PSU Magazine Spring 1996

Carol Franks, a senior instructor in English, is among the most talked about teachers at PSU– the talk centers on praise for her dedication to students and service to the commu– nity and the University. She is this year's Distinguished Faculty Service Award winner. In nomination letters written by colleagues and students, the message is the same: Franks is a teacher who assumes that every student is valuable, every student is teachable, and her job is simply the Socratic one of bringing out of students what is already in them. Outside of teaching, Franks is valued for her hard work on campus committees and in the community working with at-risk youth and with professional writers. John Hakanson (Vanport) wrote the legislation in 1949 that established Vanport-and eventually Portland State-as a permanent institution in Portland. His early lobbying efforts on the institution's behalf and a lifetime of service in education and in the community have earned him an Outstanding Alumni Award. Since his retirement as president of Clackamas Community College in 1984, Hakanson has continued to contribute to his community. At PSU he has served on the Alumni Board and a provost search committee; he is also a member of the Friends of the Library. In Clackamas County he is active with the Historical Society and with tourism development. Jerry Parsons '62 doesn't owe Portland State or the U.S. government anything for his G.I. Bill– assisted education, yet he keeps giving back to his alma mater and the community. Parsons is executive vice president and chief financial officer for Willamette Industries. He is also an Outstanding Alumni Award winner for 1996. Parsons has put his financial expertise to work for Portland State as an active member of the Foundation Board. He takes on the hard jobs– treasurer, audit committee member, and overseeing the board's effort to generate long-term, major support for the University. At the same time Parsons serves on many community boards, including the Boy Scouts of America Columbia Council, the Oregon Independent College Foundation, and the Oregon Community Foundation. Ave! Gordly '74 is making a difference in the community as an Oregon legislator, mentor, and community activist. A long career in social service has also earned this alumna an Outstanding Alumni Award for 1996. Gordly is one of the Legislature's most outspoken advocates for funding of public higher education, for providing access to those who are unable to pay full admission, and for achieving diversity in our colleges and universi– ties. In the community, she places a high priority on working with young people to make sure they achieve a college degree and economic self– sufficiency. She is also an ardent supporter of MESA, a PSU-coordinated program that provides early educationa l opportunities to young people in math, science, and engineering. Throughout the rapid advancement of Jory Abrams '79 at CH2M Hill, she has continued to make time for community service, particularly at Portland State. For this commitment to PSU and dedication to her profes– sion, the Alumni Association selected Abrams for an Outstanding Alumni Award. Abrams, a highly respected engineer, serves as a mentor and role model for women in her field She has served as president of the PSU Alumni Association, an officer with the 1620 C lub, and as a member of the Engineering Education Advisory Committee. Outside the University, Abrams is active with OMSI, Oregon Public Broadcasting, and the American Society of Civ il Engineers. Charles Moose M.P.A. '84, Ph.D. '93, did his doctoral thesis on community policing-a practice that is earning the Portland police chief national attention. His concern for community, and his commitment to youth and higher education were honored this year by the Alumni Association with an Outstanding Alumni Award. Along with seeking innovative solu– tions to neighborhood crime through the Portland Police Bureau, Moose is making a difference on a statewide level. He sits on the Governor's Juvenile Justice Task Force and on the Governor's Drug and Violent Crime Policy Board. At Portland State he serves on the Foundation Board and on the advisory board for the Criminal Justice Research Center. D SPRING 1996 PSU MAGAZINE 19