Established as Vanport College in 1946, Portland State University is a public university officiated as a state institution in 1969. Located in the southwest Portland, Oregon, it is the only public university in the state that is located within a major metropolitan city, and is one of Oregon's largest universities. Its academic programs are organized in nine constituent schools and colleges, and have produced alumni across professions in the arts, sciences, business, academia, politics, and sports. , the university claimed over 180,000 alumni worldwide.

Legend Notes and abbreviations used Individuals who may belong in multiple sections appear only in one. An empty class year or school/degree box indicates only that this information is unknown or unconfirmed. "DNG" indicates the alumnus or alumna attended but did not graduate; known year(s) of attendance accompany this if available. "N/A" will be present in the degree box for these individuals, as it is confirmed they did not receive degrees.

Colleges and schools CA – College of Arts CLAS – College of Liberal Arts and Sciences CE – College of Education CECS – Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science CUPA – College of Urban and Public Affairs GSBP – Graduate School of Book Publishing SB – School of Business SSW – School of Social Work Defunct schools PSC – Portland State College VC – Vanport College

Degrees and certificates B.A. – Bachelor of Arts B.F.A. – Bachelor of Fine Arts B.S. – Bachelor of Science B.B.A. – Bachelor of Business Administration B.S.A. – Bachelor of Arts and Science M.A. – Master of Arts M.F.A. – Master of Fine Arts M.S. – Master of ScienceM.B.A. – Master of Business AdministrationM.Ed. – Master of Education M.S.W. – Master of Social Work PhD – Doctorate Ed.D. – Doctor of Education

Academia NameClassSchoolDegree(s) Notability 1989 CLAS B.S. Professor of anthropology, Duke University B.S. Professor of quantum computing, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology 1960 CLAS PhD Professor emeritus of philosophy, The Catholic University of America B.S. Professor of mathematics, California State University–Sacramento 1970 CLAS B.A. Professor emeritus of English, University of Alaska Fairbanks; professor of English, University of Maryland Global College CLAS B.A., M.A. Associate professor of English, New York University CLAS M.A. Professor of history, Georgetown University 1969 CLAS B.A. Professor emerita of anthropology, Rutgers University 1973 CLAS B.S. Professor of criminology, University at Albany, SUNY 1980 CLAS B.S. Assistant professor of geology, Harvard University; University of California, Santa Barbara B.S. Professor emeritus of philosophy, Willamette University 1957 PSC B.S. Professor emeritus of political science, University of Idaho 1988 CLAS M.A. Professor of political science, University of Chicago

Architecture and design Name Class year School(s) Degree(s) Notability Architect and co-founder of BASIC Initiative

Art and literature

Name Class year School(s) Degree(s) Notability 2004 CA M.F.A. Photographer 2006 CA M.F.A. Conceptual artist DNG Novelist and playwright Holder, Travis Michael. "Rise is a Roller Coaster of Emotional Impact" Backstage. November 11, 2012. Retrieved February 1, 2019 DNG Cartoonist, creator of Pelswick CLASB.A. Poet, professor of Latinx studies at University of Denver Poet and painter 1971CLASB.A. Graphic designer; creator of the Nike swoosh 1987CAM.F.A. Contemporary artist DNG Poet, recipient of Alfred Hodder Fellowship at Princeton University 1973 CLAS B.A. Novelist and essayist 1974CAM.F.A. Glass artist DNG Artist, co-founder of Burning Man festival DNG Novelist, journalist 1971CLASM.A. Poet, two-time National Endowment Fellowship winner Art patron, gallery owner 2010CAM.F.A. Contemporary artist VC Sculptor 1958 PSC B.A. Children's author, proponent of Oxfordian theory of Shakespeare authorship 1998CLASB.S. Animator; CEO of LAIKA CLASB.A. Editorial cartoonist of The Oregonian Science fiction author 1968 PSC B.A. Animator 1977 CA B.A. Publisher, founder of Dark Horse Comics 1973 CLAS M.S. Science fiction and fantasy author 1976 CA M.F.A. Painter DNG Young adult fiction author 1978 CLAS B.S.A. Glass artist CLAS B.A. Librarian and author GSBP M.A. Poet and publisher

Business and finance

Name Class year School(s) Degree(s) Notability B.S. Chairman and CEO of UPS2008 CEO Compensation for D. Scott Davis , Equilar.com 1968 CE M.Ed.Businessman, CEO of Azumano Travel 1988 SB B.S.Entrepreneur Executive CEO, The May Department Stores Company DNG Inventor of MicroCSP DNG Entrepreneur, founder of Tazo Tea Company 1973 SB M.B.A. Businessperson, engineer

Civil society + Name Class year School(s) Degree(s) Notability 1965, 1974 CLAS B.S., M.A. Disability rights activist, writerAshley Gjøvik2012B.S.Activist and Apple Inc. whistleblowerMusse Olol1991Social activistFBI's 2011 Director's Community Leadership Award (DCLA) Disability rights activist PSC Founder of the Gay Men's Health Crisis; Vietnam War veteran CLASB.S. Native American activist; acquitted in 1975 shooting deaths of two FBI agents in South DakotaChea VannathCambodian anti-corruption activist

Entertainment

Film, television, and performing arts

Name Class year School(s) Degree(s) Notability DNG Film and television actor DNG Film actor and filmmaker Lynn, Capi. Statesman Journal Speaks with Actor and Filmmaker Cal Barnes. The Statesman Journal. Retrieved March 21st, 2021. Film actor and martial artist DNG Film actor 2003CLASB.S. 2002 Miss America 2009 B.S. Stand-up comedian CA M.F.A. Film actor DNG Competitor on Survivor: Palau DNG Playboy model, reality television star Miss Teen USA winner 1976 CLAS B.S. Comedian Playboy model, actress Actress

