What Comes After the Confetti: Meet 6 Grads from the Class of 2026

Commencement is hands down the best time of year at Portland State. The excitement and anticipation are practically contagious. It's a heartfelt, joyful moment for our community to come together and recognize graduates for their years of hard work, dedication and determination. To celebrate their success. And to support their dreams for the future.

It's also a fast-paced blur - of billowing gowns and creatively decorated caps, of speeches, selfies and stage-crossings, and finally, big sighs of relief. But once the ceremony is over and graduates have danced their way out of the Viking Pavilion to greet family and friends, the real work begins.

College of Education grads aren't just stepping into new jobs - they are stepping into local classrooms, counseling offices and community spaces that deeply need them. As they dive headfirst into their new roles, we wanted to mark the occasion by highlighting six grads from across our programs.

In their own words, here is what brought them to PSU, what kept them going through the toughest of times and what lies ahead.

Commencement Speakers

Rachel Su, M.Ed.
Bilingual Teacher Pathway

For a long time, Rachel Su believed she wasn't meant to be a teacher. That all changed during the pandemic when she started homeschooling her child and realized that every kid shines in their own unique way. A few words of encouragement from a teacher shifted her entire perspective. Her journey from a hesitant school volunteer to a passionate educator and Commencement student speaker is a reminder of how much power a single supportive voice can have.

"One moment can change everything."

Miriam Meneses-Rios, Graduate Certificate
School Counseling

Miriam Meneses-Rios' path to the commencement stage is deeply rooted in the sacrifices of her parents, who immigrated from Mexico. She has spent the last 20 years working in community mental health and juvenile justice - experiences that taught her that supporting kids has to start early, right inside our schools, by building spaces of connection and safety.

"As we step into our professions, let us not just serve communities-let us see them. Honor their stories. Protect their dignity. And remind them they belong. Because the truth is: we are someone's hope, someone's safe space, someone's turning point."

Changing the Face of the Classroom

Sergio Cervantes, B.A.
Bilingual Teacher Pathway

Sergio Cervantes completed the Bilingual Teacher Pathway program, earning his bachelor's degree in elementary education. For Sergio, choosing this path was a calling rooted in his own experience as an English language learner growing up in Los Angeles. Struggling in the second grade, he overheard his teacher, Ms. M, telling an assistant how much she believed in him. That single moment completely shifted how he saw himself - from an anxiety-filled procrastinator to a confident and capable learner. Now, Sergio is ready to pay that feeling forward.

"It is because of great educators like Ms. M that I have made it my life purpose to become the Ms. M that other students need."

Nancy Herrera-Reyes, B.A.
Bilingual Teacher Pathway

Graduating from the Bilingual Teacher Pathway program, Nancy Herrera-Reyes is already tearing down barriers. As a first-generation college student earning her teaching license at just 20 years old, she is taking her lived experience and her bilingual skills straight to the front of the classroom.

"As a first-generation college student and proud Latina, my goal is to increase Latino representation in education and be a role model for multilingual students."

Starting New Chapters

Jessica Espinoza, M.S.
Postsecondary Adult and Continuing Education

Completing the PACE graduate program is the start of a completely new chapter for Jessica Espinoza. As a non-traditional student navigating a traumatic brain injury, she fought incredibly hard to get to graduation day. She is excited to launch a career in higher education, and credits Professor Christine Cress for showing her what supportive, one-on-one mentorship really looks like.

"If I can find meaningful employment, my children and I will have the opportunity to rise above poverty for the very first time, which is something that goes beyond explanation."

Tina Meier-Nowell, Graduate Certificate
Orientation and Mobility

After 20 years in special education and a decade in school administration, Tina Meier-Nowell decided she was ready to pivot back to what drew her to the field in the first place: working one-on-one with kids. She returned to PSU to earn her Orientation and Mobility credential, proving that you're never actually stuck in a career if you're willing to keep learning.

"You are never 'stuck' in a career. Joy and satisfaction can come from the academic pursuit of knowledge and from getting back to what is important to you."

Want to meet more of our amazing graduates?

Read our recent feature on how Samrana Munye, Issac Graham and the redesigned Elementary Education cohort are transforming local classrooms.

Ready to take the next step in your own journey? Explore our programs and find your pathway.