Where Innovation Meets Community: A Visit to UO Portland

With the Grand Opening of the UO Portland campus set for May 29, Division of Graduate Studies staff share what inspires them most about the UO Portland experience.

Published May 27, 2025

Earlier this year, Division of Graduate Studies leadership staff visited UO Portland (UO PDX) to tour the campus, meet with faculty and staff, and discuss innovation and support in graduate education.

“Our UO PDX graduate students are so impressive and their work inspiring,” said Krista Chronister, vice provost for the division of graduate studies. “UO PDX students are embedded in our Northwest community, learning about people's needs and designing products and spaces that improve our human condition.”

Spools of thread sorted by color on a wall. The spools are organized in the color pattern of a rainbow
Colorful spools of thread along the wall.
Colorful shoe shapes hang overhead from an industrial ceiling.
Colorful shoe moulds hang from an industrial ceiling.

UO PDX offers a variety of higher education programs, including architecture, product design, sports product innovation, behavioral and mental health, business, journalism, strategic communications, and law. These programs are predominantly graduate programs, but the Portland campus most recently launched an undergraduate program in child behavioral health. Programs combine real-world learning with expert guidance, offering students and working professionals opportunities to collaborate with top faculty and industry leaders while tackling community-based challenges through hands-on projects.

The visit offered a fresh perspective for long-time UO employees who were exploring the new Portland campus for the first time, as well as a renewed appreciation for its work. 

“Exploring the UO Portland campus for the first time was an inspiring experience,” shared Jered Nagel, assistant vice provost for graduate studies. “Nestled in an urban environment, the campus still retains the charm and feel of a traditional campus, blending the best of both worlds. It struck me as a place where innovation comes to life in a tight-knit, interdisciplinary community. With the campus expanding and new buildings on the horizon, the potential for future opportunities and advancements is truly exciting.”

Brick buildings behinds a grassy lawn with concrete , arc shaped seating resembling an amphitheater.
Looking across the lawn at UO PDX campus buildings.

A distinctive balance of innovation and community stands out as a defining feature of the UO PDX experience. Strong connections among faculty, staff, and students were particularly inspiring for tia north, director of diversity and inclusion for the division of graduate studies.  

“The small but powerful community of Portland staff, faculty, and students reminded me that there is so much value in knowing the people you work alongside,” they reflected. “Magnificent things get done shoulder to shoulder.”

A green post it note reads: My hope for graduate student professionals is to find purpose, meaning, and joy in the journey.
A note to graduate students from the division staff.

 

UO PDX embodies innovation, a dynamic energy, and a spirit of collaboration, making it an exciting place to study and a vital part of the UO community.

 

—Malia Paganucci, senior undergraduate student in Public Relations and Cinema Studies, is the social media/communications assistant for the Division of Graduate Studies.