Music

Name Class year School(s) Degree(s) Notability Aminé DNG Hip-hop artist Jazz drummer, collaborator of Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye 1977 CA M.F.A. Experimental musician CLAS B.S. Folk musician Musician, singer of The Kingsmen 1972, 1978 CLAS B.A., M.A. Contemporary classical composer and conductor Singer-songwriter 2008 SB B.S. Singer and songwriter DNG; 1983 CLAS Musician and actress; frontwoman of Grammy-nominated rock band Hole 2001CLASB.A. Grammy-winning soprano; hit highest note ever sung at New York's Metropolitan Opera in 2017 Film composer 1957CLASB.A. Conductor and pianist DNG; 2000–2001 Four-time Grammy-winning jazz musician DNG; 1973 Singer and guitarist of Heart

Humanities Name Class year School(s) Degree(s) Notability CLAS M.A. Historian, director emeritus of Oregon Historical Society CLAS B.A. Historian, director of Institute for Historical Review Pentecostal theologian

Media and communications Name Class year School(s) Degree(s) Notability Political satirist, radio host CLASB.A.Television journalist, radio host Alt-right YouTube personality 2000 CLAS B.A. Journalist, author of Lords of Chaos

Government and politics Heads of state and government Name Class year School(s) Degree(s) Notability 2000SBB.B.A. 7th president of the Republic of the Marshall Islands

Governors of the United States

Name Class year School(s) Degree(s) Notability 1964 CLAS B.A. 34th governor of Oregon

State senators Name Class year School(s) Degree(s) Notability 1972CEB.A. Democratic member of Oregon State Senate 1974CLASB.S. First African American woman elected to the Oregon State Senate 1965, 1969 CLAS B.S., M.A. Democratic member of Oregon State Senate Democratic member of Oregon State Senate, 15th district CE, CUPA M.A. Democratic member of Oregon State Senate, 20th district SSW M.S.W. Democratic member of Oregon State Senate, 22nd district CLAS B.S. Democratic member of Oregon State Senate, 19th district

State representatives Name Class year School(s) Degree(s) Notability CLAS B.S. Democratic member of Oregon House of Representatives, 28th district Democratic member of Oregon House of Representatives, 11th/13th district CLAS B.S. Democratic member of Oregon House of Representatives, 32nd district SB M.B.A. Republican member of Oregon House of Representatives, 37th district 1968 CLAS B.S. Democratic member Oregon House of Representatives, 50th district 1976 CLAS B.S. Democratic member of Oregon House of Representatives and Senate CLAS B.A. Democratic member of the Oregon House of Representatives, 35th district CUPA PhD Democratic member of the Oregon House of Representatives, 35th district CLAS, SSW B.S., M.S.W. Democratic member of the Oregon House of Representatives, 13th district 2004 CLAS PhD Democratic member of the Oregon House of Representatives, 49th district Democratic member of the Oregon House of Representatives, 44th district SSW M.S.W. Democratic member of the Oregon House of Representatives, 47th district 2000 CA B.A. Democratic member of the Oregon House of Representatives, 49th district 2013 CUPA M.A. Democratic member of the Oregon House of Representatives, 22nd district SB M.B.A. Republican member of the Wyoming House of Representatives, 57th district 1997Urban StudiesM.A., PhDDemocratic Member of the Oregon House of Representatives, 46th district DNG SSW Democratic member of the Washington House of Representatives, 49th district DNG Republican member of the California House of Representatives, 43rd district 2012 SSW M.S.W. Democratic member of Oregon House of Representatives, 43rd district 1991 CLAS B.S. Republican member of Oregon House of Representatives and State Senate SSW M.S.W. Democratic member of Oregon House of Representatives, 41st district 1997 CLAS B.S. Republican member of Oregon House of Representatives, 49th district

Other U.S. political figures

Name Class year School(s) Degree(s) Notability DNG Native American program leader, elected president of National Congress of American Indians 2002 SSW PhD Member of California State Assembly, 13th district 1969 CLAS B.S. U.S. ambassador to Qatar 1971 CLAS B.S. U.S. ambassador to Albania 1967 SSW M.S.W. First African American woman elected to public office in Oregon CUPA M.A., PhD Former police chief for Montgomery County, Maryland, one of the sites of the Beltway Sniper attacks

Judges Name Class year School(s) Degree(s) Notability 1975 CLAS B.S. U.S. federal judge 1972 CLAS B.S. Oregon Supreme Court chief justice 1961 CLAS B.A. Oregon Supreme Court justice 1958 PSC B.S. Education First woman to serve on the Oregon Supreme Court and Oregon Court of Appeals

International political figures Name Class year School(s) Degree(s) Notability 1997 B.S. SB Deputy prime minister of Kuwait

Sciences and technology

Name Class year School(s) Degree(s) Notability CLASM.S. in Geography National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Commissioned Officer Corps rear admiral; Director, NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps (2024–present) SSWM.S.W. Pioneer in school-based alcohol and drug prevention efforts CLASB.S., M.S. Pioneer in the field of micro-electro mechanical systems (MEMS); founder of IntelliSense 2001CLASM.S. Microbiologist and Antarctic researcher; professor of microbiology at University of Tennessee, Knoxville CLAS M.S. Sports psychologist and professor, San Jose State University CLAS B.S. Programmer who contributed to Linux kernel

Sports