ASPSU, Greek Life attain new leadership

Meet Lisa McCalla, Portland State’s new ASPSU and Greek Life adviser. Looking for something new and different, McCalla left her home in Massachusetts to take the new job in Portland.

“I was looking for a new experience, and I though about how I could best do that,” she said reflecting on her decision to move.

With a bachelor’s degree in legal studies and a master’s in higher education administration, both from the University of Massachusetts, McCalla was involved in student government and the Zeta Phi Beta sorority in college.

With her background, McCalla saw a position working with both student government and the Greek community as a good opportunity for her. She was also interested in how these two groups could utilize the same adviser.

McCalla described these two groups as “a small community of student leaders who end up being involved in more than one area.” With this in mind, she felt ASPSU and Greek Life at PSU would have some overlap with those involved.

PSU’s community as a whole interested McCalla and made her decision to take the advising job easier. When she made the trip here for her interview, she was able to see the campus and the people on it.

“People were passionate about their experiences here (at PSU),” she said.

As for ASPSU, McCalla hopes to bring some consistency to the organization while she is the adviser. “Once I see where the energy lies (in ASPSU), I’ll have more specific goals,” she said.

For both groups, McCalla is determined to be a good resource. Noting listening as being important for an adviser, McCalla has already been working and speaking with both groups in her first month of being here.

“Being a new person to PSU, the community has been very welcoming,” she said.