Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, the next issue of Currently will be published Tuesday, Nov. 29. See the schedule.

November 21, 2022

News

Deconstructing Thanksgiving returns to campus

Dr. Victor Begay returns to the PSU campus this week with Deconstructing Thanksgiving, bringing Indigenous voices to the forefront of the Thanksgiving narrative on Wednesday, Nov. 23, 9 a.m. to noon. The event will be held on campus at PSU’s Native American Student and Community Center, and features a community feed of buffalo stew and fry bread. This event is free to the first 100 people who RSVP.

PSU men’s basketball featured in PK85 tourney

The eyes of the college men's basketball world will be on Portland over Thanksgiving weekend, as the city hosts the PK85 Tournament in honor of Nike Co-Founder Phil Knight's 85th birthday. Legendary men's basketball programs such as North Carolina, Duke and Gonzaga will be there — as will your Portland State men's team — in the Phil Knight Legacy bracket. Tickets are available for their opening game against Gonzaga — currently ranked No. 2 in the country — at 9:30 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day at Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

Take the Work/Life Balance survey

The Work/Life Balance Committee at Portland State University needs your feedback to guide university policy and practice to support employees in balancing family and career. All employees are encouraged to take this survey to share experiences and preferences for resources connected to work/life balance at PSU. Results will be a vital component to directing the initiatives of the committee in the coming year and informing recommendations to administration and AAUP on updates to the PSU Work/Life balance policy. Survey results are for internal PSU purposes only and are anonymous. Please complete this survey by Friday, Dec. 1.

Don’t miss the faculty/staff dodgeball tournament!

Congrats PSU faculty and staff, you made it through fall term! Celebrate and relieve some stress with a classic game of dodgeball at the Faculty/Staff Dodgeball Tournament on Thursday, December 1 from 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. on the Rec Center’s Third Floor courts. Eight teams of five players will compete in this fun tournament. Each team will get a warm-up game before we start the single elimination tournament. Register as a team or free agent on IMLeagues.com by Tuesday, November 29 at 5 p.m.

Research & Graduate Studies recruiting faculty in residence

Research & Graduate Studies seeks to tap into faculty knowledge and leadership by recruiting several Faculty in Residence positions (FIR). FIRs are paid leadership roles within RGS for faculty interested in developing and exercising organizational leadership that supports the advancement of research across campus.

PSU debuts first opera written for a transgender performer

Tickets are now on sale for “Good Country”, a production by Portland State’s Opera program that is one of the first contemporary operas with a lead role crafted specifically for a trans singer. Based on a true story of Charley Parkhurst, a stagecoach driver in the California Gold Rush who was assigned female at birth and lived life as a man. Performances are on Nov. 26 & 27.

Jazz out with PSU’s jazz band

The PSU Jazz Band, under the direction of George Colligan, will perform large-ensemble arrangements of classic jazz tunes and originals in the Lincoln Performance Hall on Monday, Nov. 28 at 7 p.m. Tickets are free for PSU students, faculty and staff — just log in with your PSU ODIN to access your free ticket. Tickets for the general public are $10.

PSU in the News

Joseph Needoba, associate professor in the OHSU/Portland State University School of Public Health, talked with the Portland Business Journal about new curriculum addressing human health impacts of climate change; Instructor of Political Science Jack Miller helped KOIN explain why Betsy Johnson’s campaign likely didn’t impact the governor’s race outcome; and Biology Professor Ken Stedman spoke with KATU about the possibility of RSV vaccines amid a spike of the virus.

Accolades

People

Julia Freybote, Shirley A. Jackson, Ryan Petteway, Leopoldo Rodriguez

Presented

Lisa Bates, Dustin Bessette, Micki M. Caskey, Colleen Carroll, Kai Hang Cheang, Michelle Domingues, Eric Einspruch, Eowyn Ferey, Óscar Fernández, Shirley A. Jackson, Staci B. Martin, Christa McDermott, Sally Mudiamu, Ryan Petteway, Teresa Roberts, Michael J. Smith, J.J.P. Veerman, Hyeyoung Woo

Published/Exhibited

C. Jonah Eleweke, Kathryn Farr, Bennett Gilbert, Tom Hastings, Sally Mudiamu, Ryan Petteway

Events

Additional Links

Currently is Portland State University’s weekly faculty and staff newsletter. It is published online every Monday during the academic year by University Communications. News items should be emailed by noon the Tuesday before publication. See the Currently website for submission guidelines and schedule.