Latest news with #UniversityofPortland
Business Wire
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Top Value School: University of Portland Earns High Marks in
PORTLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As returning University of Portland (UP) students welcome a gifted class of first year 'Pilots' to the start of a new school year, two prominent college ranking services place the UP Bluff on high ground. 'We are grateful that our superb quality, value and outcomes are once again being celebrated for all to see.' -University of Portland President Robert D. Kelly. Share Money magazine's 2025 list of 'The Best Colleges in America' — which rates schools on quality of education, affordability and student outcomes — favored UP with a stellar 4.5-star rating. In the Northwest, UP is one of four institutions—and one of two private universities—to receive Money 's 4.5-star rating. UP is one of only two Catholic universities in the West to reach the 4.5-star threshold. UP also made The Princeton Review 's annual list of 'The Best 391 Colleges,' earning special recognition as a Best Value College while ranking among the top institutions in the West. 'The sense of community here is unmatched,' wrote one University of Portland student in The Princeton Review rating survey. According to the book's editors, others touted 'phenomenal' professors, smaller class sizes, a 'strong culture of spirituality,' and the 'diverse set of minds' students encounter throughout campus. Positive sentiments like these attracted UP's incoming class of first year students to Portland. They hail from 35 U.S. states and 15 countries—boasting a 3.71 average unweighted GPA. Nearly 40 percent identify as Catholic, and 45 percent are First Generation college students. ' Money and The Princeton Review rightly recognize something about University of Portland that has been true for nearly 125 years—we offer a singularly transformational experience,' said University President Robert D. Kelly. ' We are grateful that our superb quality, value and outcomes are once again being celebrated for all to see.' 'While these rankings do not tell the full story,' Dr. Kelly added, 'they are nevertheless a fitting testament to the extraordinary impact of a University of Portland education.' Money, the financial advice service, showcased 732 top colleges and universities, ranking each from 2 to 5 stars. UP was among 111 private schools nationwide to meet the 4.5-star standard. Basing its analysis on top value colleges, cost of attendance, financial aid and more, Money highlighted UP's professional schools, liberal arts majors, special-interest clubs and its 'robust study abroad program.' In the Student Success category, Money emphasized UP's 80 percent graduation rate and the fact that Pilot grads typically earn $82,800 in early career annual salary. Learn more about joining UP as a student at
Business Insider
20-07-2025
- General
- Business Insider
I gave up my US passport and changed my name — all for my love of basketball and Korea
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Lee Seung-jun, a 47-year-old retired professional basketball player who represented South Korea internationally. His words have been edited for length and clarity. A mix of my American dad's height and my Korean mom's identity took me places — literally. I was born in the US and grew up as Eric Lee Sandrin, but after moving to Korea and giving up my US passport, I became Lee Seung-jun. I went on to play professional basketball and on the Korean national team. Both sides of my family shaped me in different ways. Settling down in Seattle My dad is 6-foot-7 and played basketball through college, then later for the Army team. He met my mom while stationed in Korea. After completing his service, they moved to Washington state to settle down. My dad loved the mountains, and my mom liked being closer to Korea. My younger brother and I were raised in the suburbs of Seattle, although we often spent summers in Korea. Over the years, we started bringing other members of the family to the US, my grandmother, uncles, and aunts. Little by little, almost all of them ended up moving to the Seattle area, opening up small businesses like grocery stores and karaoke bars, similar to other Korean immigrants in the area. In between cultures At school, we were usually the only Asian kids in class. At home, everyone looked like us. It created a constant push-pull: Korean at home, American outside. At school, kids would say, "Are you guys Chinese?" And we'd say, "No, it's a different country." And they would say, "Oh, Japanese?" When we visited my dad's family in Michigan, our cousins didn't know what we were; they hadn't seen people like us in the Midwest. My mom worried about prejudice, so we didn't grow up speaking Korean. She wanted us to be American first, even as she struggled to learn English herself. Court vs. classroom I started shooting hoops when I was around six. In our early teens, we'd just head to the park and play. It wasn't until high school, when coaches started sending letters and offering scholarships, that I thought, "Wow, I might actually get to play basketball in school." I ended up enrolling at the University of Portland, and later, after a knee injury, transferring to Seattle Pacific University — I played for both of the schools' teams. After graduating, I got a teaching certificate and lined up a job teaching at a high school. Change of plans Then I chose basketball instead. My mom thought I was throwing it all away. My brother was planning to be a lawyer, and she had dreams of bragging about us to her coffee group. But by then, basketball had become my life, my brother's too. When I didn't make it to the NBA, I started building an international career, including a brief stint with the Harlem Globetrotters. I was still chasing the NBA dream when a Korean agent