INNOVATIVE EDUCATION 2017-2018 ANNUAL REPORT
GO.PDX.EDU/BUSINESS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
RANKINGS & AWARDS
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CELEBRATING PHILANTHROPY
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ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENTS
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DIVERSITY IN ACTION
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YEAR IN REVIEW
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LETTER FROM THE DEAN: CLIFF ALLEN, PH.D. VERGIL MILLER PROFESSOR As I enter my third year as dean, I’m reflecting on the amount of positive change we’ve experienced here at The Business School. From the new, community-enhancing Karl Miller Center (KMC) to our continuously innovative curriculum updates, we are experiencing a new era at The School of Business, one that builds on our legacy and deep roots in the Portland community. The impact of our new building, the KMC, cannot be overstated. Walking in, the energy of our students in their collaborative space is palpable and contagious. We hope everyone who contributed in big and small ways will get a chance to experience the difference and recognize how their involvement has truly made a lasting difference in the next generation of business leaders. Like the building, innovation and sustainability continues to be a driving force at The School of Business. Our students, faculty and staff embrace social entrepreneurism — an ethos we continue to grow and embody. As we celebrate our 50th anniversary of The Portland MBA in 2018, we invite you to join us in celebrating our incredible past and untapped potential for the future.
WRITERS: Andrea Bailey, Jenna Cooper, Melinda Crouchley, Niki Reading GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Laurel Benson PHOTOGRAPHY: NaschCo Photography, Brad Feinknopf, Gio Bertonitti Tayetto, Nikki DeLeon CONTRIBUTORS: Lauren Clark, Portland State University Foundation EDITOR: Erin Merz
BUILDING INTO THE FUTURE THE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AT PSU RAISES THE BAR ON DESIGN, AND COMMUNITY BUILDING IN THE HEART OF THE CITY
143,000
square ft. (100,000 sf renovation, 43,000 sf addition), increasing The Business School’s footprint more than 172 percent
T
HE CITY OF PORTLAND is enjoying a revival of sorts, with more than a million people expected to move to the area in the next ten years. The School of Business at Portland State University — while already a highly respected, accredited institution — is poised for its own renaissance: a thriving institution for innovative learning in the core of downtown Portland.
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“The design of the building is truly stunning. The smooth metal exterior underscores the reflective relationship between the Portland business community and the School,” said Cliff Allen, dean of The School of Business. “In addition, the interior design is open and inviting as well as doubles our footprint. This includes the creation of common areas for student engagement and a greater sense of community.”
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KARL MILLER CENTER CONSCIOUS DESIGN AND EXECUTION The Karl Miller Center is an iconic, world-class building unlike any other on campus or in the Portland market. The project’s key players include PSU; the architectural collaboration of Behnisch Architekten and SRG Partnership; general contractor Skanska USA; and trade partners who all worked together to help the long-standing vision for a business community “home” to take root and grow in the Karl Miller Center.
classrooms – three times more than in the previous building
project and team rooms that meet the advanced technological needs of our students
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industry-specific centers to support the diverse interests of our future business leaders
90
foot atrium with criss-crossing bridges and stairs, surrounded by study spaces
A state-of-the-art
LEED PLATINUM -eligible facility that will continue to attract and serve top talent from around the world
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green roofs on the project include two occupied terraces on levels 4 and 5 of the pavilion
Achieving LEED Platinum, the highest international rating for building sustainability, has always been the goal for all parties, which underscores the School’s commitment to environmentally responsible education. Sustainable features include passive cooling in the new addition, and many of the strategies were chosen to align with community interests and expectations. Alaskan Yellow Cedar siding was selected for the exterior of the new addition because it meets the sustainability objectives of the project and is rated by the Forest Stewardship Council. Advancing the learning environment – the vision of the building to create community and public study spaces – was realized by the unique and open design with work bars and large open spaces. The goal is to provide an environment in which learning happens everywhere and at all times, not just in the classroom. FUNDING FOR THE KARL MILLER CENTER Not a penny of student money was used for the design or construction of the Karl Miller Center. As much as $24 million came from private donors, and the remainder, $40 million was from state-backed bonds. Rick Miller, a 1991 business alum, and his wife, Erika, made a $9 million gift to help fund the expansion. The building is named for Rick’s grandfather, Karl Miller, a World War II veteran, firefighter and entrepreneur. KARL MILLER CENTER HISTORY The Karl Miller Center was originally built in two phases between 1979 and 1989. Completion of the second half, then called the Professional Schools Building II (then Business Administration), occurred May 30, 1989. Professional Schools Building I was constructed for the Graduate School of Education in 1979 and retained that name until shortly before the Business Administration building opened. The architectural firm for both halves was Yost-Grube-Hall, although the 1979 structure was designed by an earlier incarnation of the firm, Campbell-Yost-Grube Architects. The third addition began in 2015, creating a new dramatic entrance to the School, activating the building along Sixth Avenue, as well as modernizing and upgrading the existing structures. PAGE 3
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RANKINGS & AWARDS THE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS NAMED A BEST B-SCHOOL BY THE PRINCETON REVIEW Portland State University’s School of Business is an outstanding business school and one that prepares students to address environmental, sustainable and social responsibility issues in their careers, according to The Princeton Review. The education services company profiled the school in its 2018 annual business school rankings.
