[inside student affairs]An insider’s guide for those helping students reach their goals toward optimal health and wellbeing, engagement with learning, and sense of belonging at PSU
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2025 Commencement Edition
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Presidential Award Winners
Congratulations to the 2025 Presidential Award recipients: Jesse Morris (Service to the Community), Anna Gibbons (Service to the Community), Alejandra Vazquez (Service to the University), and Sarah Rodriguez (Service to the University). These four students were recognized at the Leadership Luncheon on Wednesday, May 21, where President Cudd presented them with their awards. Additionally, each of the winners received a $250 award from the President’s Office. Every year, the General Student Affairs Committee and Office of Student Affairs collect nominations for the Presidential Awards, which are given to students who have excelled during their time at PSU both inside and outside of the classroom. To learn more, please visit the Presidential Awards website.
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Unsung Heroes
At our End-of-Year Gathering, each member of the Student Affairs Leadership presented an Unsung Hero Award to a treasured campus partner who is crucial in supporting PSU students and the Student Affairs mission. This year’s winners were:
-Shelby Danzer, PSU Foundation
-Christina Luther, International Student and Scholar Services
-Matthew Peipert, Enrollment Management
-Jill Townley, International Student and Scholar Services
-FRINQ faculty and staff, University Studies
-Miles Weatheroy, Campus Public Safety Office
-Kristine Wise, Campus Events and Student Union
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2025 Cumpston Award for Service to Students
April Aster, Director of Student Legal Services, was named the 2025 recipient of the Mary H. Cumpston Award for Service to Students. This award is given annually to an academic professional or university administrator without academic rank who has demonstrated excellence in the area of service to students. The Cumpston Award committee, composed of past award winners, was inspired by April’s commitment to serving students over her past eleven years at PSU. To learn more about April, the Cumpston Award, and past recipients, visit the Student Affairs website.
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Lavender Graduation
The Queer Resource Center at Portland State University is thrilled to invite you and your family, friends, and loved ones to our 16th annual Lavender Graduation! Lavender Graduation will take place on Friday, June 6, 2025 from 3 to 5 pm in the SMSU Ballroom. Celebration is one of our favorite ways to support Queer and Trans students in achieving their educational goals. Please join us in honoring this year's graduates! If you have questions or concerns, please contact qrc@pdx.edu.
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Family-Friendly Commencement
Services for Students with Children is hosting Family-Friendly Commencement for graduating students with children in the SMSU Ballroom on June 7 from 1 to 4 pm. This event highlights the accomplishments of students who have triumphed in pursuing their degrees while raising children. To celebrate the contribution their children, spouse/partner, and loved ones have made to their achievement, families are invited to join graduating students in receiving a family diploma and take a family graduation photo! Regalia will be available for children to wear for the photo. In addition, families are invited to participate in fun crafts, games, and bowling at the Viking Game Room. Graduates may also receive a special Student with Children commemorative graduation stole as a gift for their accomplishments. Dr. Jessica Ramirez will join us to celebrate graduates and their families with words of encouragement. All this fun and celebration is free, but capacity is limited and pre-registration is required. Email sswc@pdx.edu with any questions.
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[office of global engagement and innovation]
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International Impact AwardCongratulations to PSU’s International Special Programs! The unit won Travel Portland’s 2024 International Impact Award in honor of their significant contribution to Portland’s international visitation, appeal, and profile. In May, department leaders and supporters attended the State of the Industry and Annual Awards Celebration at the Oregon Convention Center, where all award winners were recognized for how they have helped rejuvenate Portland’s tourism landscape.
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Upcoming Retirements in OGEIThree senior leaders in the Office of Global Engagement and Innovation will be retiring this summer: outgoing executive director Ron Witczak, OISSS director Christina Luther, and fiscal officer Debra Clemans. Each of them have worked at PSU nearly 30 years (if not more). We extend our gratitude to each of them for dedicating so much of their lives and service to helping our international student community and guiding our student support efforts at PSU.
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[student activities and leadership programs]
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Dead Week After Dark: Ride into the 80sThe Portland State Events Board is hosting Dead Week After Dark: Ride into the 80s. Saddle up, buttercup - we're throwing it way back for a night of totally radical chaos! Students are invited to conquer the mechanical bull (or dramatically fail trying), get a spray tattoo, get caricatured, crush some arcade games, and eat their weight’s worth of cotton candy and ice cream! The event will take place Wednesday, June 4 from 7-9 pm in SMSU Ballroom.
