Dear Hatfield School Community,

I am writing to share the sad news of the passing of PSU President Emerita Judith A. Ramaley. President Cudd’s message to the campus community is included below.

Dr. Ramaley’s contributions to Portland State are profound and lasting. During her presidency from 1990 to 1997, she helped shape PSU’s identity as an urban, community-engaged university and established the motto that continues to define our work today: “Let Knowledge Serve the City.”

I also want to recognize Dr. Ramaley’s special connection to the Hatfield School of Government. After her presidency, she remained actively engaged with PSU and generously shared her experience and knowledge with our community. She taught courses in the Department of Public Administration and contributed to the department’s early strategic planning efforts. Over the years, she continued to be a strong supporter and friend of the Hatfield School and its mission.

Her commitment to public service, community engagement, and the role of universities in serving their communities closely reflects the values we strive to carry forward at the Hatfield School. We are grateful for the many ways she contributed to our School and to Portland State.

Please join me in remembering Dr. Ramaley and in extending our deepest sympathies to her family, friends, colleagues, and the many people whose lives she touched.

Best,

Masami Nishishiba Ph.D.

Director, Mark O. Hatfield School of Government

Portland State University

Message from President Ann Cudd

The loss of a PSU champion

Dear Campus Community, 

With a heavy heart I share the news that Portland State University lost one of its most dedicated champions last night with the passing of our esteemed Trustee and President Emerita Judith A. Ramaley. 

Dr. Ramaley served as a transformational president of PSU from 1990 to 1997, the first woman to helm a public university in Oregon. Her time as president was marked by financial headwinds and a challenging political environment, but she also realized a tremendous opportunity to lean into PSU’s identity as an urban serving university and build community-engaged learning into our ethos. She not only established PSU’s motto, “Let Knowledge Serve the City,” she ensured that institutional identity was aligned with academic innovation, public impact research, and unparalleled opportunities for students. 

Hours before her passing, I gathered with past PSU presidents, Trustees, friends and family at Dr. Ramaley’s home to honor her with the inaugural Judith A. Ramaley Award for Extraordinary Trustee Service. We will also be renaming the President’s Conference Room in her honor. 

We will gather as a campus community to celebrate Dr. Ramaley’s legacy at an event on campus in the coming weeks. Until then, please join me in keeping her loved ones in your thoughts as we adjust to the loss of a truly remarkable colleague, mentor, leader, and friend. 

Sincerely, 

Ann Cudd
PSU President