Student Bios

SLS Members are a rare breed, committed to serving their community and sharing their amazingness with others.  Find out more about what makes our members super-special.

2011-2012 Members

Coming soon to a webpage near you.... :-)

2010-2011 Members

Sede Kemp

Immigrant Refugee Community Organization (IRCO)

Sede Kemp is in her second year at Portland State. She is majoring in Cultural Anthropology with minors in Italian and Vocal Performance. She first learned about SLS through her FRINQ Sustainability mentor and joined because the opportunity to become truly invested in her community was too good to pass up. She is also involved in the PSU Environmental Club and really enjoyed the volunteer work she did at last year’s MLK Day of Service, and Earth Day. Sede is currently working with the African Immigrant Mentoring Program at IRCO, mentoring Somali youth. She is thankful for the opportunity Student Leaders for Service has given her to learn through meaningful service and is excited to embark on the journey ahead of her.

Will Wright

Office of Neighborhood Involvement

This is Will’s second year, both at PSU and with SLS. He works at the City of Portland’s

Office of Neighborhood Involvement, finding ways to connect PSU with the broader Portland community. His work on the Faculty Engagement Committee within SLS is another component of the effort to cultivate service-learning at PSU and to help PSU live up to its motto “Let Knowledge Serve the City.” Within this committee there is a focus on facilitating the development of Community-Based Learning courses as well as service-learning opportunities.  Will also serves as a co-chair for the Community Development Student Group, co-founded the Coalition of Students Interested in the Eco-District, and currently works as an office/research assistant in the Institute for Sustainable Solutions. He is fascinated by sustainability, especially the human element, and strives to cultivate a culture of ecological citizenship.

Angie Rowe

E.D.G:E Program Mentor - Kelly Elementary

Schools Uniting Neighborhoods (SUN)

Self Enhancement Incorporated (SEI)

Angie Rowe is a second year PSU student and SLS member. Her major is International Studies with a focus on Africa. Outside of SLS, Angie is an officer for Students for a Free Tibet and volunteers with various other organizations on and off campus. Angie initially joined SLS to fully integrate service into her life and to work with youth in an educational capacity, but soon realized the importance of service and civic engagement in our society. Angie has many passions, but her main focuses are human rights, social justice and education. Angie is currently working with elementary students at Kelly Elementary, facilitating a Student Ambassador/Leadership program in effort to engage students and connect them more fully to their communities, and to inspire these future leaders to carry their passion for service out into the world.

Chelsea Updegrove

Office of Neighborhood Involvement

Chelsea Updegrove is in her fourth and final year at PSU. Majoring in Community Development with a focus on Community Organization& Change, and minoring in Sustainability; she hopes to take her education to the community streets of Portland and possibly abroad. Growing up in Montana, Chelsea has brought her love and appreciation for the outdoors to Portland and has focused within her major on the importance, expansion and development of public parks and green spaces.   Chelsea found Student Leaders for Service In her search to get involved in the PSU community in a meaningful way. Her work with the Office of Neighborhood Involvement will help to build relationships and connections between faculty and students interested in community based learning opportunities; and city neighborhood organizations and coalitions interested in expanding their capacity with interns and volunteers.

Jesse Fassler

EDG:E Program Mentor - Vernon Elementary

Schools Uniting Neighborhoods (SUN)

Self-Enhancement Incorporated (SEI)


Jesse Fassler is beginning his second year with the Student Leaders for Service (SLS) EDG:E Club being a mentor at one of our partnering schools, Vernon Elementary. Jesse has been an active member of the EDG:E program in conjunction to volunteering on Portland State University's campus with the Recycles Team and in the Re-Use Room from time to time. Jesse is interested in majoring in Health Education and wants to teach health to high school students. Jesse is also passionate about sustainability issues and counseling youth.

Jae Wilson

E.D.G:E Program Mentor - Jefferson High School

Schools Uniting Neighborhoods (SUN)

Self Enhancement Incorporated (SEI)

One year ago if you’d asked if Jae saw himself pulling ivy, mint or other invasive species from our watersheds or forests, or asked if he’d like to spend his weekends painting shelters or working in soup kitchens, he would have said, “never in your wildest dreams.”  But today, it’s just a regular part of life.  Jae is a PostBacc student at Portland State University studying Information Management in the School of Business.  Last summer, inspired by movies like Take the Lead, Stand By Me, and Coach Carter, he joined Student Leaders for Service expecting to go to a high school and, in a few hours - forever change the lives of a small group of mentees.  In doing so, he discovered a group of like-minded PSU students who want to change the world through community development, self-sacrifice combined with the spirit of volunteerism.

