Portland State University Announces 2026 Honorary Degree Recipients

Portland State University is proud to announce Antone Minthorn and Michael C. Alexander as the recipients of its 2026 honorary doctoral degrees. Conferred during this June's commencement ceremonies, the university's highest honor recognizes these two transformational Pacific Northwest leaders for their lifetimes of public service, advocacy, and dedication to regional stewardship.

Both recipients powerfully embody PSU's institutional motto, "Let Knowledge Serve the City," by bridging institutional expertise with deep community advocacy to build a more equitable, resilient, and sustainable region.

Antone Minthorn: Blending Ancestral Tradition with Regional Planning

Antone Minthorn, an esteemed Cayuse leader of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR), will receive an honorary doctorate of Humane Letters on Sunday, June 14, during the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Commencement (Ceremony 3).

Minthorn has dedicated more than 20 years to tribal government, serving in critical roles from chief planner to chair of the board of trustees-the highest elected position within the CTUIR. An alumnus of Gonzaga University and Eastern Oregon College, where he trained in urban and regional planning, Minthorn beautifully blends Western planning expertise with ancestral cultural traditions to serve the broader region.

In the 1970s, his foundational work as a land-use planner helped develop the CTUIR Comprehensive Plan, which still guides the reservation's development today. Minthorn's commitment to "serving the city" and the Pacific Northwest is heavily reflected in his environmental and cultural stewardship. He served as president of the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians and was a pivotal figure in adopting vital salmon policies for the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission. By successfully negotiating the return of salmon runs to his eastern Oregon homelands, he helped halt salmon extinction across the Columbia River Basin, impacting the entire regional ecosystem.

A passionate advocate for cultural preservation, Minthorn has also worked since 2010 as a Master Language Teacher to restore the Cayuse-Nez Perce, Umatilla, and Walla Walla languages. His extensive regional leadership includes serving on numerous boards, such as Ecotrust, which honored his enduring legacy by naming their boardroom after him in 2022.

Michael C. Alexander: A Legacy of Transformative Leadership and Restorative Justice

Michael C. Alexander, a distinguished Portland community leader, executive, and advocate, will receive an honorary doctoral degree nominated by PSU's School of Social Work. Alexander's decades-long career has been defined by a resolute commitment to social justice, healthcare equity, and visionary regional development.

Holding a graduate degree in social work, Alexander uniquely applies the core values of his training to corporate, non-profit, and civic leadership. As the former President and CEO of the Urban League of Portland, he successfully revitalized the organization's community partnerships and strengthened its mission to champion equity and empowerment for the African American community. His extensive executive background also includes senior roles at Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon and the Aetna Foundation, where he directed philanthropic initiatives to eliminate healthcare disparities.

Alexander's dedication to "serving the city" is further exemplified by his direct service to PSU, having stepped up during a critical transitional period from 2018 to 2019 to serve as the Interim Vice President for Global Diversity and Inclusion. His civic stewardship extends to vital regional infrastructure, having served as a Commissioner and Vice President for the Port of Portland Commission, alongside board memberships with the Black United Fund, Northwest Health Foundation, and United Way.

Today, Alexander serves as the strategic and moral anchor for the region as the chair of the Albina Vision Trust. Leading what is among the largest restorative redevelopment projects in the United States, he acts as a critical bridge between community voices and City Hall to rebuild Portland's historic lower Albina neighborhood. His unwavering advocacy pushes past traditional profit-driven models to transform "desperation into aspiration" and ensure genuine community-building for generations to come.