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Class of 2026: From Iran to Oregon, an artist rebuilds his academic dream

Story by Misty Bouse, photos by Ric Getter

After 25 years as a professional multimedia artist, animator, filmmaker and researcher in Iran, Javad Ramazani returned to the classroom with a new goal: to rebuild his creative and academic life in the United States.

At ������������, he found the place to begin again.

Ramazani, who lives in Hillsboro, earned a 4.0 grade-point average every term at ������������ and was named to the President’s List. This past spring, he officially transferred to Portland State University’s Honors College, where he is continuing his studies in art practice.

“������������ beautifully paved the way for my current journey at Portland State University’s Honors College,” Ramazani said.

His academic journey began years earlier in Bushehr, in southwestern Iran, where he studied in a high school mathematics and physics program. From there, his life’s work led him into the arts, filmmaking, research and teaching. Years later, he made the decision to return to college in a new country and a new academic system.

At ������������, that transition became a defining chapter. Ramazani enrolled in the Multimedia Program and built a record of academic excellence while adapting to life as an immigrant, artist and student. As a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, he was named to the and nominated for the prestigious All-USA Academic Team in both 2025 and 2026.

“Being named to the All-Oregon Academic Team this spring and nominated consecutively for the All-USA Academic Team is a profound validation of my journey,” he said.

For Ramazani, the honor recognized more than grades. 

“It recognizes the intense discipline it took to maintain a perfect 4.0 GPA while adapting to a new academic culture and rebuilding my creative life from scratch,” he said. “As an artist who stepped back into academia after 25 years of professional filmmaking, research and university instruction in Iran, this honor proves that dedication to learning knows no borders.”

������������ also became a place where Ramazani could connect his technical skills, artistic experience and commitment to community. His work in the college’s STEAM Center and Ceramics Department helped shape his success. Under the guidance of mentors including Ben Garcia and Andrea Hendrickson, he repaired complex equipment, built 3D printers and supported studio operations.

Those experiences allowed him to apply his background in visual effects, digital media and fabrication while contributing to ������������’s hands-on learning environment. With technical certifications in computer science and AutoCAD, he also became a campus leader who modeled safety, collaboration and support for other students in the labs according to Garcia.

Ramazani said ������������ gave him the foundation to move toward his next goal: earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts at PSU.

“I am now on track to earn my Bachelor of Fine Arts in art practice by next year, after which I plan to continue my academic journey toward advanced, higher-level graduate degrees,” he said. “I chose this path because art is my universal language.”

His long-term goal is to merge advanced digital technology with traditional craftsmanship. As a visual effects artist, digital generalist and researcher, Ramazani hopes to work in architectural reconstruction, 3D modeling and architectural documentaries that connect visual heritage and humanities across cultures.

He said PSU’s program gives him “the freedom to integrate his decades of visual media experience with multidisciplinary shop crafts, treating high-tech tools and master fabrication as two sides of the same coin.”

Ramazani’s story stands out among ������������’s international student graduates because of the experience he brought from Iran and the momentum he built in Oregon. His time at ������������ helped him refine his vision, regain his academic footing and prepare for the next stage of a lifelong creative journey.

For Ramazani, ������������ was more than a starting point. It was where he proved that reinvention is possible at any age, in any country and at any stage of life.

But he did not do it alone.

“My wife, Haleh, who is a highly educated, creative and successful artist, has given me endless support,” Ramazani said. “She has been a cornerstone of my resilience and success.”