Iris Soleil De Lis

Pronouns: they / she / ella
Portland, Oregon
isd@pdx.edu | www.IrisDeLis.com

Summary

Seasoned educator, researcher, leader, and equity advocate with over two decades of professional experience spanning higher education, digital strategy, and social justice initiatives. Committed to fostering inclusion, belonging, accessibility, equity, and justice in academic and institutional contexts.

Specialties:

  • Program and project management
  • Research and applied sociology
  • Curriculum development and instruction
  • Equity and diversity training
  • Public speaking and workshop facilitation

Education

MS in Postsecondary Adult & Continuing Education
Portland State University, 2021–2024 (4.0 GPA)

BA in Sexuality, Gender & Queer Studies and Spanish
Portland State University, 2017–2021 (4.0 GPA, summa cum laude)

Academic Contributions

Research and Presentations

  • De Lis, Iris S., Miksch, B., & Wagner, R. (2024). Investigating Student Sense of Belonging at PSU. Presented as part of the Student Success Data Champions Program, Portland, OR.
  • De Lis, Iris S., Tenty, C. (2021). Beyond Checkbox Compliance: How to Create a Truly Welcoming and Inclusive Campus for Queer and Trans Students. Western Association for College Admission Counseling (WACAC) Annual Conference, Virtual.
  • De Lis, Iris S. (2019). The Future is Fluid: Developing Fluency in a Nonbinary World. Presented at Portland, OR.
  • De Lis, Iris S. (2019). Carried Away: Gendered Aspiration and Desire in Sister Carrie. Northwest Undergraduate Conference on Literature, Seattle, WA.

Professional Experience

Assistant Director, Academic Testing Services
Portland State University, 2024–Present

  • Manage departmental operations, including staff supervision and program logistics, ensuring efficient and equitable service delivery.
  • Implement strategies to improve student access to testing accommodations and resources.

Summer Scholars Program Coordinator
Portland State University, Summer 2024

  • Supported the Executive Director and coordinated activities for a diverse team of faculty and staff in delivering the Summer Scholars program.
  • Managed program logistics, communication, and student engagement initiatives.

Instructor, College Success Skills (UNST 199)
Portland State University, Summer & Fall 2024, Winter 2024

  • Adapted and taught curriculum emphasizing academic strategies, time management, and student well-being.
  • Mentored first-year students in developing goals and accessing university resources.

Academic Testing Services Coordinator
Portland State University, 2021–2024

  • Oversaw daily operations of testing services, including accommodations for students with disabilities.
  • Developed training programs for staff to enhance accessibility and equity in testing environments.

Digital Experience Strategist + Account Director
Connective DX, 2008–2017

  • Led cross-functional teams for global clients, managing up to a dozen complex digital projects simultaneously.
  • Bridged strategic objectives with innovative digital solutions, ensuring measurable outcomes.

Managing Director
Ion Global, 1999–2007

  • Directed Pacific Northwest operations for a subsidiary of Hong Kong-based CDC Software, focusing on team leadership and client satisfaction.

Leadership and Service

  • Co-Chair, Sociologists for Trans Justice (S4TJ) (2024–Present)
  • Member, President’s Diversity Action Council, PSU (2018–Present)
  • Professional Development Co-Coordinator, ASHE Graduate Student Committee (2022–2024)
  • Advisory Board Member, Queer Resource Center, PSU (2018–2020)

Community Engagement

  • Founder and Organizer, PDX Trans & Queer Clothing Swap (Ongoing)
  • Producer, pre- and post-event slideshow, The Future is Fluid (2019), addressing barriers faced by trans and nonbinary individuals.

Skills

  • Research methods: qualitative and quantitative analysis, survey design
  • Software: Tableau, SPSS, Microsoft Office Suite, Google Suite, Generative AI
  • Languages: English (fluent), Spanish (functional), Japanese (functional)
  • Public speaking, workshop facilitation, and curriculum design

Research Interests

  • Sociology of higher education
  • Gender, sexuality, and social equity
  • Institutional practices and their intersections with belonging, access, and systemic inequality