Portland State University is honored to announce that Doug and Chie Etzel have established a $500,000 endowed fund for the Center for Japanese Studies, supporting the Mirai Endowment and expanding opportunities for students engaged in the study of Japan.
A Lifelong Journey Shaped by Global Experience
Doug Etzel, born and raised in Keizer, Oregon, first discovered Japan during an unexpected six-month stay in Osaka before his senior year at Oregon State University. The experience sparked a lasting connection that shaped his academic and professional path. After earning an Electrical Engineering degree from OSU, he joined Epson Portland Inc., training at Seiko Epson in Nagano.
Back in Portland, Doug continued working with Epson while studying advanced Japanese at PSU, where a private scholarship enabled a formative year of study at Waseda University in Tokyo. He went on to spend more than three decades in enterprise software across Asia—including 18 years in Japan—and ultimately served as Asia President for companies such as Vignette, Netezza, and Veeva Systems.
Chie Etzel grew up between Tokyo and Taiwan, later earning a degree in Travel and Tourism from Chinese Culture University in Taipei. Her international career spanned the travel and hospitality sectors in Canada, China, and Japan before she transitioned into high-tech training, where she met Doug. A native Japanese speaker fluent in English and Mandarin, with advanced proficiency in Korean, Chie’s life reflects her deep and lifelong passion for languages.
A Shared Belief in the Power of Language and Culture
Chie and Doug both believe that learning a language is about much more than vocabulary and grammar. For them, it’s crucial to understand the culture, history, and perspectives that come with it. These experiences profoundly shaped their own lives and worldviews, especially in their formative years. The Center for Japanese Studies at Portland State University stands out to them because it blends advanced language courses with a rich community of experts in history, finance, business, and the arts. By supporting the center, Chie and Doug hope to help other students have similarly transformative experiences and gain a deeper understanding of Japan and the world, just as they did.
Supporting the Next Generation of Global Learners
The newly created Mirai Endowment, funded through the Etzels’ $500,000 gift, will bolster the Center for Japanese Studies’ ongoing commitment to interdisciplinary education, student opportunities, and programs that connect PSU with Japan and the broader Pacific Rim.