November 4, 2024

From earthquake research to tiny houses for houseless populations to diverse leadership in public schools, Portland State University’s influence is woven into the fabric of the Portland area. Now, the scope and depth of PSU’s contributions are quantified in the newly released Economic & Social Impact Study 2024, conducted by the Northwest Economic Research Center (NeRC), an independent economic research center housed in the College of Urban & Public Affairs (CUPA).

The report measures just how vital PSU is as an economic and social engine of the Portland metropolitan area and the state of Oregon. Through a combination of quantitative and qualitative research, the study defines PSU’s impact across four key areas: economic contribution, research activities, educational outcomes, and community engagement.

Key findings:

This comprehensive examination of PSU’s contribution to our region was led by Jenny Liu, Associate Professor of Urban Studies and Planning at CUPA, who was awarded the Paul Polzin Prize for Best Paper from the Association for University Business and Economic Research (AUBER) for the quality of this study.

Portland State University President Ann Cudd has appointed Rick Tankersley as Dean of the Graduate School. Tankersley, who also serves as PSU’s Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies, brings extensive experience from his roles at the National Science Foundation and UNC Charlotte. He steps in as Rossitza Wooster transitions to a special role in the Office of the Provost, with plans to return to the Economics faculty in fall 2025. In the announcement, President Cudd praised Tankersley’s commitment to academic excellence and thanked Wooster for her impactful leadership, including creating PSU’s first graduate student collaboration space and advancing student-focused initiatives.

On October 30, the Office of Academic Affairs announced a Retirement Incentive Offer (RIO), consisting of a one-time cash incentive, to eligible tenured and continuously-appointed faculty electing an effective retirement date on or before July 1, 2025. This program is designed to assist the University in re-aligning staffing levels to support the institution’s strategic goals and plans to achieve financial sustainability. December 18 is the last day for eligible faculty to submit their signed election documents to OAA to participate in the program. Funding for this incentive is part of the Sustainability Funds provided by the Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC). Bridge to the Future is the plan that the university is following to address an immediate $18 million budget deficit.

PSU Emergency Management strongly recommends that all faculty and staff subscribe to text messages from PSU Alert, the system used to send emergency alerts to the campus community. PSU Alert notifications are automatically sent to pdx.edu email addresses but you need to OPT IN to receive notifications via text message. To do so, login to Banweb, select Personal Information, then PSU Alert Emergency Notification System and update your information. Be sure to save before you close the page!

Research and Graduate Studies (RGS) has added two new Research Awards this year: a Faculty Award for Public Impact Research and a Public Impact Partner Award. The first recognizes outstanding scholars whose work demonstrates significant societal impact beyond academia, and the second celebrates outstanding organizations in the Portland region that have collaborated with PSU faculty to conduct research with significant societal impact. Read more about the new and existing PSU Research Awards. Nominations must be completed by 5 pm Friday, Nov. 15 to be eligible for review.

Aligned with PSU’s new Future in Focus strategic plan and the RGS Roadmap to 2030, these awards underscore PSU's commitment to fostering research that directly supports Portland’s economic, social, and cultural resurgence.

In her latest blog post, PSU President Ann Cudd reflects on PSU’s commitment to honoring Native American Heritage Month. She highlights recent milestones, including the opening of the Vernier Science Center—designed with input from Indigenous students—and the renaming of SW Jackson Street to SW Rose Hill Street, in honor of Indigenous leader Rose Hill. Read more about PSU’s dedication to supporting Native students, celebrating Indigenous knowledge, and building an inclusive future on the President's blog.

Looking for a fun midday break? Drop by Campus Rec every Monday and Thursday from 12-1 p.m. for a casual game of pickleball on the MAC court and court 2! Whether you’re new to the game or perfecting your swing for the pickleball league, it’s the perfect chance to play, practice, and meet other pickleball colleagues.

