Expanding Career Services
Local and regional industries look to the Maseeh College for job-ready graduates. To help meet this need, the college seeks to better support students by bridging the gap between education and employment by creating opportunities for students to access internships, attend career workshops, and connect with industry mentors. “Career readiness is a top priority for us,” Bull emphasized. “We want to ensure that students have the tools and resources they need to confidently enter competitive fields like engineering, computer science, and technology.”
Two local business leaders, Sundt Construction and DE Dunn Engineering, have already stepped up to make an impact in this area as part of the new Employee Sponsorship program. Founded in 1924, JE Dunn is the 8th largest domestic general building contractor in the United States with offices in 26 locations and hundreds of project sites across the country. JE Dunn Construction has been in Portland since 1992, having built the Moda Center. Their portfolio of projects spans dozens of industries— healthcare, aviation, corporate environments, federal, industrial, education, mission critical, science, technology, semiconductor, and more.
JE Dunn has long supported the hiring of Maseeh College students and considers taking part in the program valuable “for its investment in high-performing students and bridging with the Portland working community. With several PSU alumni on staff, we see great value in the caliber and experience of EWX students and what they can bring,” a representative said.
Supporting Indigenous Students in STEM
Dean Bull has a vision for making Maseeh College a destination for Indigenous students in STEM by focusing on interdisciplinary learning, integrating traditional Indigenous knowledge into engineering and computer science. The college seeks to expand its offering of programming that includes guest speakers, panel discussions, and workshops exploring the intersection of Indigenous knowledge and Western STEM practices. Private philanthropy in support of this area can provide a platform for meaningful conversations and collaborations that honor Indigenous perspectives and their role in transforming technology fields. Dean Bull notes that “as an enrolled member of the Delaware Tribe of Indians, I have a personal connection to this mission and I see this work as a way to make STEM and the world better for everyone. We’re using traditional lessons– such as long term thinking, the relationships among things, connecting with purpose, and balance–to make engineering more innovative and more productive.”
The Maseeh College also plans to take a more targeted approach to supporting indigenous students in STEM. A new fund called the Engineering Tribal Student Success Fund will offer direct support for students from federally recognized tribes. This includes recruitment and retention initiatives, career readiness programs, and other services to ensure tribal students have the resources they need to succeed academically and professionally. Zhang expands on this idea: “Our goal is to provide students with connected pathways from their local communities to higher education. Tribal students interested in PSU already have a variety of financial supports available to them in the forms of tuition benefits and scholarships. This fund will support students in finding an engineering community as well.”
Join Us In Supporting These Priority Areas
The establishment of these fundraising priorities comes at a time of growing urgency for higher education institutions to address systemic inequities while preparing students for an increasingly complex workforce. “With fluctuations in state and federal support, philanthropic funds are more important than ever,” said Erin O’Roak, Director of Development with the PSU Foundation. “Investments from individuals can ensure that essential programs can continue for students regardless of what's happening at the state or federal level.”
Leveraging this moment of uncertainty in higher education in America to secure the Maseeh College’s future and attract top talent while addressing inequities in STEM education is pivotal. “We’ve spent the past two years laying the foundation—building a strong team, listening to our students, and identifying the areas where we can make the most impact.” the dean points out, and “naming these as our priorities is the next step in that journey, and they will help us attract more students, support their success, strengthen our partnerships, and elevate our position as a leader in engineering education.”
As part of its strategic direction, the Maseeh College also seeks to build stronger connections with alumni, industry partners, and the community.
- For Alumni: past graduates are invited to give back and support the next generation of engineers and computer scientists.
- For Industry Leaders: Sponsorship opportunities allow companies to invest in future talent while gaining visibility and building relationships with students.
- For High School Counselors: Our priorities around Indigenous Engineering and support for students from federally recognized tribes send a clear message: Maseeh College is a welcoming and supportive environment for underrepresented communities in STEM.
As Maseeh College continues–as it always has–to grow and evolve, these priorities represent a critical investment in students, innovation, and equity. By supporting these initiatives, donors have the opportunity to leave a lasting legacy—helping to shape the future of engineering and computer science while ensuring that all students, regardless of background, have the chance to succeed. “We’re not just asking for donations—we’re asking for partners,” O’Roak clarified. “Partners in building a stronger STEM workforce. Partners in creating opportunities for students who might not otherwise have them. Partners in making a difference.”
Follow the links below to learn more or contribute: