Portland State Magazine Fall 2021

I WELCOMED more than 200 new students to Portland State at the end of August. It was the first time in 18 months that I’d interacted with so many at once. We were outside, masked and safely distanced in the Park Blocks, but I could still see and feel their excitement—and trepidation —as they stood together under the elms for the first time. They came from all over Oregon and other states for the launch of our Summer Bridge Scholars Program, a free, four-week introduc- tion to college life and academics designed for students whose high school education was disrupted by COVID-19.They plan to study everything from social work to computer science—and they chose PSU for our programs, location and connections in the Portland area. Like all new students, they were getting a feel for what their lives would be like here. But unlike in past years, many were coming from months of intense stress and disjointed learning experiences. To help them make connections and succeed, the Summer Bridge Scholars Program gave them a strong foundation in college- level math and writing, as well as effective learning skills. We included support from peer mentors and, of course, some fun along the way. These students are a primary reason we have worked so hard to safely reopen our campus this fall. It’s hard to imagine an entire class going through their first year of college without ever seeing an instructor in person, but that’s what happened last year. We understand, now more than ever, the importance of the college community to our students’ success.They need to interact inside and outside of the classroom, develop relationships and meet with faculty in person—all, of course, in a safe environment. Indeed, the pandemic has helped me realize how much my top priorities for PSU— advancing student success, acting on racial justice and equity, and strengthening our city—overlap and connect. When we peel apart the factors that lead to student success, we find strategies that meet the needs of students from different cultural and educational backgrounds and address historic inequities. And as we enrich our students’ learning experience on campus, we help our city recover by bringing students back to downtown. The Summer Bridge Scholars Program is one innovation that does it all at once, and it was a joy to see it in action.That’s why, when I met students outside at a safe distance, I pulled down my mask briefly, smiled, and said, “Hi. I’m President Steve. How are you? Welcome to PSU!” Personal interactions like these may seem small, but they build connections that will help our students and our city emerge from this pandemic stronger than ever. Sincerely, Stephen Percy President, Portland State University FALL 2021 VOL. 36// NO. 1 EDITOR Scholle McFarland GRADUATE ASSISTANT Jennifer Ladwig MS ’21 PHOTOGRAPHERS Patric Cohen, Edis Jurcy, So-Min Kang COPY EDITOR Martha Wagner CREATIVE DIRECTOR Brett Forman SENIOR DESIGNER Evan Kirkley DESIGNER Sofia Estrada Ferry ’20 LET TERS TO THE EDITOR Portland State Magazine P.O. Box 751 Portland, OR 97207-0751 psumag@pdx.edu ADDRESS CHANGES Please go to the website pdx.edu/alumni/contact or email us at alum@pdx.edu PSU ALUMNI ASSOCIATION Mary Coniglio, Executive Director Simon Benson House 1803 SW Park Ave. Portland, OR 972011 503-725-4948 alum@pdx.edu PSU BOARD OF TRUSTEES Ben Berry Antoinette Chandler Emily Chow Gregory Hinckley (Chair) Katy Ho Thomas J. Imeson Margaret D. Kirkpatrick (Vice Chair) Yves Labissiere Irving Levin Sheryl Manning Pete Nickerson Judith Ramaley Lisa Sablan Wally Van Valkenburg Stephen Percy portland state MAGAZINE from the president Portland State Magazine is published two times a year, during fall and spring terms. Contents may be reprinted only by permission of the editor. Portland State University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity institution. THE JOY OF WELCOMING STUDENTS BACK TO CAMPUS EDMUND KEENE