Politics and Global Affairs - Portland State University

06/12/2026

Today is a great day: when we get to watch our students walk on stage and get their degrees! Congratulations, graduates! You have worked so hard and gotten so far! We wish you the best in your lives and careers after PSU!

04/17/2026

We want to say a huge THANK YOU to everyone who liked, shared and donated to our campaign this year! Your support means so much to our department.

If you haven't been able to make a gift yet, donations will be open through April 20th! https://www.givecampus.com/s/297hlq

04/16/2026

Join Politics and Global Affairs faculty today at 12:40 PM in the Toulan Library (Urban Center Building, 7th floor, 506 SW Mill St) for an informal conversation and Q&A about politics and current events. This event is free and open to everyone, just like all our programming. We hope to see you there or at a future event!

And since we are still doing the , take an opportunity today to participate in the "Fill the Funds" challenge and support the funds that still need help to reach their goal. The five funds that receive the most # of donors between 8:00 am - 11:00 am on April 16th will receive an additional $500 towards their goal!

Day of Giving 2026: https://giving.psuf.org/psu-day-of-giving
Upcoming Politics and Global Affairs Events: https://www.pdx.edu/politics-and-global-affairs/calendar/month

04/15/2026

PSU Day of Giving is here! In this difficult funding climate, we invite you to signal your support for civic engagement and help us deliver an excellent educational experience to our students. Funds will contribute to all the “extras” that turn a standard degree into a transformative career, as well as helping us serve the Portland community through applied academic research and relevant learning opportunities. https://www.givecampus.com/s/297hlq

And if you donate during the Night Owl Power Hour today between 7pm and 10pm Pacific Time, the fund with the most donors will win an extra $500! Any amount helps! 🥰

04/10/2026

Busy week in PGA! On Wednesday, Dr. Harout Akdedian, Nidal Betare and Dr. Grant Farr spoke to an packed audience about the conflict in the Iran, Lebanon and beyond. On Thursday evening, students gathered in Toulan Library to get advice on international careers and connect with a panel of experts in the Portland Metro area. We hope to see more students and faculty at events happening through the months of April and May.

03/31/2026

Interested in a International Career? PGA and Global PDX will host a panel discussion and networking event on April 9 from 5-7 pm with international experts in the Portland Metro area. All internationally-curious students are welcome! To learn about our panelists and RSVP, visit pdx.edu/politics-and-global-affairs/calendar/month

03/31/2026

The Middle East Studies Center and Politics and Global Affairs invite you to join us for a Panel Discussion moderated by Dr. Lindsay Benstead on Developments in Iran on April 8, 2026 from 12:30 - 2:00 pm in Parson's Gallery. This is a timely opportunity to hear diverse scholarly perspectives and engage directly with panelists through a Q&A session as the situation in Iran continues to evolve.

Nidal Betare is currently a visiting scholar with the Middle East Study Center here at PSU. Before co-founding and working as the Managing Director of DC-based People Demand Change, Nidal Betare held numerous positions working with civil society and refugee communities of Palestine, Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon. He has also worked as a freelance researcher with NPR and as an interpreter for McClatchy.

Grant Farr is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Sociology at Portland State University. He has worked and written on Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan. He was a teacher in Kabul, a professor at Pahlavi University in Shiraz, Iran, and a visiting Fulbright Professor at the University of Peshawar, Pakistan.

Dr. Harout Akdedian is a scholar and policy professional specializing in state-society relations, public policy, Middle East politics, and exclusionary extremism. He serves as Program Analyst at the Oregon Department of Justice's Civil Rights Unit, Visiting Scholar at Portland State University's Middle East Studies Center, and Associate Fellow at Central European University in Vienna.

02/04/2026

Politics and Global Affairs is excited to host Dr. Chipo Dendere from Wellesley College. Dr. Dendere will share insights from her new book “Death, Diversion and Departure: Voter Exit and the Persistence of Authoritarianism in Zimbabwe” on Feb 18 in Parson’s Gallery.

01/27/2026

Join us for two public forums featuring leaders in the Portland Arts and Culture community as they discuss concrete steps to strengthen the arts in Portland and build support with unlikely partners. Stay tuned for a list of speakers!

February 4, 7 - 8:30 pm
What Should We Do? Identifying Concrete Steps to Strengthen the Arts in Portland

March 3, 7 - 8:30 pm
Unlikely Partners: Building Support for the Arts in Portland

Scan each code to RSVP.

12/04/2025

The Metro Regional Government Council Office is looking for interns. The application is open until 12/16 and the position starts early to mid-January. This is a fabulous opportunity for folks to learn more about local government! It is 30 hours a week, Monday-Thursday, with occasional work on Fridays. Because of this, it is recommended for folks who have already graduated, are just finishing up their degrees, or have flexible class schedules. It is a paid position. Internship credit is available. Here is the application form:

https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/oregonmetro/jobs/5156846/council-office-intern?pagetype=jobOpportunitiesJobs

For information on earning internship credits, contact Richard Clucas, PGA Internship Coordinator, at [email protected]

At Metro, we are dedicated to shaping a better future for the greater Portland region. Our work spans parks and nature, land and transportation, garbage and recycling, and arts and events across several locations including: Metro Regional Center, the Oregon Zoo, the Oregon Convention Center, Portlan...