Jayde Wright

E.D.G:E Program Mentor - Woodlawn Elementary

Schools Uniting Neighborhoods (SUN)

Self Enhancement Incorporated (SEI)

Jayde Wright is a fourth year student at PSU and this is her second year in Student Leaders for Service. She is majoring in history and plans on becoming a middle school social studies teacher someday. Jayde is currently teaching an after school class focused on leadership at Woodlawn Elementary, though last year she was at Whitman Elementary. Jayde values education and knows that for one to succeed, one must have high expectations of oneself and others.

Kimberly Berger

Safe Passage to Motherhood

Kim is currently in her senior year at Portland State University and will graduate this spring with a double major in Theater Art/Liberal Studies.  Kim is returning to the Student Leaders for Service program for her second year and is excited to forge a new relationship with Safe Passage to Motherhood (SPM). SPM is an international, non-profit organization. Their mission is to improve health and survival in childbirth for mothers and newborns in low resource settings by sharing knowledge of life saving skills in a culturally sustainable manner.

Jon Hurst

E.D.G:E Program Mentor - Ockley Green Elementary

Schools Uniting Neighborhoods (SUN)

Self Enhancement Incorporated (SEI)

Jon Hurst is a second – year – PSU student and returning SLSer.  He is majoring in Community Development, with an emphasis in Communication, Environmental Sciences, Sustainability, Education, Art and a minor in Civic Leadership.  Apart from his involvement with Student Leaders for Service, Jon is also a Co-Chair with the Community Development Student Group.  Jon joined SLS to be a part of Youth Development but soon became passionate about “expanded learning environments” and “learning through service.”  Currently, Jon is working with elementary students, teaching Leadership at Ockley Green Elementary.  Jon values finding ways to help people consider what is important to think about as we grow toward our future and strive to increase the quality of life for all mankind.

Huy Bui

MacDonald Center

Huy Bui is a senior at PSU, majoring in Biology, with minors in Chemistry and Philosophy.  This is his third year with SLS. Currently, he partnered with the MacDonald Center, located in downtown Portland, which serves the homeless and lower income individuals.  Beside studying and serving the community, he enjoys running, biking, cooking, and eating.

Lisa Nauta

LÊP High School

Lisa is a first-year transfer student at Portland State University, majoring in Child & Family Studies with an emphasis in Child Welfare & Human Services. This is Lisa’s first year as a member of Student Leaders for Service, and she is so excited to become more connected with the PSU community and find more fun and exciting ways to get as many PSU students as possible out into the greater Portland community to volunteer. Currently, Lisa is working at the Leadership and Entrepreneurship Public High School, better known as LÊP High. She is working with the AmeriCorps Vista helping to create a volunteer recruitment and retention program for LÊP High, as well as interacting with the students through serving lunch at LÊPonce a week. Lisa hopes to someday dedicate her career to bettering the lives of underprivileged youth and values the equal treatment of all people.

Stephanie Fine Sasse

Rose Haven

Stephanie Sasse is a junior at PSU majoring in Psychology and Science, with a long-term focus in Cognitive Neuroscience. Since beginning at Portland State she has been a music journalist for the Daily Vanguard, a TA for Human Development and a Research Assistant for Dr. Robert Roeser’s Culture and Contemplation in Education Lab where she examines the use of biomarkers in psychological research. Outside of Portland State, Stephanie has assisted in biological research in Tam Dao, Vietnam, and currently works at the Developmental Brain Imaging Lab at OHSU where she conducts neuropsychological tests and assists with fMRI scans. She has also worked as a Marketing Consultant for Lush Cosmetics Headquarters in Vancouver, B.C., where she planned initiatives to connect the store’s goals to community needs through the development of fundraising projects to benefit Raphael House. She left Lush to redirect her marketing skills towards helping local nonprofits, including the Artist Mentorship Program (AMP) and p:ear. Her community involvement also includes event planning, GED mentoring, teaching art and writing, and donating her time as a photographer. Stephanie’s primary objectives as an SLS representative are to further connect community opportunities to faculty and student interests, while attempting to bridge interdisciplinary gaps between service learning and the sciences.