The Princeton Review’s business school profiles have sections on academics, student life, admissions information and graduates’ employment data. Some of the comments from surveyed students attending The School of Business:
According to Princeton Review Editor-in-Chief Robert Franek, “We recommend The School of Business at Portland State University as one of the best to earn an MBA. We chose the 267 best on-campus MBA programs based on our high regard for academics and our assessment of institutional data we collect from the schools. We also solicited and greatly respect the opinions of 23,000 students attending these schools who reported on their experiences on our 80-question student survey.”
“While I expected to enter B-school with a bunch of traders and
“We are honored and proud to learn we are third in the country for something we believe in – and have believed in for some time,” said PSU’s School of Business Dean Cliff Allen. “Sustainability, corporate social responsibility, the circular economy and innovation touch everything we research and teach – from finance to marketing. It prepares our students, not just for certain industries but for their careers in today’s integrated landscape.” The timing comes as The School of Business opens its new, world-class building, the Karl Miller Center. A state-of-the-art LEED Platinum-eligible facility that will continue to attract and serve top talent from around the world.
bankers, I was surprised to find a group of students that shared my, and Portland’s, sensibilities regarding the world, and who are looking forward to showing the world that business people are not only out to bring down the financial system, en route to earning billions.” — Portland State Business Student
“Portland is truly at the center of this nation’s move toward sustainability,” and therefore, “being in Portland is a huge plus — there’s so much sustainable business thinking and practice here that it’s easy to see in the field what I learn in school.” The student adds, “I have been introduced to and met with many people that are driving regional and national movements on the cutting edge of sustainability.” — Portland State Business Student
NEW HOME TO PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY’S SCHOOL OF BUSINESS, GARNERS TOP AWARD It’s been a busy year for PSU’s School of Business. After years of planning and months of construction, September 2017 marked the long-awaited debut of the Karl Miller Center – the new home of The School of Business. The project, hailed as a “game changer” for students and faculty, just earned the top spot in Portland Business Journal’s 2017 Transformer Awards. “Every great city deserves a great business school – and that’s what we’ve worked hard to achieve,” said PSU’s School of Business Dean Cliff Allen. “This award is truly an honor,
especially knowing the public validated what we set out to do – transform our role in the urban core and the business community at large.” The PBJ’s 2017 CRE Transformer Awards program is an annual recognition of commercial real estate organizations that are transforming our communities for the better and building the future of the region.
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A GROUNDBREAKING ACHIEVEMENT: THE KARL MILLER STORY Karl Miller was a World War II veteran, a Portland firefighter and the owner of a small construction company. A selfless, quiet leader, he was a man of few words who commanded respect when he did speak. He loved his community and family, and he was married for 65 years to Lorraine, the love of his life. Karl’s grandson, Rick Miller, started working for the family construction business when he was 13, but his grandfather insisted that he go to college before joining the company on a permanent basis. And so Miller attended University of Oregon in 1987 and then PSU, earning his MBA in 1991. He and his wife, Erika, have made a lead contribution of $9 million to Portland State’s re-envisioned School of Business building—which has been named the Karl Miller Center, in honor of Rick Miller’s humble grandfather. The Millers’ gift, along with support from over 200 other donors, has doubled the size of the building, which opened fall 2017. A seventh-generation Oregonian whose great-greatgrandfather came to Oregon in 1853, Miller founded the Avamere Group in 1995 when he acquired a skilled nursing facility in Hillsboro. Today, the Avamere Family of Companies is a large and diversified group of health care properties and services, including pharmaceuticals, home health care and hospice agencies, contract rehab therapy and senior housing. The company operates across 11 states and has nearly 10,000 employees. Miller is currently chairman of Avamere’s board. In 2010, he co-founded the venture capital firm Rogue Venture Partners, which focuses on investing in Oregon-based entrepreneurs and early-stage businesses. Miller served as chair of the PSU Board for Trustees during FY18. “Serving PSU is an honor for me,” he says of his involvement with the board as well as his contributions to the University. “The professors at PSU armed me with the tools to become a successful entrepreneur,” says Miller. He and his wife cite the pivotal role PSU plays in providing opportunities for Oregonians and note how “we all are responsible for supporting our community and the organizations that make our community better.” “Serving PSU is an honor for me,” he says of his involvement with the board as well as his contributions to the University. “The professors at PSU armed me with the tools to become a successful entrepreneur,” —Rick Miller, MBA ‘91
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Miller also credits Scott Dawson, former dean of the School of Business, as well as Debbie Hutchins, a former development officer with University Advancement (now the PSU Foundation), for re-engaging him and his wife with PSU and for nurturing an authentic relationship. “They inspired us with the vision for what a state-of-the-art business school could do for so many PSU students to come.” He adds that former PSU President Wim Wiewel and his wife, Alice, played a significant role in ensuring that the new building was top-tier in its design and construction, something he believes his grandfather would have appreciated.
