Rahmat Shoureshi Named President of Portland State University

(Portland, Ore.) — The Portland State University Board of Trustees voted unanimously on Monday to appoint Rahmat Shoureshi — currently New York Institute of Technology’s interim president and provost — to become PSU’s ninth president.

Shoureshi, Ph.D., will succeed PSU President Wim Wiewel, Ph.D., who will step down after serving Portland State for nine years to become a faculty member of the university’s College of Urban and Public Affairs.

“Dr. Shoureshi’s leadership experience and accomplishments at several prestigious universities will bring innovation, entrepreneurship and operational knowledge to take Portland State to the next level,” Board Chairman Pete Nickerson said. “He is an ideal fit for PSU because of his vision and initiatives to enhance research, increase educational and professional opportunities for students, develop community partnerships and boost philanthropy.”

Shoureshi will begin his tenure at PSU on Aug. 14.

“I am humbled and honored to be chosen to lead this great university,” Shoureshi said. “PSU is a 21^st century university that serves a vibrant urban region that champions access, diversity and inclusiveness as well as conducts innovative research and is dedicated to cutting-edge and collaborative learning — things that reflect my academic ideals and perspectives.”

Some of his goals for PSU include:

• Increase the quality and diversity of incoming students;
• Make PSU financially strong and academically rich;
• Attract top-notch faculty;
• Create an innovation ecosystem to develop art, science and technology incubators;
• Expand partnerships with external organizations to provide greater opportunities for students;
• Develop transdisciplinary institutes and research centers supported by government and industry;
• Increase engagement with PSU alumni, friends and the community.   

Shoureshi joined NYIT in 2011 as its provost and vice president for academic affairs. In January 2017, he was appointed its interim president. The university has three campuses in the U.S., four global campuses, two medical schools and joint degree programs in eight countries.

As provost, he has been responsible for shaping the university’s academic priorities and programs, fiscal management and revenue diversification, and attracting and supporting outstanding faculty and academic leadership. He also led efforts to provide global education for students and expand scholarship and research initiatives.

Prior to joining NYIT, Shoureshi served as the dean of the University of Denver’s School of Engineering and Computer Science, endowed chair professor of engineering at the Colorado School of Mines, and professor of mechanical engineering at Purdue University.

An active researcher, Shoureshi served as founding director of the National Science Foundation industry/university cooperative research centers, and he has published more than 250 technical papers and holds several patents.

He received both his master’s and doctoral degrees in mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He also holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Sharif University of Technology in Tehran, Iran.