Year in Review 2024-25

From the Dean

YIR-1 — Dean Bull and Grammy-nominee Cody Raven at the Research Week Open House

This past year was truly defined by the resilience and determination of our students. It was incredible to see that spirit reflected in our student retention rate, which climbed to 80 percent, the highest it has been since 2019. That same sense of accomplishment was palpable as we watched 650 graduates cross the stage at our Spring commencement ceremony, walking off our stage and into a future of significant achievement.

In a time of new and complex realities for higher education, we have remained steadfast in our foundational mission to provide an inclusive and high-quality education. Our faculty are the ones who bring this mission to life. Despite grant cancellations, we have had another year of expenditure growth and generated over 13 million dollars in research expenditures this year, fueling discoveries that will shape our future. This leadership also attracted a landmark 1.3 million dollar investment from Daimler Truck North America to establish new professorships, a partnership that speaks volumes about the quality of our programs. I was especially proud to see their excellence recognized across the university, with faculty like Dr. Raúl Bayoán Cal earning the Presidential Career Research Award for his work in renewable energy.

We are preparing a new generation of engineers and computer scientists who see their degrees as more than credentials but as catalysts for transformation.

Joseph L. Bull, Ph.D.
H. Chik M. Erzurumlu Dean
Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science

2552

enrolled students in 2024-25

$11M+

in research expenditures

$375k+

in awarded scholarship

#1

CS is top major at PSU

80%

increase in student retention

Increased Funding and Innovation

With more than $13 million in grants and funding in 2024-25 secured, Maseeh College’s research continues to break new ground and lead industry innovation in the region. Examples include a grant for improving wireless communication, another for developing rapid and scalable geosynchronous satellite communication systems, and an award for collaborative research on the effects of wind and waves on floating wind turbine performance. These projects demonstrate Maseeh’s position at the forefront of work in both renewable energy and advanced communications, turning inquiry into real-world impact.

Newly-defined Strategic Impact Areas

As Portland State steps into its official role as Oregon’s urban research university, Maseeh College is the engine powering its most ambitious work. Recently, we spearheaded a Power and Energy coalition, Powerize NW, uniting more than 80 public and industry partners to address the region’s urgent need for a modern, resilient electrical grid. Other focus areas include AI, Cybersecurity, Robotics, Climate, Semiconductors, and Infrastructure. Beyond research into a resilient future, our college cultivates a community in which ideas flourish, students are empowered to push boundaries, and knowledge is not merely served but also shared to improve lives. The impact of research is not measured solely in discoveries, but more so in the lives it touches and the futures it helps build.

2025 Portland State University Research Awards Recipients

PSU Presidential Career Research Award
- Raúl Bayoán Cal, Daimler Professor in Mechanical & Materials Engineering: Renewable energy systems and microgravity research
Maseeh College Researcher of the Year
- Diane Moug, CAREER Award-winning Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering
PSU Faculty Award for Public Impact Research
- Elliott Gall, David Wedge Vision Associate Professor of Mechanical and Materials Engineering
PSU Graduate Mentoring Excellence Award
- Thomas Schumacher, Professor and Associate Chair of Graduate Programs of Civil & Environmental Engineering

Northstar of Student Success

Our student community is thriving. In 2024-25, we celebrated an 80% student retention rate, the highest in seven years. This year, the college awarded 650 degrees, launching a new generation of innovators. Preliminary data demonstrates that 67% of our graduates are employed in their fields, and 50% gained critical hands-on experience through an internship during their time at Maseeh.

2025 David E. Wedge Awards for Staff & Faculty Excellence

The Wedge awards recognize extraordinary staff and faculty in the college each year. They are selected through nominations from the Maseeh community of students, staff, and faculty. This year’s winners were recognized for their Excellence in:

Teaching: Patrick McLaughlin (CEE), Andrew Greenberg (ECE), Jesse Chaney (CS), Robert Paxton (MME)
Diversity: Emma Renshaw (DO), Michael Wilson (CS)
Extraordinary Action: Evan Kristof (CEE)
Service to the Maseeh College: Chi Nguyen (DO)
Service to Students: Nate Rose (ECE)
Graduate Advising and Mentoring: Diane Moug (CEE), Robert Bass (ECE), Mark Faust (ECE)

A Celebration of Our Own

In a year of milestones, we capped it off with a celebration that was uniquely ours, hosting it’s own separate Commencement ceremony at the Viking Pavilion, organized by our dedicated faculty, staff, and students. Maseeh College’s core mission—to offer a world-class education that is accessible, inclusive, and affordable —was embodied in this ceremony honoring a class of graduates who chose a college committed to breaking down barriers in engineering and computer science. The Dean’s speech urged the graduates to use their expertise to create solutions that serve all of society, not just a select few. The celebration was more than a ceremony; it was a clear statement that Maseeh's purpose is to ensure opportunity finds talent, wherever it may be.

2025 Future Woman of Influence

Natalie Violetta Frank, a Mechanical & Materials Engineering PhD student, was recently awarded a Daimler Graduate Assistantship. Whether it’s her work with the PSU Sloan Committee, her outreach through OMSI, her collaborations with other academic institutions like the Portland Montessori School, or her cutting-edge experiments with fluid dynamics in microgravity, Frank is driven by a desire to make engineering a more inclusive, accessible, and impactful field.

2024-28 Daimler Truck Professors

Daimler Truck North America has made a $1.3 million philanthropic investment to support faculty and students in PSU’s School of Business and the Maseeh College. Our inaugural professorships:

Antonie Jetter, Professor of Engineering & Technology Management
Christof Teuscher, Professor of Electrical & Computer Engineering
Raúl Bayoán Cal, Professor of Mechanical and Materials Engineering

2023-25 Wedge Vision Professorships

These awards acknowledge early to mid-career faculty making significant efforts to advance the Maseeh College’s strategic vision, from teaching to research and promotion of the college's core values. Recipients receive discretionary funds for two years to continue their efforts.

Ameeta Agrawal, Professor of Computer Science
John Lipor, Professor of Electrical & Computer Engineering
Ehsan Aryafar, Professor of Computer Science