CELEBRATING PHILANTHROPY DONOR PROFILE: DON DICKINSON Don Dickinson, along with his wife Anna and mother Irene, is responsible for one of more than 200 gifts made toward the Karl Miller Center. Dickinson is a Portland native and a first-generation college student. Dickinson earned his BS in Marketing/Advertising in 1967 before working as an account executive for CBS Television in Portland and then as an assistant advertising manager at ESCO Corporation. Dickinson’s supervisor at ESCO Corporation was completing PSU’s MBA program and encouraged him to pursue the program as well. With tuition assistance from ESCO Corporation and his next employer, Gerber Advertising Agency, he completed the MBA program in 1972. Dickinson began teaching advertising classes at PSU on an adjunct basis while continuing to work as a senior partner at Gerber Advertising Agency. After several years, he joined The
School of Business faculty full-time and served as director of it’s Advertising Management program from 1998-2012. During his time as program director, Dickinson developed and added two minors in advertising for Graphic Design and Communications majors. In addition, Dickinson supervised the creation of FIR Northwest, PSU’s student advertising agency that remains active today. His retirement in 2012 coincided with the initial planning for a new School of Business building. Dickinson encouraged then-SB dean Scott Dawson to incorporate an advertising suite that would function as a creative laboratory for advertising students. The Don Dickinson FIR NW advertising suite in the Karl Miller Center was christened in September 2017, commemorating his contribution to the University.
DONOR PROFILE: MOSS ADAMS Seattle-based accounting and consulting firm Moss Adams shares a rich connection to PSU’s School of Business. For many years, Moss Adams’ Portland location has employed a large number of PSU graduates. Approximately 10 percent of staff who work in the Portland office have an affiliation with PSU. The firm actively recruits on the PSU campus to hire interns and entry-level staff, as well as attendees for its Summer Leadership Program. Moss Adams also has a representative on PSU’s Accounting Advisory Board; this role is currently held by audit partner Jennifer Price. In addition to generously offering their time to PSU and its current students, many of Moss Adams’ current and former partners who are also PSU alumni supported a 30-seat named classroom on the second floor of the newly opened Karl Miller Center. Some Moss Adams professionals who supported the building fund said that they view the updated space as a way to elevate the reputation of PSU and The School of Business and to support
the next generation of business leaders as they gain hands-on experience in the business world. “The way the classrooms and surrounding spaces are designed is similar to how many companies are designing their space, particularly with the integration of space and technology,” said Paul Waldram, ’82, an international tax partner at Moss Adams, citing videoconferencing as a key example. School of Business faculty members are appreciative of Moss Adams’ support for the students as well as the new Karl Miller Center. “Moss Adams has been a consistent supporter of our students on so many levels. Financial support from the firm has for decades provided career services, scholarships and accounting faculty professional development. The firm’s support of our new building takes it to the next level,” said Professor of Accounting Elizabeth Almer.
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WHY SO MANY PSU ALUMNI ARE MOVING UP IN INNOVATIVE COMPANIES PSU alumni are working at innovative Portland companies — including Nike, Intel, Elemental, Cambia and Tektronix — and their impact and recognition radiates far beyond our city limits. Data gathered from LinkedIn shows that all of the above companies employ as many or more alumni from Portland State compared to the other large public universities in the state - Oregon State and University of Oregon. The same is true for other well-known companies in various industries. For example, PSU alumni make up 47 percent of Oregon public university graduates at Intel, 33 percent at Nike, 46 percent at Elemental Technologies, 47 percent at Cambia Health Solutions, and 38 percent at Columbia Sportswear (at the time of writing.) To find out why, it makes sense to zoom in to one specific company that has been recruiting PSU students for decades: Intel. True to their core competencies, their strategy is firmly rooted in data, collected in a 10-year longitudinal study examining which graduates rise through the technology giant’s ranks. At the time the study kicked off, Intel’s recruiting focused largely on elite universities. The data suggested a different direction: PSU alumni were proving to be excellent employees, and moving up. Confirming how well PSU hires were contributing and growing within the company, Intel implemented an emphasis on recruiting our graduates.
