2022 Highlights

In April, the University appointed Dr. Robert D. Kelly as the 21^st president in the institution’s 121-year history. Describing July 1 as “my first day as your president” in a message to the UP community, Dr. Kelly made history as the first lay person and person of color chosen to lead the University.

On September 23, President Kelly and his family celebrated his Inauguration with more than 1,000 UP students, faculty, staff, alumni, Regents, benefactors, friends, civic leaders and higher education delegates. In his Inaugural Address, Dr. Kelly spoke of the University of Portland as a “shining beacon on The Bluff.” 

University of Portland

University of Portland achieved the #1 ranking among ‘Regional Universities – West” for 2022-23 in U.S. News & World Report’s listing of Best Colleges and Universities. UP earned the West’s top spot after three consecutive years in the top three, and it marked the institution’s 28^th consecutive year in the Top 10.

Pamplin School of Business

In the spring, the UP community honored its graduating class of 2022 with the University’s first in-person commencement ceremonies since 2019.

UP alumnus Kunal Nayyar ’03, who starred in the hit CBS comedy “The Big Bang Theory,” gave a stirring Sunday commencement address, advising graduates to “live a life of yes” and to embrace their own unique journey.

At the annual Faculty Awards celebration, six outstanding UP faculty members were honored for excellence in teaching, scholarship, service, leadership and mentorship.

• UP’s Stephanie Salomone is co-principal investigator of a $4.2 million, multi-institution grant from the National Science Foundation to support the professional development of K-12 STEM teachers.

• UP students, under the guidance of UP Biology Professor Susan Murray, will study immune responses in prostate cancer treatment through a grant from the National Institutes of Health.

• Through a National Science Foundation grant, UP chemistry and physics students will team up to explore energy conversion and storage aimed at mitigating climate change.

• Supported by a National Endowment for the Humanities grant, UP professors Molly Hiro and Jen McDaneld embarked on a mission to change the way students connect with the community through engaged study in the humanities.

In October, Darlene Marcos Shiley visited campus to lead a ceremonial groundbreaking for the Shiley-Marcos Center for Design & Innovation, set for a January 2024 opening. Mrs. Shiley’s $10 million lead gift inspired a state-of-the-art building and maker space for students — honoring her late husband, UP alumnus Donald P. Shiley ’51.

In May, the University dedicated and opened the Walter E. Nelson Facilities Services Building on the Franz River Campus. A $10 million gift from Michael E. Nelson ’76 and his wife Arlette created an expansive, new home base for UP Facilities Services, the “unsung heroes” of the campus community.

In August, President Robert D. Kelly and the University community welcomed the incoming first-year Class of 2026 on Move-In Day and Orientation Weekend, which included inspiring last words of advice from parents to their new Pilots.

Fostering “belonging on The Bluff,” a new Diversity Center opened on the first floor of Buckley Center. A 15-month collaboration of students, faculty and staff — the 1,300 square foot Diversity Center offers a welcoming, inclusive space for people to gather, study and engage with each other.

Department

• The 2021-22 academic year was a historic one for the University of Portland Athletics Department, with six different programs participating in national postseason play and 42 student-athletes earning All-West Coast Conference honors.  In the fall, Pilot Athletics posted the highest grade point average in department history — 3.47 across all sports.

• UP Vice President for Athletics Scott Leykam was chosen to serve as the NCAA Women’s Soccer Committee Chair for the 2022-23 academic year.

• University of Portland will serve as Institutional Host for the 2030 NCAA Women’s Basketball Final Four.

Team

• The Pilot men’s soccer team advanced to the NCAA College Cup Elite 8 for the second time in history, the program’s best showing in 27 years.

• After a 13-match unbeaten streak to start the season, UP women’s soccer qualified for the NCAA Division I Tournament for the first time since 2013.

• In March, UP men’s basketball won the program’s first NCAA postseason game in Head Coach Shantay Legans’ first season on The Bluff. In November, the Pilots shined on a national stage as co-host of the Phil Knight Invitational, defeating Villanova and nearly upsetting top-ranked North Carolina and 12^th ranked Michigan State.

• UP women’s basketball reached Women’s National Invitation Tournament for the first time since 2009. The Pilots’ 20-11 record marked the program’s best finish in 25 years.

• Pilot baseball enjoyed one of the best seasons in program history, winning 32 games and earning a first-ever berth in the WCC Tournament.

Individual

• Laura Pellicoro earned All-American honors with a 25^th place finish at the NCAA Cross Country Championships — the third highest finish in Pilot history.

• After a season in which he led the WCC in points, goals and game-winning goals, Pilot Brandon Cambridge signed with Charlotte FC of Major League Soccer.

• Pilot pitcher Brett Gillis was named second team All-American by Collegiate Baseball News and ABCA/Rawlings, then was drafted by Houston in the ninth round of the 2022 Major League Baseball Draft.

• In a White House ceremony, UP alumnus Megan Rapinoe ‘08 became the first soccer player to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor.