As Portland State University prepares for commencement, a new cohort of graduates stands ready to translate their academic journeys into tangible community impact. Among them, Kyle Klein, Jamie Pryde and Dorotea Lopez Perez exemplify the spirit of innovation, resilience and service nurtured at PSU.
From developing accessible technology for social services to reforming training for those who support survivors of trafficking, and empowering marginalized youth, their stories highlight a shared dedication to building a better future.
Kyle Klein: Engineering Connections for Community and Cosmos
Klein’s journey to a computer science degree at PSU began with a pivotal decision around his 30th birthday to forge a new path.
"I decided to make a major career and life change and work toward a better future for myself and my loved ones," he said.
Starting at Portland Community College, he discovered a passion for the kind of problem solving and deep thinking inherent in software engineering.
“I also realized that if I continued to work hard in my schooling, I could leverage the opportunities and benefits provided to me along the way to put myself in position to give back and elevate my community,” Klein said.
This drive is embodied in his capstone project: a social services chatbot. Accessible across multiple platforms including the web, Indigo PDX directly serves Portlanders in need by connecting them to crucial local resources. The chatbot is a testament to Klein’s problem-solving skills and desire to address day-to-day challenges facing his community.
“The entirety of the project was conducted through the lens of making an application that vulnerable members of the community could easily access and use to find up-to-date information on social services,” he said. “I think a lot of people in Portland and especially PSU are very passionate about community health and social programs and I feel very fortunate to have a team of peers that really prioritized those values in the work we did.”
His time at PSU was also enriched by diverse experiences, from stimulating Honors College discourse courses to his work with the Portland State Aerospace Society.
"I worked with some of the most intelligent and skilled people I have ever met, building and programming cube satellites from scratch," Klein said. This experience led to presenting research and, serendipitously, a virtual meet-and-greet featuring Dr. Makenzie Lystrup, now the Center Director at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, where Klein is currently finishing an internship.
He credits Professor Wu-chang Feng as highly impactful, particularly his Generative AI for Security Applications. "His tutelage and support have been integral to my current success," Klein said.
After graduation, Klein will intern with cybersecurity firm HiddenLayer, aiming to solidify a career in cybersecurity. Eventually, he plans to pursue a Master's in Electrical Engineering at PSU focusing on digital signal processing and machine learning.
His advice to fellow students is a call for action: "Stand up for what you believe in and stand up for those around you. Choose love and compassion over fear and hatred."
Jamie Pryde: Championing Justice and Healing from Personal Strength
Pryde’s journey to her Master of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice is a testament to extraordinary personal strength and a deep-rooted desire to serve her Oregon community. After battling brain cancer after high school, she re-engaged with her education with fierce determination.
"When my symptoms became manageable, I was able to attend school again," she said. She earned her Associate of Science at Mt. Hood Community College before transferring to PSU in 2021, where she excelled, graduating summa cum laude with both her undergraduate and now her master's degree.
Her graduate thesis directly addresses a critical need within Oregon. Working with the Oregon State Hospital, her research explores social workers' understanding of human trafficking and abuse.
"The hope is that my findings will then aid in the creation of educational modules and training provided by the hospital, and a trafficking screening tool," Pryde explained. At the moment, the hospital does not provide human trafficking education or a screening tool for staff, and does not know how to provide treatment to trafficked victims.
Pryde found that while social workers could identify some risk factors, their confidence was low due to a lack of specific training, a gap her work aims to fill. Trafficking in particular can look a lot like domestic violence and/or sexual assault, which is why implementing education, training and a screening tool for social workers to rely on is so important, she said.
"If the goal of treatment is to treat the entire patient, are we actually doing so when this particularly vulnerable group is falling through the cracks and our social workers are not set up for optimum success?" she asked.
She wants to continue to work collaboratively between police departments and help educate the community about evidence-based police practices, crime trends and crime prevention efforts.
Inspired by her father's 38-year law enforcement career, Pryde will do just that with a career in criminal justice.
"I want to continue my father’s legacy in the criminal justice field and create my own. His work, dedication, and the positive impact he brought to this world inspired me to follow in his footsteps," she said.
She’s already making strides, having secured a highly competitive position as a Crime Analyst with the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO), directly serving the Portland metropolitan area. The position is “critical to ensure our operations are supported by evidence-based research to optimize resources and ensure a positive impact on the community," Pryde said.
(Unfortunately, due to recent budget cuts, Pryde was notified CCSO is now unable to fund her position.)
Looking toward commencement, Pryde said she will deeply miss the PSU community.
"I genuinely feel like I belong within this community of professors," she said, recalling the overwhelming faculty support when she was a candidate for her CCSO job. "I have never felt so seen, heard and loved by a group of instructors before."
Her advice to others is born from her own tenacity: "Self-affirmations go a long way, if I can do it, you can do it too. Lean on your classmates, communicate with your instructors and keep your goal in perspective."
Dorotea Lopez Perez: Cultivating Futures in School Counseling
Lopez Perez’s journey to becoming a school counselor is fueled by her experiences as a multilingual learner and her aspiration to support students facing similar hurdles within Portland. After completing prerequisites and English language studies at Portland Community College, she chose PSU for its flexibility and diverse program offerings.
“My aspiration is to become a school counselor, and I sought a university that offers a welcoming environment for multicultural learners like myself," she says. "PSU felt like the ideal fit."
Her impact on local youth is already evident. Lopez Perez created a college and career awareness program designed to support historically marginalized students and broaden horizons for people in her community who may not otherwise be exposed to these opportunities.
“Latino low-income students in particular, especially at a young age, weren't aware of the many opportunities available to them. I wanted to help bridge that gap — to show them that their dreams are possible and that there are many paths they can take to reach their goals,” she said. “We can empower students to make informed choices and feel confident about their future by planting the seed early. It’s about giving them knowledge, inspiration and a vision of what they can become.”
By creating a space where elementary, middle and high school students can explore their strengths and learn about college and career opportunities, Lopez Perez hopes to help break through barriers that often stand in the way.
“I wanted to inspire students to follow their dreams and know that they all can go to college and have better opportunities in life,” she added.
Lopez Perez’s personal journey, however, was not without its own hurdles — something that undoubtedly enriches her ability to connect with and support the students she serves.
"At the beginning of the program, I encountered many barriers, and as a multilingual learner, achieving my dream felt impossible," she said.
She credits an advisor for guiding her through the process and empowering her to pursue her career.
Upon graduation, Lopez Perez will immediately put her skills to work serving Portland’s children as a full-time counselor in a local elementary school. She will miss the sense of community and supportive faculty at PSU but carries forward a powerful message, especially for other multilingual learners: "PSU is an amazing place where you can turn your dreams into reality and truly thrive."
As Klein, Pryde and Lopez Perez prepare to graduate, their journeys from Portland State mark the beginning of futures poised to serve their communities. Their diverse paths underscore a shared spirit of service cultivated at PSU. These graduates aren't just leaving campus — they're carrying forward a powerful dedication to improving lives and shaping a stronger city.