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What makes our graduates so successful, both from the get-go and in the long run? It seems the answer lies as much in what students learn as well as how they learn, and the caliber of professionals they become in the process. “At Cambia Health Solutions, we seek to hire candidates that bring a balance of analytical and strong communication skills, commitment to teamwork and real-world know-how,” explains Michelle Schwartz, diversity and university programs manager at Cambia Health Solutions. “The combination of classroom and practical experience Portland State alumni are able to leverage set them up for success here. They understand why we are working to make healthcare more person-focused and economically sustainable, and they thrive in an environment that allows them to help build the solutions to get there.” Back on campus, DeAnne Preston, assistant director of corporate outreach and professional development at PSU’s School of Business, has been receiving similar feedback from a wide range of companies. “Our graduates bring real business acumen and a highly practical mindset to the table,” she observes. “They have realistic expectations of how to perform in order to be a highly valued employee, because they learn from seasoned industry veterans who keep their fingers on the pulse of business.”
ELEVATING DIVERSE VOICES: ANGIE MAYBURY, MIM ‘10 Angie Maybury spent the last year and half abroad, working as the logistics project manager in Mexico at the Saltillo Trucks Manufacturing Plant for Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA). She has now returned to her Portland roots in an entirely new role, as the project and support manager for the general manager of human resources at Daimler. Her main focus areas are leadership development, along with diversity and inclusion training for all employees in the company. She will focus on continuous improvement around workplace culture for all Daimler locations, including their manufacturing plants. “I want to help elevate the voices of everybody at Daimler. I am extremely passionate about these initiatives both from a personal and business standpoint,” said Maybury. As part of the LGBTQ community, Maybury did not feel she had a voice or a community when she first started at Daimler, inspiring her to start the LGBTQ employee resource group. After her work experience abroad in the Saltillo manufacturing plant, she realized the importance of plant employees having a voice at Daimler. “It’s challenging to have a one-size fits all solution that meets the needs of all of our employees. I want to ensure my
colleagues in the Carolinas, Mexico, Detroit and Portland all have equal access to the available opportunities and resources,” said Maybury. 2018 marks the fourth year Daimler has participated in Portland Pride festivities. The past three years the company featured a show truck, but this year they unveiled a specially painted Freightliner Cascadia truck in rainbow colors. It was a huge hit on the streets of Portland. Angie is grateful that PSU and Daimler Trucks North America have a great relationship that allows her to represent both organizations; as a graduate of the Masters International Management program, a Daimler Truck North America representative of both Supply Chain Operations and Human Resources, and as a LGBTQ-identifying employee.
2018 PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL RECIPIENT During commencement in June 2018, Portland State awarded distinguished School of Business alum, Hamid Djojonegoro, with a Presidential Medal. The Presidential Medal is one of the University’s most prestigious honors. Djojonegoro founded and built Jakarta-based Orang Tua Group, which produces and distributes fast-moving, consumer products throughout Indonesia. Djojonegoro’s Presidential Medal is in recognition of his entrepreneurial successes; his contributions to PSU, his city and his country; and the wonderful values he espouses — commitment to family, tenacity and diversity. Djojonegoro is also a great example of The School of Business’ rich, global community that reaches around the world.
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DIVERSITY IN ACTION SKILLS, DRIVE, AND AN INVALUABLE NETWORK: HOW PSU BUSINESS GRADS MAKE THE LEAP INTO THE ATHLETIC & OUTDOOR INDUSTRY It’s hard to overlook a giant. In Portland, the massive cluster of athletic and outdoor (A&O) companies shows up everywhere you go. From Nike’s world headquarters to startups like Poler, they outfit our explorations of Mt Hood and the Gorge, they propel local athletes toward ambitious goals, and they shield us from the rain on our daily coffee runs. As the industry keeps growing, it also offers exhilarating career opportunities. The question is, how do you actually get one of those coveted jobs? It’s a three-part answer for Portland State’s business students: skill-building classes, the school’s extensive industry network, and Program Director Jennifer Nolfi’s passion for helping students make the leap. Of course, the specific challenges are as diverse as our students. DISCOVERING THE INDUSTRY For some, like Mariel Rollins (’16) the first hurdle is to discover A&O as a possible career ecosystem. But once she followed a professor’s suggestion to check out the industryspecific classes, she knew she had found what she was looking for: people who cared. “It was so energizing to study with people who really want to make something of themselves and make a difference through their work,” she recalls. After graduation, Mariel started in product development at Portland Product Werks, a company providing expertise and infrastructure to brands looking to enter the footwear market.