And on Fridays, slow down and reconnect with your body in the Stretch and Flexibility Group X class at Campus Rec. This class is geared towards improving flexibility through a variety of static and dynamic stretches — also improving your posture, maintaining or increasing your range of motion and reducing general tightness and soreness throughout your body. Stretch & Flexibility is excellent after a long day at the computer or a strenuous workout.

Come to the Lincoln Recital Hall on Thursday, November 7, from 12-1 p.m., for a powerful performance by Dae Bryant and "The Collective." This Afrocentric ensemble merges jazz with the wisdom of African ancestors, pushing the boundaries of space, time, and musical language in an exploration of Black American Music. Part of the Noon Concert Series, this event offers PSU employees and students the chance to enjoy live performances each Thursday, showcasing the talent and creativity of the PSU School of Music & Theater. The concert will also be live streamed.

Tickets start at $20 for All PSU Blazers Night on Wednesday, March 12 at 7 p.m. Watch the Blazers take on the New York Knicks at Moda Center with your family, friends and colleagues! Sponsored by the College of Education, Special Education Department and Universal Design Lab. It’s a special event for the PSU community to come together to raise awareness around youth with communication disabilities — and if the university’s ticket sales goal is met, youth with communication disabilities will get to play on the Moda Center court with the PSU community! Visit the link below and purchase using the promo code: PSUBLAZERS. Deadline to purchase tickets is Friday, Jan. 17.

The University Career Center’s Employer Relations (ER) Manager, Giovanna DiFalco, would like to collaborate with you! As the ER Manager, Giovanna will be cultivating partnerships with local, regional, and national employers to broaden career and internship prospects for PSU students and alumni. She will develop and manage programs including career fairs, employer visits, employer panels, information sessions, and more. Giovanna would love to connect with you to get to know you, your role at PSU, and how she can support the students that you work with!

Richard Clucas, politics professor, discussed voter distribution in statewide elections with NPR; Maude Hines, associate professor of English, provided insight into a local theater’s ticket sales uptick with the Portland Business Journal; Political Science Professor Chris Shortell talked with Prism about the challenge of addressing homelessness in Portland elections; and Leroy Bynum Jr., dean of the College of the Arts shared news of a new partnership between PSU and LAIKA with KOIN.

All Week

Color outside the Lines from the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and his Family Foundation

Deinum Prize Showcase Exhibition: Thúóng

Monday, November 4

Biology Seminar Series: The Build-Up of Asian Animal Faunas

Thursday, November 7

Noon Concert Series: Dae Bryant & The Collective 

Show & Tell Design Lecture Series Presents Elisha Zepeda

Middle East Studies Center Book Talk

An Iliad

Book Talk: ‘Sustainability for the Forgotten’

Katakana Journeys: How Non-Japanese Words Made it into the Japanese Language

AI + Design: Student Exhibition Tour & Discussion

White Bird: Okareka Dance Company

Friday, November 8

Fridays @1: Rummer Development: Reviving a Legacy

Maseeh Mathematics and Statistics Colloquium: Towards Large-Scale Data Assimilation with Structured Generative Models

White Bird: Okareka Dance Company

Saturday, November 9

White Bird: Okareka Dance Company

Find more events at: PSU Events

Presented

Alida Cantor, Jack Corbett, Bennett Gilbert, Nahlee Suvanvej, Deborah Arthur, Marisa Westbrook

Published/Exhibited

Madhu Narayanan, Ryan Petteway, Nicole Rigelman, Jack Straton, Yazhen (Sophie) Xiao

People

Jessica Mole Heilman, Vicki Reitenauer, Ken Ruoff, Yazhen (Sophie) Xiao

Grants

Jason Anderson, Bob Bass, Kristen Harrison, Sirisha Kothuri, Joshua Mendez

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CURRENTLY is a weekly newsletter for the employees of Portland State University, published by University Communications. News items, events and accolades should be sent to currently@pdx.edu. Deadline is noon, the Tuesday before publication. See the Currently website for submission guidelines and schedule.