Lee Phillips serves as the Basic Needs Navigator at Portland State University within the Office of Student Affairs. A dedicated member of the PSU community since 2006, Lee brings a unique and empathetic perspective to her role, having begun her own journey at the university as a first-generation, non-traditional student. While navigating the challenges of balancing roles as a student worker and graduate research assistant, she earned both her Bachelor’s in Sociology and her Master’s in Social Work from PSU. Her early commitment to her peers was recognized with the Walter L. and Leah Winkel Award for Community Service and Student Advocacy, a precursor to a career defined by service.
Before stepping into her current role, Lee spent years developing programs designed to empower vulnerable populations. She served as the Program Manager for the Better Futures Project and the My Life Project, two comprehensive interventions to enhance the self-determination in young people who experience foster care through a peer support/mentorship framework to attend higher education. Between 2014 and 2021 she expanded her reach as the Director of Community Engagement and Strategic Partnerships and Center Manager for Trauma Informed Oregon. Funded by the Oregon Health Authority, this work allowed her to lead systemic efforts in trauma-informed care from the Regional Research Institute. Additionally, since 2012, she has shaped the next generation of social workers by supervising BSW and MSW students in their practicum placements.
Today, Lee acts as a vital bridge between students and the resources they need to thrive. She collaborates with local, state, and campus partners to address basic needs concerns, ensuring that students can focus on their academic and future goals. Lee has a deep commitment to supporting students through legislative and systemic change, mentorship, access to resources, reducing barriers, and creating a sense of belonging at PSU. She believes that it only takes one person to make a difference in a students’ life, and that offering resources and access gives students the ability to be successful, reach their dreams, and give back to their families and communities.
The Mary H. Cumpston Award for Service to Students is given annually to an academic professional or university administrator without academic rank who has demonstrated excellence in the area of service to students. Mary Cumpston was a beloved colleague who truly embodied the meaning of excellence in service to Portland State students.