Home (and Away) For The Holidays: PCC Employees And Students Give Back To The Community (Photo) - 12/09/25

PORTLAND, Ore. – It's that time of year again for baubles, bangles and bling! 

Portland Community College employees are once again turning holiday spirit into support for English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) students through an annual jewelry sale that benefits the ESOL Fund.

The sale took place in early December in the CC Building Upper Mall at the Sylvania Campus. All jewelry has been donated by PCC staff, along with their friends and family members, with 100% of proceeds going to help ESOL students cover fees, tuition and textbooks. Other PCC campuses also host jewelry sales throughout the year to benefit ESOL students, too.

“We've had this fund for about 15 years, and we help students with tuition, fees and textbooks,” said Luciana Diniz, ESOL instructor who organized Sylvania’s sale. “Last year, we raised about $1,000 and we are hoping for more this year. We do many other events at different campuses and the jewelry sale is just one of them.”

ESOL instructors and retired instructors lead the fundraising efforts. The jewelry sale typically raises around $1,000 each year and is one of many events held annually to support ESOL students across the district.

While the fund has traditionally focused on academic non-credit students, this winter it will award $10,000 to ESOL Level 7 (credit) students districtwide. Some ESOL students volunteered at the sale, giving donors and shoppers a chance to meet the students they are supporting.

Jewelry donations are accepted year-round, with about 10-15 employees contributing pieces in the past three months alone. Organizers hope this year’s sale will surpass previous fundraising totals.

To donate to the fund, contact the PCC Foundation, or to give jewelry, get in touch with Diniz at luciana.diniz@pcc.edu.

Holiday donation energizes PCC’s food bank

At PCC’s recent Free Food Market at its Sylvania Campus, staff not only distributed groceries and winter gifts to students, they also received a meaningful gift themselves. During the event at the Sylvania Campus, the PCC Student Basic Needs Center (SBNC) was honored with a $5,000 donation from The MamaBerries Nonprofit Foundation, in partnership with Shades by Shan Cosmetics.

The funds will provide seasonal assistance gift cards to single parent students at PCC, helping to ease the financial strain of the holiday season for families balancing college, caregiving and basic expenses. A recent survey showed 64% of PCC’s students experience at least one form of basic needs insecurity such as food or housing challenges.

This Student Is A Smile-Maker

Caribbean grade schoolers, adults in custody, and community members are smiling more brightly thanks to Kristina Hsu. The PCC Dental Hygiene student volunteered recently on a smile-giving trip to Saint Lucia, an island nation in the Eastern Caribbean. Hsu continues to serve patients this holiday season as she completes her studies and helps to staff the PCC Dental Clinic at the Vanport Building in Downtown Portland that provides free preventive and limited restorative dental services to the community, PCC faculty, staff, and students. 

Learn more about Kristina Hsu Caribbean work and current assistance with the college’s reduced-cost dental clinic.

About Portland Community College: Founded in 1961, Portland Community College is the largest post-secondary institution in Oregon and provides training, degree and certificate completion, and lifelong learning to more than 57,000 full- and part-time students in Multnomah, Washington, Yamhill, Clackamas, and Columbia counties. PCC has four comprehensive campuses, 10 education centers or areas served, and approximately 200 community locations in the Portland metropolitan area. The PCC district encompasses a 1,500-square-mile area in northwest Oregon and offers two-year degrees, one-year certificate programs, short-term training, alternative education, pre-college courses and life-long learning.

Visit PCC news on the web at http://news.pcc.edu/

For B-ROLL footage, visit PCC campus and student life highlight reel.

VAL BRENNEIS HONORED FOR OUTSTANDING TEACHING IN PCC’S 100-ACRE ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES CENTER (Photo) - 12/03/25

WASHINGTON COUNTY, Ore. – This fall, Portland Community College Rock Creek Campus recognized environmental studies and biology instructor Val Brenneis with the Galbraith Teaching Excellence Award, honoring her dedication to cross-disciplinary collaboration, student mentorship and community-engaged learning.

“The work that Val does to connect PCC to the community is inspirational,” said PCC Life Science and Biotechnology Program Dean Linda Fergusson-Kolmes. “She brings a depth of disciplinary expertise and professional integrity to all the places her work touches PCC students and the community.”

Brenneis, department co-chair for Environmental Studies and Resources and coordinator of the Rock Creek Environmental Studies Center, has spent 14 years helping students understand the deep connections linking people, ecosystems and community stewardship.

As faculty coordinator for the 100-acre natural area at Rock Creek, Brenneis helps lead restoration projects, community programming and partnerships with agencies and nonprofit organizations. Her work centers on protecting local ecosystems, improving access to nature and creating educational opportunities for students and community members.

Brenneis said the recognition reflects the efforts of many colleagues and partners who contribute to the center’s mission.

“I was very honored to be recognized by the Rock Creek campus community in this way,” she said. “I love working with faculty, staff and students both within and outside of my department to do creative and meaningful work that helps connect people to each other and the land.”

Originally from Southern California and now a longtime Southeast Portland resident, Brenneis brings a strong academic and professional background to her role. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Integrative Biology from the University of California at Berkeley, a master’s in Science Education from George Washington and a doctorate in Ecology from the University of California at Davis. She also earned a certificate in Geographic Information System from PCC, an experience she credits with strengthening her connection to the college’s mission.

“One of the strengths of community colleges is that we support students as they work toward their educational and career goals,” she said. “I feel fortunate to work in a place where we can integrate meaningful, hands-on learning into our teaching.”

