Javad Ramazani spent 25 years as a professional filmmaker, animator, and researcher in Iran. Then he started over.

Ramazani, a Hillsboro resident who attended PCC Rock Creek, earned a 4.0 GPA every term, landed on the President's List, and transferred to Portland State University's Honors College this spring to continue studying art practice.

The Oregon Community College Association named him to the 2026 All-Oregon Academic Team on April 8, and he was nominated for the All-USA Academic Team in both 2025 and 2026.

PCC Rock Creek, at 17705 NW Springville Rd., serves about 20,000 students a year from Washington County neighborhoods including Bethany, Cedar Mill, and Oak Hills. About 66 percent enroll in the transfer program.

Ramazani's academic path started in Bushehr, in southwestern Iran, where he studied in a high school mathematics and physics program before moving into arts, filmmaking, research, and teaching.

After a quarter-century professional career, he enrolled in PCC Rock Creek's Multimedia Program with the goal of rebuilding his creative and academic life in the United States.

At PCC, he worked in the college's STEAM Center and Ceramics Department, repairing complex equipment, building 3D printers, and supporting studio operations under mentors Ben Garcia and Andrea Hendrickson.

Garcia described Ramazani as a campus leader who modeled safety, collaboration, and support for other students in the labs, according to a profile published by PCC on Tuesday, July 28.

Ramazani also holds technical certifications in computer science and AutoCAD.

He said the All-Oregon honor recognized the intense discipline it took to maintain a perfect GPA while adapting to a new academic culture. "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," Ramazani said.

His wife, Haleh, an artist herself, provided what Ramazani called key support throughout his academic journey.

Looking ahead, Ramazani plans to merge advanced digital technology with traditional craftsmanship, working in architectural reconstruction, 3D modeling, and architectural documentaries that connect visual heritage across cultures.

He is on track to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts in art practice from PSU by next year, after which he plans to pursue graduate degrees.