Portland State University’s Michele Toppe, Vice Provost for Student Affairs, has been named a 2026 NASPA Pillar of the Profession, one of the highest honors bestowed by the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA). The distinction recognizes outstanding leaders who have made a lasting impact on the student affairs profession and higher education nationwide.
Toppe has worked in higher education for more than 30 years, and has been at PSU since 1995. Over the decades, she has built a legacy of leadership rooted in care, inclusion and the belief that every student deserves to succeed and thrive.
“We are so proud to see Michele Toppe recognized with this well-deserved and prestigious honor,” said PSU President Ann Cudd. “I offer my congratulations and my deepest thanks for everything Michele has done to support PSU students over the past three decades.”
At PSU, she has created resource centers for veterans and students with children, overseen the development of the residence life program, and guided student government and fee committees. She has planned major campus events including New and Transfer Student Orientation, Commencement, and Party in the Park, while also managing complex student issues ranging from academic appeals to crisis response.
As Vice Provost, Toppe oversees Student Affairs, which encompasses the Center for Student Health and Counseling, Campus Recreation, Dining Services, Student Activities and Leadership Programs, University Housing and Residence Life, the Office of the Dean of Student Life (DOSL), the Office of Global Engagement and Innovation and the McNair Scholars Program. Through these areas, she has advanced programs that support basic needs, mental health, civic engagement and a sense of belonging for all students.
Toppe holds an Ed.D. in Higher Education Management from the University of Pennsylvania and an M.A. in Education from Portland State. She will be honored at the NASPA Annual Conference Awards Celebration on March 10, 2026, in Kansas City, Missouri.
Portland State proudly celebrates Michele Toppe’s recognition as a 2026 NASPA Pillar of the Profession and her extraordinary contributions to students and the field of higher education.