Center for Retail Leadership - Industry Engagement

One of our primary goals is to provide the retail industry (food, beverage, consumer packaged goods, athletic and outdoor) with a pipeline of diverse, talented and well-prepared graduates seeking careers in these industries. The Center works with employers to advertise job opportunities and internships for graduate and undergraduate students. Contact us to post a job.

We provide opportunities for students and employers to interact and network. Workshops led by industry for our students, informal conversations and events provide valuable opportunities for students and industry professionals to interact and share information. Given the diversity of our programs we also offer the opportunity for different industries to come together and share information.

Our volunteer advisory board meets quarterly. The advisory board provides insights on industry trends, talent needs and volunteers their time to work with our students.

We have industry guest speakers in our classes, workshops and informal coffee chats. Guest speakers introduce our students to new career paths and specific field within the broader retail industry.

Share your knowledge and expertise about the food, beverage and consumer packaged goods, athletic and outdoor industry with a student by becoming a mentor. Mentorship helps students gain clarity about their career goals and increases students' self-confidence through exposure to the workplace. Invest in the future of the industry by becoming a mentor. 

All operational expenses of the Center come from a combination of The School of Business and funds provided by the generous contributions of our alumni, friends and industry partners including advisory board members. Our ability to expand the Center’s reach and foster programs that cater to industry interests and needs depend on your continued support for which we are so grateful.

Financial support may be in the form of sponsorship of the Center’s events, research grants, program grants, endowment gifts, scholarships, or outright gifts and pledges of cash, appreciated stock or other assets. Gifts are made through the PSU Foundation, a 501(c)3 corporation. Every individual and organization that provides financial support is recognized on the Center’s web site and in its annual report. Donors are especially encouraged to get involved with the Center’s students and programs and to provide career opportunities both to current students and graduates.

There are many ways to support the Center and all are appreciated.

Portland State University is your testing ground for putting new ideas into action. As Oregon’s only urban, public research university, we, students, faculty, and staff are committed to solving regional and world problems through collaboration. We have faculty world renown for their expertise in subject areas such as management, supply chain, and blockchain who are interested in sharing their research and working with the industry. We also have Propel PSU which drives the impact of these innovations further with entrepreneurship and commercialization programming from the Portland State Business Accelerator, the Center for Entrepreneurship, and Innovation & Intellectual Property.