Welcome to the College of Education at Portland State University.
Located in downtown Portland, PSU is Oregon’s premier urban research university with a vision to “let knowledge serve the city.” We are proud of our reputation as the largest, most comprehensive, and most innovative school of education in the State of Oregon.
The College of Education (COE) is a professional learning community committed to empowering educators and human services professionals to engage in visionary thinking and transformative practices within schools and communities. Our distinctive equity-focused professional preparation programs are all nationally accredited. The COE’s educator preparation programs are accredited by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP). Our counselor education programs are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). In addition, The Helen Gordon Child Development Center is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Our interdisciplinary doctoral program enjoys a strong partnership with the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED) and has been recognized nationally for leading efforts to use improvement science as a tool for continuous improvement.
The COE stands out for its commitment to promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion within its programs, policies, and practices. With a focus on fostering a diverse student body and faculty, we are recognized for our inclusive environment and impactful initiatives.
The Portland Teachers Program, a standout within the COE, is designed to recruit and retain students of color who aspire to become educators. This program plays a crucial role in addressing the underrepresentation of minority teachers in the education system. We are also home to the Bilingual Teacher Pathways program, which has been honored with the prestigious American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE) Global Diversity Award. The American Indian Teacher Program, which provides full funding for successive cohorts of Native American students, exemplifies the COE's dedication to supporting underrepresented communities and fostering diverse perspectives within the teaching profession.
Our faculty members are not only diverse but also renowned for their excellence in research and their deep involvement in schools and communities. Through their engaged research activities and culturally responsive teaching methods, COE faculty contribute significantly to advancing equity and excellence in education.
Overall, the COE offers a unique and inclusive environment where students are prepared to become critically engaged global citizens. For those seeking a program that prioritizes equity, diversity, and inclusion in education, Portland State University’s College of Education is an excellent choice.
About the Interim Dean
Dr. Tina Peterman completed her PhD in Rehabilitation Psychology in 2003 at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She has been in higher education at public institutions for 20 years and in academic leadership positions for the past 10 years. She began her career as an Assistant Professor of Counseling Psychology at Washington State University She moved to PSU where she received tenure and was the Counselor Education Department Chair for two years and Associate Dean since 2017. She completed the American Council on Education (ACE) Fellows Program, during the 2022-23 academic year.
She is active within her professional discipline as a clinical rehabilitation counselor and a licensed professional counselor (LPC) in Oregon and has worked as a vocational rehabilitation counselor, mental health counselor, and career counselor. She is also the past Chair of the National Career Development Association Credentialing Commission and served on the Oregon Board of Licensed Professional Counselors and Therapists.
Her academic scholarship focuses on career development for youth with disabilities, leading to numerous peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and invited articles in internationally distributed publications. She has received more than $5 million dollars in grants from the U.S. Department of Education. She is the Principle Investigator on the US Prep Project, which aims to transform university-based teacher preparation. In addition, she served on the editorial board of the Career Development Quarterly since 2012.