For nearly two decades, Sara Saltzberg has been part of Portland State University (PSU), where she has built a career around a simple but powerful idea: knowledge is most valuable when put into practice. She is motivated by what a public university can do at its best: listen to its community, develop knowledge in response to real needs, and prepare people to put that knowledge into action.

Today, Sara serves as Director of the Center for Public Service (CPS) and Assistant Director of the Hatfield School of Government (housed in the College of Public Affairs - CUPA). Inspired by PSU’s motto, “Let knowledge serve the City,” in both roles, she works at the intersection of research, education, and the practitioners who serve Oregon’s communities. 

Tell us about your roles at PSU.

I’ve been at PSU since 2007 and have been leading the Center for Public Service since 2019. I was excited about the opportunity to concentrate on one center and begin to spread our work across the state.

I’ve been Assistant Director for the Hatfield School for about three years, since Masami Nishishiba was appointed School Director. This was an opportunity not only to support Masami, but also to work together to develop and implement a more integrated vision for the centers and academic units.

My role includes honoring Senator Hatfield and recognizing the legacy represented by a named school. That history matters, and it gives us a responsibility to think about how we carry that legacy forward.

How does your background prepare you to lead the Center for Public Service?

I grew up in a Quaker community in Northern California, and that experience became really important to me. Consensus-based decision-making and a strong sense of community have been central to who I am, both as a person and as a leader.

It’s critical to have a partnership and collaborative mindset. As people are increasingly being pulled toward a scarcity mindset, it’s more important than ever to make the most effective use of what we have, elevate the community mindset, and stay connected to it.

What CPS accomplishments are you most proud of?

I’m proud of how the center has scaled up. We’ve integrated work across several units and increased our capacity. We used to not have research faculty positions housed in the center, but we do now.

The most important work we do is talent development. We have a full range of emerging leaders—from people who are already working in the field to students serving as fellows before they launch their public service careers.

Why are the Hatfield School and the CPS important to the region?

At the Hatfield School, we are doing what a public university does at its best: listen to its community, develop knowledge in response to real needs, and prepare people to put that knowledge into action.

More than 70 percent of our graduates stay in Oregon, and they’re doing work across a variety of types of civil service. We’re able to prepare students not only for their first jobs, but for lifelong careers in public service.

Our work really has three dimensions: preparing students, supporting practitioners throughout their careers, and helping organizations become more efficient and effective. Ultimately, all of that contributes to building greater public trust.

Given the current state of public affairs and government, how can the Hatfield School play a role?

It’s multifaceted. We can provide talent development and leadership development tailored specifically to the public service environment.

The Hatfield School is uniquely positioned to manage transitions. Additionally, our style of interactive learning allows practitioners to bring their own experience into the conversation.

What we’re trying to do through the school is make sure that practitioners—people leading from wherever they sit—have the knowledge and resources they need to do their work well.

You’re a PSU alumna and have worked at PSU for nearly 20 years. What keeps you involved and engaged with PSU?

I love PSU’s motto: “Let knowledge serve the City.”

I didn’t come from a traditional higher-education background where the emphasis is necessarily “publish or perish.” At PSU, I found a group of people who were passionate about practical and applied knowledge—and about living it.

We have training programs, consulting, technical assistance, and opportunities to work directly with faculty and have real-time conversations about what’s happening in communities. What people are experiencing in the field immediately informs their research.

That connection is what keeps me engaged.

My ongoing inspiration - especially at a time when public discourse is so challenging and many have lost faith in government - is having the opportunity to meet thousands of people who care passionately about the well-being of their communities.

The question for me is: How do we support thriving communities? Especially in local government, I see individuals who are saying, “I’m not going to just sit here. I’m going to be part of the solution.”

That’s inspiring. I still see the hope there. There are a lot of people who care deeply about making things better. The question is: Are the ways we are working producing the communities and institutions we want?

What do you do for fun outside of work?

I love spending time outdoors, whether it’s in my garden, cheering at my kids’ sporting events, or a chance for a day-trip to the coast or into the woods.