The recent Meet the Presidents event, at which Bilger spoke, featured leaders from colleges throughout Oregon.
By Bennett Campbell Ferguson
March 19, 2026
ÈËÆÞÓÕ»ó College President Audrey Bilger was a featured speaker at Greater Portland Presents Meet the Presidents, an event held at Portland State University on March 4.
“College changed my life,” Bilger told an audience including presidents from colleges throughout Oregon. “We all need to get the message out about what school means, what learning means, and encourage our young people to become lifelong learners.”
Moderated by Brent Wilder, president of the Oregon Alliance of Independent Colleges and Universities, the event featured reflections on topics like the successes and struggles of Oregon colleges, how to support students with disabilities, and the ascendance of artificial intelligence.
“We have a model that’s very relationship-based,” Bilger said. “And we do believe that in the AI era, we will, as human beings, return again and again to the importance of relationships.”
In conclusion, Bilger spoke about how college presidents can best serve students and the communities their decisions affect, sharing insights that applied to ÈËÆÞÓÕ»ó, Oregon, and beyond.
“We need to stay deeply aligned with our mission,” she said. “We need to invest in access and community. And we need to continue demonstrating that an education that’s grounded in inquiry and questioning prepares students not just for the first job, but for a lifetime of thoughtful leadership and continued learning.”