Sandra Tellez

SOLV

Sandra is a fourth year PSU student, majoring in biology. This is her second year with SLS. This year she will be working with SOLV, a non-profit organization focused on restoring natural spaces and providing educational opportunities to encourage environmental sustainability. She plans on becoming a physical therapist.

Teresa Lilua

Police Activities League

Teresa is a Junior at PSU. She is pursuing her BA in Applied Linguistics, along with a Certificate in teaching a second language.  Apart from her involvement with Student Leaders for Service, Teresa also serves as a mentor for new International students; student representative at the Admission’s Office, as well as a member of ICSP-a cultural service scholarship program.  Teresa takes great pride in serving the community.  She was volunteering for various after school programs before coming to PSU.  Now as a member of SLS, Teresa hopes to have more opportunities to expand her learning through community based services and, at the same time, seeks to encourage other students and faculty to be a part of a wonderful learning that comes from the serving experience!

Veronica Porter

Cascade AIDS Project

Development Team Intern

Veronica Porter is a senior here at Portland State University double-majoring in Communication and Social Science and minoring in Women’s Studies. This is her first year with Student Leaders for Service (SLS) and she is working with the Cascade AIDS Project (CAP). Their mission at CAP is to prevent HIV infections, support and empower people affected and infected by HIV/AIDS, and eliminate HIV/AIDS-related stigma. She is currently helping CAP to prepare for their Annual Art Auction among other CAP events. In addition to working with SLS and CAP, Veronica also works at Student Activities and Leadership Programs and is a University Studies Peer Mentor.

Zubair Kohistany

Office of International Affairs

(City Hall)

Zubair is a senior at PSU and a first year member of SLS. He is majoring in Political Science, focusing on the Middle East with a major in Arabic and Business. Zubair is a member of the Muslim Student Association and has gained many leadership skills through his affiliation. The main motivation for Zubair in joining SLS was to become involved. He is also interested in volunteering in a way that is both meaningful and productive. Zubair is also looking forward to creating networks and groups that will benefits individuals as well as the Portland State and the greater Portland Metro community. He recognizes that everyone has valuable traits and that utilizing those traits will be the key component to becoming successful in anything they pursue.

Abby Warren

Community Garden Outreach

Abby Warren is a new member of the SLS team. She transferred to PSU this fall as a Junior, majoring in Community Development with a concentration in Community Organization and Change. Abby is also minoring in Spanish. She is incredibly happy at her site, working in City Commissioner Nick Fish's office as the Community Garden Outreach and Volunteer Coordinator. Abby's involvement with SLS is based upon her belief that “everyone should do unto others as they would have done unto themselves.” She thinks that SLS exemplifies this golden rule by the way that the program creates an important bridge between the Portland community and PSU. Abby believes that giving people opportunities to act and care can inspire and empower all people involved.  Through these opportunities, people can become leaders for creating a healthy, equal, and just community. Outside of school and SLS Abby volunteers at Abernethy Elementary Garden of Wonders, works in her own garden, knits, sews, travels and cooks quirky vegetarian meals. She has a love for working with children especially teaching them environmental stewardship through the wonder of growing their own food. She sees food systems as being an integral part of a well functioning, equal, and sustainable world.

Sierra Lander

Sierra Lander is a junior transfer student starting her second year at PSU and her first year in SLS.  Sierra is a Community Development Major with a focus in community change, non-profits, resource centers and sustainability.  Sierra is also involved with building community on campus by volunteering at the Women’s Resource Center and being a co-chair of the Community Development Student Group.  Sierra joined SLS to become more involved with local community organizations and is excited to be working with the group.

Wendy Serrano

Cascade AIDS Project

Development Team Intern

Wendy Serrano is a transfer student at PSU in her junior year. This is her first year as an SLSer.  She is majoring in Communication Studies and minoring in Spanish. Wendy hopes to join the Peace Corps after attaining her bachelor’s degree and also hopes to work with groups in Africa towards community development and teaching English. After the Peace Corps Wendy plans on going to Law school. Currently, Wendy is working with the Cascade Aids Project as an intern for the planning of the Art Auction event in 2011, a fundraising event for CAP. Wendy values, and considers it a priority, to raise awareness and provide service towards our society in order to increase the quality of our local and global communities.