Year in Review 2023-24

From the Dean

Dean Joseph Bull — Dean Bull was a keynote speaker at the climate and technology focused Wings Conference in April 2024.

2023-24 was a landmark year for the Maseeh College of Engineering & Computer Science as we celebrated our 50th anniversary year of engineering at Portland State University (PSU). In 1973, after years of lobbying by PSU and the Portland community, the Department of Applied Science was re-named and became the Department of Applied Science and Engineering. This rhetorical and legal battle was just one of many PSU has fought in its relatively short history, and this victory was an important step in Maseeh College's journey to offer a world-class education that is accessible, inclusive, and affordable. We now offer BS to PhD degrees in Civil & Environmental Engineering (CEE), Mechanical & Materials Engineering (MME), Electrical & Computer Engineering (ECE), and Computer Science (CS). We also offer a graduate only program in Engineering & Technology Management (ETM).

Our hallmark across all programs is student-driven innovation that defines our community. The impulse to explore, question, and create has led to remarkable breakthroughs and projects that have left a lasting impact on our campus grounds and far beyond them. Our students not only hone their technical skills but also develop a deep sense of responsibility and empathy, setting the stage for a generation of engineers and computer scientists who are not just adept problem-solvers but also compassionate global citizens.

We look forward to what the next half century may bring.

Joseph L. Bull, Ph.D.
H. Chik M. Erzurumlu Dean
Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science

2438

enrolled students in 2023-24

$11M+

in research expenditures

$375k+

in awarded scholarship

#1

CS is top major at PSU

80%

increase in student retention

Student Success

Enrollment continued to rise to pre-pandemic levels. Computer Science is now the most popular major in all of PSU. This year, the college also saw an increase in student retention of 80%, the highest since 2019.

Research Innovation

The college further expanded funded research and led innovation in emerging technology. Junior faculty, who brought in two new National Science Foundation (NSF) Career awards (Diane Moug, CEE; Ilke Celik, MME), and seasoned researchers define the future of clean energy, smart electrical grids, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and infrastructure resilience. Maseeh researchers are innovating for people and the planet.

Inclusive Excellence

Maseeh College is a champion for access to engineering and computer science education and was recognized by the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) for its commitment to advancement in this effort in 2024. The college launched several such programs this past year including the FUTURES Initiative and CyberPDX, a camp for Native HS students.

Building the Energy Infrastructure of Tomorrow through Powerize NW

The Maseeh College leads a regional coalition of over 60 partners, Powerize NW, to evolve the region into a global leader in rapidly growing energy storage and smart grid technologies. The work is funded with two grants that PIs Robert Bass (ECE Professor) and Antonie Jetter (Associate Dean for Research, ETM Faculty) received in 2023—one from NSF (Regional Innovation Engine Development Award) and one from EDA (Tech Hub Strategy Development Grant). The combined $1.6 million seed investments open the door for up to $225 million of Federal investments in regional innovation over the next 10 years. Powerize NW strives to ensure a bright energy future for all.

FUTURES Initiative: Engineering an Inclusive Future

Maseeh’s Dean, Dr. Joseph Bull, the first Native dean of an engineering school in the nation, is on a mission to make PSU a home for Indigenous STEM. In the past year, the college has worked to build a stronger sense of community and belonging through cohort programs—from undergrad through doctoral programs—for Native and all students in the college. Our newly created FUTURES Initiative supports students with programs at all points on their educational journeys. SPARK focuses on first-term enrollees, and an initiative funded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation is geared at recruiting diverse doctoral candidates. A pilot cohort sequence designed to create community and connection for new students in Computer Science, Discover CS, was also successfully launched in 2023.

Investing in Undergraduate Research: The Frank and Ken Story

In 1987, two Portland State Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) students roomed together, cultivating a friendship that would last for decades. Frankwell Lin and Ken Li would both go on to find success in the semiconductor industry. In 2023, their support funded a new research internship program for ECE students, providing funding for freshmen and sophomores to gain early research and internship experience in PSU labs with faculty mentorship. They are just a few of the generous alumni giving back to PSU, the school at which their stories began.

2024-28 Daimler Truck Professors

Daimler Truck North America has made a $1.3 million philanthropic investment to support faculty and students in PSU’s School of Business and the Maseeh College. Our inaugural professorships:

Antonie Jetter, Professor of Engineering & Technology Management
Christof Teuscher, Professor of Electrical & Computer Engineering
Raúl Bayoán Cal, Professor of Mechanical and Materials Engineering

Student Innovator

Kayla Sorenson, PSU Civil & Environmental Engineering (CEE) PhD student, was awarded the 2023 Dwight David Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship presented by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Kayla also received the 2023-2024 fellowship for Earthquake Risk Mitigation by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI). Kayla is just one of many amazing student innovators in the college.

2024 David E. Wedge Awards for Excellence

The Wedge awards recognize extraordinary staff and faculty in the college each year. They are selected through nominations from the Maseeh community of students, staff, and faculty. This year’s winners were recognized for their Excellence in:

Teaching: Thomas Schumacher (CEE), Yuchen Huang (ECE), Karla Fant (CS), Alex Hunt (MME)
Diversity: Stephanie Allen (CS), Banafsheh Rekabdar (CS)
Extraordinary Action: Ariel Lewis (ECE)
Service to the Maseeh College: Ed Ivory (ECE)
Service to Students: Linda Wasson (Pathway Advisor)
Graduate Advising and Mentoring: Mark Jones (CS), Xiaoyu Song (ECE), Kunpeng Liu (CS)