suggested I try out for teams in Korea. I suggested that my brother go first. He loved it and told me, "You have to come." So I did. To play for the South Korean team, I had to give up my US citizenship. My dad, a military vet, wasn't happy. He reminded me that family members had died fighting for the US. He thought it was rash. But after we talked it through, he understood. For me, it was about finding a better opportunity, just like his grandparents had done when they came from Italy. Restarting in Korea When I arrived in Seoul, I had just turned 30. At first, Korea felt familiar. The faces and food reminded me of my mom. But once I got deeper into the culture, I realized how different I was. I didn't speak the language and hadn't done military service. Basketball practice in Korea felt like military training. We practiced four times a day: 6 a.m., 10 a.m., 4 p.m., and 8 p.m. That's also when I started realizing just how many unspoken rules there are in the Korean language and culture. I remember one of my first practices, I walked in, sat down, and started lacing up my shoes. I was sitting in the head coach's chair, but I had no idea that was a big faux pas. So I was sitting there when the coach walked in. I went, "Oh, what's up?" I didn't even greet him properly. I didn't know any of this stuff. The whole team was like: "How can he be so rude? How does he not know this?" That moment really pushed me to start learning the unspoken rules and study the language. I eventually changed my name to Seung-jun, a name crafted with my mom's help. It means "beautiful victory," and links to my brother's name Dong‑jun — he grew up as Daniel. When I was growing up in the States, my grandma used to talk to us for hours, but we could hardly understand her. After learning to speak Korean, it was like meeting my grandma for the first time. I could actually talk to her and understand what she was saying. Off the court, still in the game In 2017, I retired, although I knew I wanted to stay in Korea. It felt like home. The healthcare system is amazing. My wife, who's half-Korean, half-Romanian, is also a basketball player and is still playing. A year after retiring from basketball, before my brother eventually got a green card and moved back to the States, we started Prism Hoops Academy. The youth sports company is focused on making sports fun for kids. In Korea, education is intense and regimented. Our goal was to create a space where kids could just play. I'm now running the school with Im Won‑jun, another Korean American who, funnily enough, also grew up in Seattle. We offer basketball, soccer, and chess. It's not about drills or perfection; our goal is just helping kids build positive memories. Coaching young kids has become a real passion of mine, and my plan is to go back to school for a higher degree in education or administration. So it looks like my mom will get her teacher after all.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Portlanders pray for past and future Popes
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Though the won't begin in Rome until next week, cardinals met at the Vatican on Tuesday. People around the world are interested in the process, both spiritually and procedurally. At the Chapel of Christ the Teacher on the University of Portland campus Tuesday, parishioners filled the pews to remember Pope Francis and to pray for whoever the next one will be. Conclave to elect new pope starts May 7 as cardinals get to know one another 'It's our way of aiding people in their journey in the afterlife,' said Fr. Tim Weed, the director of campus ministry at U-P. During the 12 years of his papacy, Francis advocated for migrants, the poor, the marginalized. His impact on the faithful was immense. 'Just to remember that human dignity exists in each of them and just all the people that are around us,' parishioner Denise Ramsden told KOIN 6 News. 'It's easy to say 'love your neighbor,'' parishioner Tshombe Brown said. 'But showing up is what solidarity really means, being there for one another — that's what love, radical love is.' in mourning and at a crossroads. The conclave that begins May 7 will decide if the church will continue the path Francis paved. For Mary Jensen, a U-P junior who saw Pope Francis on Easter in 2024, the grief is personal. She hopes the cardinals choose a leader with the same spirit. 'I do hope they are like Pope Francis but of course I believe God will provide and give us who we need for our next pope,' Jensen said. The talk about Pope Francis becoming a saint — someone recognized for living a virtuous life with miracles believed to happen through their prayers — is growing. Fr. Tim said that answer will come in time. 'If God decides to reveal to us through miracles, through prayers, that Pope Francis is in heaven,' the priest said, 'then, yeah, let's make him a saint.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
AI & Ethics: University of Portland Students Get Real with Artificial Intelligence
University of Portland Ethical AI Initiative will launch in six courses across the academic spectrum in the 2025-26 school year. PORTLAND, Ore., April 16, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Artificial intelligence will take a front row seat this fall in Dr. Natalie Nelson-Marsh's 'Future of Work' Organizational Communication class at the University of Portland. Students won't simply rely on AI tools and tasks to complete assignments, however. They'll hold AI up to the light, and, through an ethical lens, examine how this ubiquitous technology is rapidly disrupting the global workforce they're about to join. The Future of Work is one of six courses set to pilot the University of Portland's Ethical AI Initiative — a campus-wide endeavor to explore the ethical and societal impacts of artificial intelligence in various fields of study. Launching in the 2025-26 academic