Returning to Portland State after nearly five years at the University of California, Irvine, Pamela Miller will step back into a role she already knows. As the new assistant dean for development and external relations at the Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science, Miller will once again focus on securing funding for the college.
Miller, a PSU alumna, previously worked at PSU from 2001–07 as the director of external relations for Maseeh College. Starting off as a volunteer fundraiser, Miller was approached by the college to help get funds to complete its building, which at the time hadn’t been started. As the director of external relations, Miller was able to secure one of the largest gifts ever given to PSU: $8 million from Fariborz Maseeh, whose name was later used for the college.
“That was huge. That allowed us to start this building,” Miller said.
She described development as a term for fundraising, which is primarily what her job will be about: “Developing relationships and getting financial support for the university in different forms,” Miller said.
Dean of Maseeh College Renjeng Su said that Miller had a big hand in the process of building up the facility and equipment. “In terms of engineering school teaching facility, we are the best,” Su said.
Françoise Aylmer, PSU vice president for university advancement, PSU President Wim Wiewel, and Su all worked with Miller for about eight months to get her back to PSU. “Pam is a seasoned fundraiser who not only did well at UCI but knows the Portland community extremely well,” Aylmer said.
Aylmer said she’s most looking forward to Miller’s return because of “her proven success in securing seven-figure gifts and her ability to connect with many major donors and prospects in the community. As well, she is an engaged Portlander who is well respected,” Aylmer said.
Miller describes herself as having a knack for building relationships and establishing a connection. “Hopefully I have a warmth that resonates with people, because I truly care about them,” Miller said. She added that she felt many people may be able to build relationships and work with people, but not everyone is able “to do the task,” as she puts it. She spoke about working with a prospective provider who posed an interest in giving money, using the example of a man looking into funding scholarships. Miller’s job is to work with him and, when the time comes, she has to be able to say: “I think that now is a good time for you to invest in this. And we really need your support.”
Miller’s job is mainly to bring in the major gifts, but she believes that all gifts are important. “Even just $1,000 is a major gift to at least get started,” Miller said. Many gifts come from wealthy individuals.
For engineering, Miller said that there is a huge support from corporations. They are able to donate funds and, by working with engineers, can often get many things in return, like professors helping conduct research that will, in the long run, work out best for them.
Su said that he was most excited to have Miller at PSU so that she can help the college become what it needs to be a leading engineering school in the area. Portland is a dense area in terms of infrastructure that engineers can look into, and having a school that will be able to support this is key. “Portland needs this,” Su said.
Miller is also excited to see where the school can go. “Dean Su has a great vision,” Miller said. “The dean, Vice President Aylmer, and President Wiewel all convinced me to come back to really further this school. And I will help bring in the funds to do that,” Miller added.
She said that she really just likes fundraising and she’s excited that she’ll be able to make a difference. “I feel like this is a long-term commitment,” Miller said. “You have to build those relationships, and that only happens over time.”