PSU History
Riley Chase first arrived at Portland State as a graduate student in the MSW program in 2014. They earned their Masters in Social Work in 2017, and a Master of Science in Educational Leadership and Policy in 2018, both from Portland State University.
Experience
Riley has over a decade of experience spread across working in higher education and in social services. They have worked in academic advising, student basic needs, and graduate admissions, as well as completed their MSW advanced practicum with the PSU Student Food Pantry. Their social services experience spans supporting youth in foster care, the LGBTQ community, housing services, and employment services.
Academic/Research Interests
Riley firmly believes that holistic student support is fundamentally rooted in social justice principles like access and equity, advocacy and empowerment, anti-oppression, and trauma-informed care. They discovered a future working with college students while in the PSU MSW program, and social work values have undoubtedly shaped their professional practice. Working at PSU's School of Social Work is in many ways like coming home.
Personal Interests
Riley's most significant hobby is singing and performing, and they have a rich history of involvement in queer choirs including the Portland Gay Men's Chorus and others. They also love to read, craft, learn and grow with their kid, and be cozy.