February 10, 2025

Portland State University has introduced the Park Blocks Scholarship, a $5,100 annual, merit-based award for first-time, first-year students from families earning under $100,000 who don’t qualify for Pell Grants. Renewable for four years, it can be combined with other scholarships to help reduce tuition costs. Eligible students with a 3.2+ GPA who complete the FAFSA will be automatically awarded. This initiative builds on PSU’s commitment to affordability, with more than half of first-year students already graduating debt-free.

Portland State has been selected for Cohort 4 of the Transfer Student Success Intensive, a prestigious program led by the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program (Aspen) and the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU). This year-long initiative supports colleges in improving transfer student outcomes through data-drive strategies and collaboration. PSU will partner with Portland Community College to develop sustainable transfer pathways that serve our diverse student population.

Portland State University (PSU) has named Jennifer Bell as its new Director of Financial Aid and Scholarships. Bell comes to PSU from Webster University, where she served as Director of Financial Aid. Her impressive career includes experience at the Universities of Northern Iowa and Iowa, and seven years as Associate Director of Financial Aid at the University of Oregon.

Beyond her campus experience, Bell is a respected leader in the financial aid community, actively participating in state, regional, and national organizations. She was also selected for the prestigious National Student Financial Aid Administrators 2019-2020 Diversity Leadership Program.

PSU thanks all who met with Jennifer Bell and provided feedback during the search process. She joins PSU on April 16.

All PSU employees are invited to participate in the university’s Winter Symposium, “Exploring the Role of General Education @ PSU: Past, Present and Future.” The event will include opportunities to hear from a student panel, discuss and learn about general education at Portland State, and reflect on the goals of general education within our university. All PSU faculty, staff and students are welcome and encouraged to participate in this collaborative event.

Date: Tuesday, Feb. 18
Time: 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Location: Smith Memorial Student Union Ballroom (3rd floor)
Continental breakfast served 8:30 - 9 a.m.

Oops! The correct day for the next Administrative Briefing is Wednesday, Feb. 19. Thank you to those of you who pointed out the error in last week’s edition of Currently. The briefing is from 3 to 4:30 p.m. in ASRC 515 or online. We apologize for the confusion!

The Millar Library food carts have reopened, after a brief closure for required wastewater disposal improvements. The university waived rent for the cart owners during the shutdown period to mitigate for lost revenue. The cart pod reopens with familiar favorites Home Taste (Chinese), Khao Niew (Laotian) and Sheesh Shawarma (Middle Eastern) — and new food cart, Momo House (Tibetan/Indian).

On her blog, Portland State University President Ann Cudd honors Black History Month by highlighting inspiring work in Portland and by PSU students and alumni to uplift Black communities. She also highlights events happening on campus to mark Black History Month.

Honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy and engage in thoughtful reflection during a public reading of his Letter from Birmingham Jail.

This powerful event will be followed by a community discussion as we reflect on where we are, what is needed and how we can support each other. This event is more than a reading — it’s a space to connect, be in community, think critically, and discuss how we, as a community, can continue to advance the ideals Dr. King so passionately championed.



Whether you’ve attended before or are joining for the first time, your presence and voice are invaluable. Please make the time for yourself as we engage and move forward together.

Date: Thursday, Feb. 13
Time: Noon - 2 p.m.
Location: Lincoln Hall Studio Theater (LH 115)

Interested in ways to support civic engagement and a thriving American democracy through teaching materials? 

The Civic Engagement & Voting Rights Teacher Scholars Program is an opportunity for faculty to collaborate on classroom teaching materials – by faculty, for faculty. The program is hosted by Clemson University in South Carolina and is funded through a three-year grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Applications are due by Feb. 21.

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS), in partnership with Academic Testing Services (ATS), proudly announces the opening of the new CLAS Testing Center in the remodeled Vernier Science Center (VRC). Designed to support students with accommodations through the Disability Resource Center, the facility includes a distraction-reduced room for up to 15 students and six private testing rooms. This innovative space underscores CLAS's dedication to inclusive academic support, ensuring equitable opportunities for all students to demonstrate their learning. ATS provides learning assessment and test proctoring support for faculty and students.

