IGNITE and PROA Join the School of Public Health

This summer, two cornerstone Portland State University programs dedicated to advancing student success officially became part of the OHSU-PSU School of Public Health: IGNITE and PROA.

IGNITE (Influence, Grow, Network, Interact, Transform, Empower) supports pre-health students through mentoring, professional development, and community-building. IGNITE emphasizes a culture of support and community, which is particularly important in clinical healthcare career pathways that can be complex and overwhelming for students. By providing social, career, and academic-oriented support while reducing financial barriers and increasing the time students have available for activities to support their success, IGNITE aims to increase the success of students in their pursuit of healthcare careers.

PROA (Promoting Research Opportunities & Advancement) pathways program is a cooperative arrangement between the Northern Marianas College (NMC) and Portland State University (PSU) under the U.S. Department of Education’s Asian American Native American Pacific Islanders Serving Institutions (AANAPISI) grant. This program supports Asian American and Pacific Islander students as they graduate from NMC and transfer to PSU by providing services that will help them identify career paths in STEM, receive mentorship and guidance, and gain research experience that aligns with their educational and career goals in preparation for their transition.

Both programs share the School of Public Health’s mission of advancing health, equity, and opportunity. By joining the SPH community, IGNITE and PROA will expand their reach, foster stronger collaborations, and further empower students to thrive academically and professionally.

Two School of Public Health faculty members now serve as principal investigators: Dr. Dawn Richardson, Senior Associate Dean of Academic Operations for IGNITE, and Dr. Betty Izumi, Professor of Health Promotion & Community Health and Program Director of AANAPISI for PROA. Their expertise and commitment will ensure these initiatives continue to grow and positively impact students’ educational journeys.

In addition, each program comes with its dedicated program coordinator, Carlos Quatela for IGNITE and Motutama Sipelli (SPH alumn) for PROA, who will continue to provide consistent guidance and support to the students they serve. Their ongoing leadership ensures that students maintain the strong mentorship and community connections that have defined both programs.

We are thrilled to welcome IGNITE and PROA into the School of Public Health,” said Paul Halverson, Dean of the School of Public Health. “These programs reflect our commitment to student success and to creating a diverse and inclusive pipeline for the next generation of health leaders.”

Together, IGNITE and PROA strengthen our School’s foundation for a healthier, more equitable future.