusing on enrollment sustainability and growth, introducing new education and research programs, and fostering a sense of belonging and community to bring joy to work as we navigate post-pandemic challenges. Stay tuned for more details on these initiatives in the future.
This year marks a milestone in the history of Maseeh College–the 50th anniversary of engineering programs at Portland State University. The tradition shared by PSU and Maseeh is deeply rooted in innovation, and inclusion. It might surprise some to learn that the school’s original location, now beneath the Portland International Raceway, is not where it stands today. Almost 80 years ago, PSU emerged as the Vanport Extension Center, primarily serving World War II veterans. The 1948 Vanport flood, devastating the city's only integrated community, didn't deter its progress. Salvaging transcripts and records, PSU and Maseeh College eventually settled in the South Park Blocks in 1952. Known as the "school that would not die," PSU reflects both academic resilience and the determination to challenge the establishment, providing an educational path for non-traditional students. For more information on the transformation of Maseeh College over the last 50 years, you can check it out here. Maseeh is celebrating the anniversary with events throughout the year, including speakers, social gatherings, a career panel, an art show, an alumni gathering, and special commencement cords.
The hallmark of our program is student-driven innovation, fostering breakthroughs with a lasting impact beyond campus. With a commitment to giving back, initiatives like the recent capstone project designs address safety and accessibility for people walking and riding bicycles in Portland, instilling a sense of responsibility and empathy in our students. This approach sets the stage for a generation of engineers who are not just skilled problem-solvers but also compassionate global citizens. As we embark on the next chapter of our journey, we look forward to building upon our legacy of excellence. The world of engineering is ever-evolving, and so are we. Let's celebrate the past, embrace the present, and shape the future together.
Warmest Regards,
Dr. Joseph Bull
H. Chik M. Erzurumlu Dean of the Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science at Portland State University