From the 2014 Faculty and Staff Excellence Awards:
David Coronado, executive director of Oregon MESA (Math, Engineering, and Science Achievement) has served Portland State University for ten years and demonstrated his commitment to the betterment of Oregon middle and high school students as well as to the students of Portland State University.
Mr. Coronado has instituted a sustainable vision and funding model for the program, which continuously supports 6th- through 12th-grade students and their families with engineering education and college access opportunities. He has also secured funding to expand the MESA program into Salem, and his active role in revitalizing MESA USA, earned him a unanimous nomination as president of that organization, where his vision and leadership will impact more than 45,000 K-16 students annually.
Those at PSU who have worked closely with Mr. Coronado, particularly in the Maseeh College, describe him as extremely effective in fostering university spirit in freshman students who have limited knowledge of college culture. He makes partnerships within the University and connects students with other university professionals to form a cohesive support system and guides students to become resourceful and strong advocates for themselves.
In addition to mentoring students through Oregon MESA and PSU's S-3 Bridge Program, Mr. Coronado mentors students through the Oregon Aspire Program. He is also active in helping underrepresented students across the state succeed during his personal time.
In 2005, he co-created the Oregon College Access Network (ORCAN) a hub for educational resources and advice for academic professionals from all disciplines who support grades K-16 across Oregon. ORCAN has served as a communication pipeline for strategies, networking opportunities, and professional development for those in education fields for the past nine years.
The Mary H. Cumpston Award for Service to Students is given annually to an academic professional or unranked university administrator who has demonstrated excellence in the area of service to students. Mary H. Cumpston was a beloved colleague whose enduring contributions to Portland State University and to the community have enhanced the development and delivery of student services. Her gift was the ability to identify individual and University needs and to match these needs with creative and effective solutions.