The class schedule for Spring 2025 is online and registration opens today for Group A, Wednesday for Group V, and next Monday for Group B and New and Continuing Graduates. The full registration schedule is on the Academic Calendar. Direct students to the Registration Hub at MyPSU to get started.

PSU’s student government, the Associated Students of PSU (ASPSU), has opened up election applications for the 2025-2026 academic year. Elected positions include the student fee committee, senators and president/vice president. Positions receive a stipend each term and are open to all majors and undergraduate, post baccalaureate and graduate students.

Do you know of some students who could use help in writing essays or papers? The Writing Center offers help for any point in the writing process. They have in-person and online appointments, as well as drop-in hours Mondays-Thursdays from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in FMH 360.

The Center for Retail Leadership is hosting Matta Café, featuring straight-from-the farm coffee grown in Santa Marta, Colombia. Matta Café is a family business working to close the gap between farmers and consumers. Pop in for a quick pick-me-up or hang out and chat with owners Aura and Manuel Matta about the adventure behind every sip of their coffee.

Dates: Monday - Friday, Feb. 10-14
Time: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Location: Karl Miller Center (KMC) atrium

The Portland Winter Light Festival (PDXWLF) is celebrating 10 years of lighting up the city with its anniversary event, running Feb. 7 - 15. This year’s theme is “A Light for Tomorrow: A Technicolor Future.”

This free festival features dazzling light-based art installations, interactive exhibits, live performances and community pop-ups. It's truly an event for all ages to experience the transformative power of light during Portland's dark winter season. Bundle up and take a walk around downtown — be sure to check out the anchor sites at Pioneer Courthouse Square, the World Trade Center and the Electric Blocks.

Keep your eyes out for installations around campus!

Professor Lisa Bates, who leads the Evicted in Oregon team, discussed recent findings showing that housing costs and inflation have worsened with OPB; Elise Granek, professor of Environmental Sciences and Management, shared new research documenting microplastics contamination in seafood with the Guardian; and Professor of Biology Michael Murphy talked with KOIN about the flood of crows roosting in downtown Portland.

All week

Boliglaboratorium: A Danish Housing Lab Exhibition

Arlene Schnitzer Visual Arts Prize Exhibition

Just Playin’ Around

City of Possibility: Portland Seen Through Architectural Models, Past, Present, Future

Monday, February 10

Party in the Ballroom

Biology Seminar Series: Climate Resilience in North America’s Most Broadly Distributed “Alpine” Mammal

Basketball Shooting Challenge

Tuesday, February 11

PSU Textile Arts Presents Sophy Wong

Galette des Rois (King Cake) Tasting and Cultural Discovery

‘Picture a Scientist’ Film Screening and Q&A

The Prewar Origins of Japan’s ‘Middle Class Myth’

Wednesday, February 12

Research Career Panels

Tools, Pedagogy, and Strategies Around Feedback and Grading

Thursday, February 13

MLK Tribute: Presentation of the Letter from Birmingham Jail

Show & Tell Design Lecture Series Presents Lau Peltzer

Noon Concert Series: Sherry Alves with the Mel Brown Trio - A Timeless Jazz Experience

Can Critters, Science, Carton Sequestration and Timber Harvest Co-Exist?

The History Department Presents: Plantation Goods | Seth Rockman

Men’s Basketball v. Northern Arizona

Friday, February 14

Fridays@1: Co-Housing Design in Portland

Let’s Flamingle Splash Mob

Saturday, February 15

Exhibition Tour: Just Playin’ Around

Men’s Basketball v. Northern Colorado

Find more events at: PSU Events, OAI Events, Viks Athletics

People

Frank Granshaw, Elise Granek, Pronoy Rai, Lillian Martz

Published/Exhibited

Jack Straton, Gerry Sussman

Presented

Cynthia Carmina Gomez, Sheila Martin, Lillian Martz

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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.