Dean of students leaving PSU

Continuing the recent trend of prominent faculty leaving Portland State, Dean of Students Wendy Endress is leaving the university to accept a position at Evergreen State College in Olympia, Wash., after nearly six years of service.

Endress, 40, will end her tenure at PSU June 15 before taking on her new role as executive associate to the vice president for student affairs on July 2.

“I’m someone who always keeps my eyes open for different opportunities,” Endress said. “This position affords me an opportunity to broaden the experience that I have.”

The appointment of an interim dean of students to replace Endress will likely take place in the next few weeks, according to interim PSU Vice Provost for Student Affairs Dan Fortmiller.

“We haven’t really had a chance to find someone,” Fortmiller said.

Fortmiller said no search for a permanent replacement would begin until after the search for the vice provost position has concluded.

“We would not want to appoint a dean of students for the incoming vice provost,” he said, adding that it may be a lengthy amount of time before those positions are filled.

Fortmiller has been the interim vice provost for student affairs for two years, while the position for PSU athletic director was filled last month by Torre Chisholm after a 14-month search.

The search for outgoing President Dan Bernstine is expected to take several months, with candidates expected to be on campus sometime during fall term.

Endress came to Portland State in August 2001, at a time when the university was experiencing rapid growth in enrollment. Within two years, Endress oversaw the creation of the Women’s Resource Center and the Multicultural Center, as well as improvements to the Residence Life program.

Additional positions such as an assistant dean of students, commencement and student outreach coordinator and several support staff positions were also created during Endress’ time at Portland State.

“I had the good fortune to be in this position at a time when student government and the institution chose to invest more money in student services,” Endress said. “I got to be here during a time of growth in enrollment but also growth in what we’re able to offer students. It didn’t look like this when I started in 2001.”

Taking the position at Evergreen State College will move Endress from one of the nation’s largest public urban universities to a small liberal arts college. Evergreen State College was founded in 1967 on a 1,000-acre plot of land 10 miles outside of Olympia and has 4,416 students, including 4,171 undergraduates.

“It’s a public liberal arts college, a smaller organization focused on undergraduate education,” Endress said. “Most liberal arts colleges are private. After working at Portland State it’s hard to leave public education.”

During her time at Portland State, Endress has been praised for her ability to relate to students and has often acted as a sounding board.

“One of her strengths is she is very student-friendly,” said Natalee Webb, a Student Activities and Leadership Programs adviser. “That has worked really well for what the PSU community is.”

Student Fee Committee chair Madeline Enos noted Endress’s commitment to students during her time at PSU.

“I’ve been consistently pleasantly surprised by her commitment to students,” Enos said. “Ultimately there is a huge learning curve. She’s handled it with a certain amount of grace, and I wish her well.”