MOVING INTO PRODUCT MANAGEMENT The challenge Courtney Gould, ‘16, was facing looked quite different. With 10 years of experience in outdoor brands and retail, she had set her sights on moving into product development — not an easy maneuver. When her employer went through a transition, Courtney decided to pursue her MBA at Portland State so she could launch the next chapter of her career. The A&O-focused electives were an obvious fit for her, and they also expanded her horizon. She became curious about the way global businesses think and operate. The insights she was looking for conveniently came straight to her classroom, in the form of three senior level directors from Nike teaching the Product Management module. Courtney took initiative to make the most of this opportunity and kept in touch with one of the visiting instructors from Nike. She worked her way into the company, starting out as a category analyst, and when he had an opening on his team, he invited Courtney to apply. Now she feels she is in exactly the right place as global footwear portfolio and communications manager. Like Mariel, Courtney loves the industry for the missiondriven nature of the work, and the people who make it happen: “Whether it’s rock climbing or outfitting Olympians, there’s something invigorating about the goals all of these companies are pursuing. It infuses the culture and the work every day. And wherever I worked, I found this idea that sports and the outdoors truly are a uniting force. That’s really special.”
Her position at Portland Product Werks started when Nolfi introduced her to the company’s founder. After a few informational interviews, the time was right for Mariel to join the team.
DO PRO-DIVERSITY POLICIES IMPROVE CORPORATE INNOVATION? The short answer: yes. A team of researchers, including PSU School of Business Finance Professor Jing Zhao, used new product announcements and patents to measure corporate innovation. The result: they found corporations that promote a more diverse workforce and an inclusive culture — specifically women and minorities enhanced their innovative efficiency. “We analyzed data on thousands of publicly traded U.S. firms, and performed a variety of statistical tests to ensure the connection runs from pro-diversity policies to innovation,” said Professor Jing Zhao, assistant professor of finance. The phrase “valuing diversity” is frequently heard both in business and academia, but surprisingly little work exists examining how diversity impacts financial outcomes and a
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firm’s value. For Professor Zhao, this is just the tip of the iceberg. “I am personally quite interested in continuing to do research in the area of corporate social responsibility in general and corporations’ pro-diversity practices. Specifically, my co-author and I are studying whether — and how — women and minority representation in the boardroom would affect corporate decision-making and various firm policies,” said Zhao. This meticulous study also found that more diverse hiring policies increase the pool from which a firm can recruit. A wider range of views, backgrounds, and expertise can help innovative problem solving, and a culture of inclusion may help attract and retain talent.
YEAR IN REVIEW BY THE NUMBERS
31,814 Business Alumni
3,638
Undergraduates Enrolled
DEGREES AWARDED
972
Undergraduate Degrees
84
Master of Business Administration
WHERE GRADUATES WORK NIKE, INTEL, WELLS FARGO, DAIMLER TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA, KAISER PERMANENTE, BOEING,
530
Graduates Enrolled
11
25
Master of Science in Finance
22
TEKTRONIX, COLUMBIA SPORTSWEAR, MOSS ADAMS LLP, UMPQUA BANK, ESCO CORPORATION, TO NAME A FEW
Student Groups
Master of Science in Financial Analysis
1,200 +
39
FY18 FUNDRAISING
22
$5.44 MILLION RAISED
Undergraduate Internships Available
488
International Students From 50 different countries
987
Students enrolled in Capstone Projects
91
Capstone Projects Completed
Healthcare MBA
Master of International Management
$324,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS
21
Master of Real Estate Development
33
Master of Global Supply Chain Management
11
Master of Tax
1,229
Total Degrees Awarded
AWARDED TO 130 STUDENTS 737 DONORS 354 DONATIONS FROM ALUMNI 196 DONATIONS FROM CORPORATIONS/FOUNDATIONS 1 BUILDING CAMPAIGN COMPLETED 11 PORTLAND PROFESSORSHIPS (ANNUAL AWARDS) ESTABLISHED PAGE 11
• Mentor a Portland State Business Student • Continue Your Business Education @ the Center for Executive & Professional Education • Engage Portland State Business Co-Op Students & Interns • Collaborate on a Capstone Consulting Project • Give to The School of Business
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