Letter from the Dean
Cliff Allen, Ph.D, Vergil Miller Professor
Resilience underscored the last quarter of our 2019-2020 academic year. The coronavirus pandemic and blatant racial injustice across our nation have impacted us all, and are disproportionately felt by communities of color. This inequity is personal because PSU’s business student population continues to be the most racially diverse in Oregon. Yet I’m heartened by the way our community continues to thrive in the face of adversity.
Our students have demonstrated incredible resolve, continuing to make education a priority against myriad personal and professional challenges. Faculty and staff pushed their limits to create positive remote learning environments under unprecedented circumstances. Staff and donors came together to help meet the increased demand for student hardship funds. And we even have alumni at the forefront of solving health care supply chain disruption caused by the pandemic.
Our accomplishments were innumerable over the course of the year, and we’re pleased to share a handful through this report.
- Our AACSB accreditation was extended, validating the high standards we set forth to ensure students receive the quality education they deserve.
- We launched a new Business Blockchain Certificate, a credential that helps meet industry demand and keeps students at the leading edge of technology and business.
- Our researchers continue to impress with their scholarship, namely Berrin Erdogan being appointed editor-and-chief of the influential publication, Personnel Psychology, and faculty working abroad to solve international problems.
- For the first time, The Portland MBA and Master of Science in Finance programs had male and female students represented in equal numbers, a significant milestone that’s well above national and regional averages for women in graduate business programs.
I hope you find inspiration in these stories, along with the others that showcase our commitment to innovation, impact and engagement.
Finally, I want to honor the passing of two people who touched our community in ways that are difficult to put into words, Brenda Eichelberger, a beloved and celebrated faculty member, and Gerry Cameron, a devoted alumnus, donor and friend. Their legacy will live on through the decades-long, profound effect they had on our students.
As always, thank you for being part of our vision to redefine business and transform lives.