year, the Ethical AI Initiative includes Dr. Hannah Highlander's mathematics course, 'Ordinary Differential Equations,' which will guide sophomore-and-junior level students to critically examine the ethical implications of mathematical modeling in machine learning. The initiative will cross over to business analytics, technology in education, and AI's influence on society. As Dr. Nelson-Marsh sizes up the future workplace, she says students in all majors will benefit from grasping AI's impact on organizational culture. "When students understand how human-AI collaboration shapes the way we organize, they are empowered not just to use these technologies — but to integrate them ethically," Dr. Nelson-Marsh said. "This involves more than future-proofing our students' careers. It's about leading conversations that will define the future of work itself." Dr. Valerie Banschbach, Dean of UP's College of Arts and Sciences, says UP is one of the first universities in the nation to offer a cross-curricular Ethical AI Initiative. "As a Catholic, Holy Cross University, we seek to develop the whole person, and that includes accompanying our students as they navigate an AI-shaped world," Dr. Banschbach said. "As we launch this Ethical AI Initiative, it is our aim to incorporate AI tools as we teach about this emerging technology through an ethical lens — providing critical AI literacy and values-based framing." "Our Ethical AI Initiative beautifully reflects our mission and priorities at the University of Portland," said Dr. David Mengel, University Provost. "It offers all our students, whatever their major, opportunities both to use powerful, new AI technologies and also to ask how and for what purposes these tools should be applied." The 2025-26 Ethical AI Initiative builds off the University's commitment to curricular innovation and dialogue in the burgeoning AI arena. Last fall, UP welcomed faculty, administrators and religious affiliates from 19 institutions for a national conference: Catholic Higher Education and AI: Mission-Based Teaching for the Future of Humanity. UP is making plans to host its second AI conference for Catholic higher education leaders in October.
Associated Press
16-04-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
AI & Ethics: University of Portland Students Get Real with Artificial Intelligence
PORTLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr 16, 2025-- Artificial intelligence will take a front row seat this fall in Dr. Natalie Nelson-Marsh's 'Future of Work' Organizational Communication class at the University of Portland. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: University of Portland Ethical AI Initiative will launch in six courses across the academic spectrum in the 2025-26 school year. Students won't simply rely on AI tools and tasks to complete assignments, however. They'll hold AI up to the light, and, through an ethical lens, examine how this ubiquitous technology is rapidly disrupting the global workforce they're about to join. The Future of Work is one of six courses set to pilot the University of Portland's Ethical AI Initiative — a campus-wide endeavor to explore the ethical and societal impacts of artificial intelligence in various fields of study. Launching in the 2025-26 academic year, the Ethical AI Initiative includes Dr. Hannah Highlander's mathematics course, 'Ordinary Differential Equations,' which will guide sophomore-and-junior level students to critically examine the ethical implications of mathematical modeling in machine learning. The initiative will cross over to business analytics, technology in education, and AI's influence on society. As Dr. Nelson-Marsh sizes up the future workplace, she says students in all majors will benefit from grasping AI's impact on organizational culture. 'When students understand how human-AI collaboration shapes the way we organize, they are empowered not just to use these technologies — but to integrate them ethically,' Dr. Nelson-Marsh said. 'This involves more than future-proofing our students' careers. It's about leading conversations that will define the future of work itself.' Dr. Valerie Banschbach, Dean of UP's College of Arts and Sciences, says UP is one of the first universities in the nation to offer a cross-curricular Ethical AI Initiative. 'As a Catholic, Holy Cross University, we seek to develop the whole person, and that includes accompanying our students as they navigate an AI-shaped world,' Dr. Banschbach said. 'As we launch this Ethical AI Initiative, it is our aim to incorporate AI tools as we teach about this emerging technology through an ethical lens — providing critical AI literacy and values-based framing.' 'Our Ethical AI Initiative beautifully reflects our mission and priorities at the University of Portland,' said Dr. David Mengel, University Provost. 'It offers all our students, whatever their major, opportunities both to use powerful, new AI technologies and also to ask how and for what purposes these tools should be applied.' The 2025-26 Ethical AI Initiative builds off the University's commitment to curricular innovation and dialogue in the burgeoning AI arena. Last fall, UP welcomed faculty, administrators and religious affiliates from 19 institutions for a national conference: Catholic Higher Education and AI: Mission-Based Teaching for the Future of Humanity. UP is making plans to host its second AI conference for Catholic higher education leaders in October. View source version on CONTACT: Dan Christopherson 503-943-8223 [email protected] KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA OREGON INDUSTRY KEYWORD: RELIGION ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE CONTINUING TECHNOLOGY UNIVERSITY CONSUMER EDUCATION OTHER TECHNOLOGY SOURCE: University of Portland Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 04/16/2025 04:17 PM/DISC: 04/16/2025 04:17 PM