Brenneis teaches a range of environmental studies courses, many of which transfer into Portland State University’s degree pathways. Whether analyzing data, practicing scientific communication or exploring ecosystems in the college’s “living lab,” Brenneis emphasizes active learning and encourages regular use of the environmental center.

“I really enjoy spending time with students engaged with each other in learning,” she said. “My colleagues and I work hard to keep our courses relevant and are always looking for better ways to teach effectively.”

This year, Brenneis expanded her community-engaged work by organizing two workshops for PCC students hosted by Indigenous educators. The first was a weaving workshop led by Stephanie Craig, a Kalapuya weaver and culture keeper known for her traditional artistry. Brenneis described the experience as “wonderful” and said it helped her better understand how cultural knowledge and land stewardship are interwoven across generations.

Also, Molly Leno of Rooted Ways joined Craig and led a workshop on herbal salves focused on traditional plant uses and sustainable harvesting practices. Both sessions reinforced the importance of learning from and building relationships with Indigenous community members.

Through the PCC Oaks Partners, the college collaborates with Indigenous-led organizations, local agencies and community members to support land care, ecological restoration and relationship repair at Rock Creek. A recent Metro Community Choice Nature in Neighborhoods grant is helping the environmental center improve trail accessibility and signage. This includes an ongoing renaming process guided by alum and facilitator Serina Fast Horse, who is leading outreach with tribal and Indigenous community members.

“This work is helping us honor the continuing relationship between Indigenous communities and the land,” Brenneis said. “Students care deeply about the world. My role is to help them build the skills, knowledge and relationships they need to put that care to good use.”

About Portland Community College: Founded in 1961, Portland Community College is the largest post-secondary institution in Oregon and provides training, degree and certificate completion, and lifelong learning to more than 57,000 full- and part-time students in Multnomah, Washington, Yamhill, Clackamas, and Columbia counties. PCC has four comprehensive campuses, 10 education centers or areas served, and approximately 200 community locations in the Portland metropolitan area. The PCC district encompasses a 1,500-square-mile area in northwest Oregon and offers two-year degrees, one-year certificate programs, short-term training, alternative education, pre-college courses and life-long learning.

Visit PCC news on the web at http://news.pcc.edu/

For B-ROLL footage, visit PCC campus and student life highlight reel.

PCC Earns Gold, Deepens Commitment To Climate And Sustainability Leadership (Photo) - 11/25/25

PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Community College is once again making waves in the sustainability world. 

The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) recently named PCC a top performer in its 2025 Campus Sustainability Index for Associate and Short-Cycle Institutions, adding another major milestone in the college’s long-standing commitment to environmental responsibility. This recognition follows PCC’s Gold rating from STARS (Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System) in March from the most widely recognized framework for publicly reporting sustainability performance in higher education.

“We are thrilled, as this sustainability rockstar-like designation validates our collaborative and holistic approach,” said Briar Wray, PCC’s associate dean of sustainability strategies. “This is a big year for us as we update our Climate Action Plan and continue pushing the envelope for sustainability leadership in higher education.”

In addition to its overall Gold rating, PCC earned special recognition for excellence in "Buildings & Grounds, Procurement and Waste, and Innovation," particularly for its Basic Needs and Sustainability Leadership program. The Campus Sustainability Index is grounded in the STARS system, which assesses progress in five major categories: academics; engagement; operations; planning and administration; and innovation and leadership.

“We’re so pleased to be recognized by AASHE with a STARS Gold rating for our sustainability accomplishments,” said Stephania Fregosi, PCC sustainability analyst. “At PCC, sustainability happens across the institution, and it’s awesome to see how our values are transforming the college.”

PCC’s sustainability efforts span nearly 20 years. The college’s Board of Directors adopted a Sustainability Policy in 2006 and soon after signed the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment, setting a course toward climate neutrality.

Since 2012, PCC has used STARS to measure and enhance its progress, earning recognition as a top performer among associate-level institutions nationwide. The 2025 Gold rating represents the college’s strongest performance to date.

With more than 1,200 participants in 52 countries, AASHE’s STARS program is a transparent, open-access platform that promotes shared learning and collaboration across higher education. Ratings—ranging from Bronze to Platinum—reflect how deeply sustainability is woven into an institution’s culture and operations.

Sustainability remains an essential pillar of PCC’s mission, driving initiatives that integrate environmental stewardship into academics, operations, and community engagement. As the college revises its Climate Action Plan, leaders say the work is far from done.

“We’re proud of how far we’ve come,” Wray said. “But sustainability is about continuous improvement. We’re stretching to go even deeper, to make PCC a model for what’s possible.”

For more information, visit pcc.edu/sustainability or pcc.edu/climateaction. 

About Portland Community College: Founded in 1961, Portland Community College is the largest post-secondary institution in Oregon and provides training, degree and certificate completion, and lifelong learning to more than 57,000 full- and part-time students in Multnomah, Washington, Yamhill, Clackamas, and Columbia counties. PCC has four comprehensive campuses, 10 education centers or areas served, and approximately 200 community locations in the Portland metropolitan area. The PCC district encompasses a 1,500-square-mile area in northwest Oregon and offers two-year degrees, one-year certificate programs, short-term training, alternative education, pre-college courses and life-long learning.

 Visit PCC news on the web at http://news.pcc.edu/

For B-ROLL footage, visit PCC campus and student life highlight reel.