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[student health and wellbeing]
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Beginner Swim ClinicsThis summer, learn to swim! Get ready to dive into summer with Campus Rec's beginner swim clinics! This free class is for participants with no swimming experience. Instructors will focus on the basic skills, such as water acclimation, floating, breathing and equipment introduction. Hit the pool this Thursday, June 5, from 6-7 pm for the last class of the term. Or, register now for Summer clinics happening on Fridays from 11 am-12 pm starting Friday, June 27. Please note that youth ages 14-17 are only eligible to participate in beginner swim clinics during the summer, when clinics occur during youth hours.
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Gear Up for a Summer Adventure!
Are you getting ready for your own summer adventure? Rent outdoor gear for 11 days for the price of four from Friday, June 13 until Monday, June 23 during the Outdoor Program’s summer closure. Any additional days will be charged standard extra day fees. Take advantage of the deals on gear for backpacking, camping, rafting, paddleboarding, water sports and more! See what is available on the Campus Rec website.
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Student Health Insurance UpdatesStudents who purchased spring term health insurance will get summer health insurance for no added cost. This means their insurance does not end until September 19, 2025 - regardless of graduating, taking summer term off, etc. The student insurance can be used worldwide and PacificSource can help students find resources when out-of-state and/or out-of-country. New incoming Summer term students who take 5 or more credits (1 if international) will get summer student insurance from June 23, 2025 through September 19, 2025 unless they waive out. Please refer all insurance questions to insurancehelp@pdx.edu.
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[university housing and residence life]
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Fall Housing Signups Are LiveThe 2025-2026 Housing Contract is open now! New, incoming students can log in to the Housing Portal to sign up for Housing. Assignments are made on a first-come, first-served system. Students can apply early to reserve their spot! June 15 is UHRL’s Priority Housing deadline.
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PSU Day at the CapitolMore than 100 Portland State University students, staff, faculty, alumni, and supporters gathered in Salem on May 22 for PSU Day at the Capitol, an opportunity to advocate for support for higher education and programs specific to PSU. On that day, Senators voted unanimously to officially designate PSU as Oregon’s urban research university. The bill, HB 2556, underscores the unique role PSU plays in the state’s higher education ecosystem. Contributing more than $1.8 billion in annual economic impact, Portland State University is committed to educating Oregon’s workforce, engaging in public impact research, and welcoming students of all backgrounds to access the transformative power of higher education.
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We often think of connection as grand gestures, but sometimes, it’s as simple as noticing someone and affirming their worth.
This year, I've had the honor to work with two efforts that came out of last year's Presidential Task Force Report on Building Community Through Dialogue that was co-chaired by Steve Percy and Ame Lambert. Two recommendations from that report resulted in the standing up of two working groups: Kindness Initiative and ThrivePSU, which both also directly connect to one of the Guiding Commitments in PSU’s Strategic Plan of "building a community ethos of care and well being."
Members of ThrivePSU are: Sheila Martin from the President’s Office, Taylor Schwab and Dana Tasson from Student Health and Counseling, Erin Bransford from Campus Rec, Paula Carder from the PSU Institute on Aging, and Dean Paul Halverson from the OHSU/PSU School of Public Health. This work also has a direct connection to PSU's launch of the Okanagan Charter and other campus-wide health promoting efforts.
Members of the Kindness Initiative include: Marcy Hunt and Quinn Westlynd from Student Health and Counseling, Heather Petzold from University Studies, Sean Duffy from Human Resources, Shayn Snyder from Transfer and Returning Student Resource Center, Atsu Nagayama from Campus Rec, Malik Thirdgill and Jasmine Miller from Athletics, and Jill Townley from the Office of International Student and Scholars Services.
Next year, you will see the work of these committees, such as Kindness Weeks each term, when the campus community will be invited to use the break in the daily class schedule to promote kindness and health and wellbeing enhancing activities like taking a walk or having tea or a meal together, or explicitly expressing gratitude for a colleague. We will also encourage using this time to take a break to find joy in a community-based activity, like doing art together or participating in a faculty staff pickle-ball tournament or a round of Jenga.
Meetings with the Kindness Initiative and ThrivePSU committees have brought me unexpected delight this year. I am grateful to all of the folx who made the time to share space (and German chocolate cupcakes) in this work as we have dreamed together about how to share these good vibes with the entire campus in the coming year.
In the meantime, I invite you to think about the last time an unexpected act of kindness lifted your spirits? More importantly—how will you be that person for someone else?
-Michele
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[office of student affairs]
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[past newsletters]
Archived issues of Inside Student Affairs and links to subscribe to other campus newsletters can be found here. If you want to include something in an upcoming Inside Student Affairs, please email studentaffairs@pdx.edu.
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