Portland State Magazine Fall 2010

ALUMNI PROFILE BEHZAD HOSSEINI '96, MBA '97 Legacy of learning Behzad Hosseini's father, a man who never went to school, instilled in his children the value of a good education. For Hosseini, that meant leaving his native Iran in 1983 and coming to Portland. He was follow– ing in the footsteps of his brother, a Portland State graduate who was then teaching on campus. Their sister soon joined them. Twenty-seven years later. Portland State remains an important focus for Hosseini, director of Information Technology Strategy for Portland General Electric. He shares his expertise as an adjunct instructor in the School of Business Administration, teaching courses in finance, information technology, and management. And in July, after years of serving on the Alumni Asso– ciation Board of Directors, he became president. As vice president last year, Hosseini led the board through a strategic planning process. However, "strategy is not an end," he says, "it's a journey." As president, he hopes to lead the association toward its vision of being a "cornerstone organization" at the University and in the lives of its alumni. For Hosseini and his wife, Lisa, encouraging their chi ldren to earn university degrees is a given. Their daughter, Laila, is attending University of Oregon. However, Keon, their 11-year-old son, wants to go to Portland State like his father and uncle. Hosseini knows his father would be proud. He fondly recalls his father's oft-repeated motto: "There are times in life that you might lose your wealth, position, and title, but nobody can take away what you have learned." 28 PORTLAND STATE MAGAZINE FALL 2010 Jon Rousseau '91, MA '02 is a student adviser and recruiter for Massey University in Wellington, New Zealand. He and his wife, Celeste, and their two-year-old son enjoy hiking, going co the beach, and going co restaurants in and around Wellington. Lucrecia Suarez MSW '92 is an assistant professor and associate director of cross– culcural services in the School of Professional Psychology at Pacific University in Hillsboro. Debra Gahlhoff Clemans '93, MA '95 is a scholarship adviser and financial officer in che PSU Office ofinternaciona l Affairs. C lemans writes, "Ir's nice co balance the finance side of my work with che student side." She is also involved with Lego Robotics and Port- land Public Schools students from ACCESS Academy. Tim Malone MSW '93 is a field instructor and supervises che senior mental health program at Deschutes County Men- eal Health in Bend. He also reaches for che Portland Stace social work distance program. Malone writes, "che son birched during my time at PSU just graduated from high school 1" Keith Steele '93 is a managing partner at Sitka Technology Group, a software and technol– ogy development company in Portland. Steele also volun- teers fo r Stand for Chi ldren and CASA, and is a board member of the West Linn– Wi lsonvil le School District. He lives in West Linn with his wife and three children. Elise Morrison '94, MA '98 is managing editor for che Man– agement and Services Division Information Experience at Mi– crosoft Corporation in Seattle. Morrison has won multiple technical excellence awards as a project editor for several Mi– crosoft press training kits. She is married ro an aerospace engi– neer and has a four-year-old son. Dean Westwood '94, MSW '00 Dean Westwood '94, MSW '00 is di rector of the Center on Self-Determination and training coordinator for the Oregon lnscirute on Disability and Development Leadership Education in Neurodevelop– mental and Related Disabilities at Oregon Health & Science University in Porcland. West– wood has been appointed by che governor to the executive committee of the Oregon Seate Independent Living Council and is a newly appointed com– missioner and executive com– mitcee member of the Porcland Commission on Disability. Brian Knowles '95 is a managing partner for Sitka Technology Group, a software and technology development company in Portland. He lives by che Sandy River with his wife and two children. He enjoys hiking and coaching his daughter's soccer team. Linda Meyer '95, MS '07 is editorial director for Ink & Paper Group, a publishing company located in Portland char has three imprints: Bowler Hat Comics, Dame Rocket Press, and Three Muses Press. In addition, Meyer is an adjunct professor in the PSU writing/ publishing master's program. Thach Nguyen MPA '95 is che counseling services manager in che Multnomah County Juvenile Services Division. Nguyen was awarded the 2010 Sy Award by the Multnomah County Citizen Involvement Committee for his 25 years of service on socia l justice issues.