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Summer is often a quieter season on campus. Many of our faculty are off contract, students are taking a well-deserved break, and the pace of daily life slows just a bit. Yet the work of the Hatfield School never stops. Throughout the summer, our faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community partners continue to engage in meaningful research, public service, and community partnerships that reflect our shared commitment to improving democratic governance and strengthening communities.
Each July, one of the moments I look forward to most is our annual Civil Rights Tour, held on Senator Mark O. Hatfield's birthday. Senator Hatfield believed that public service begins with listening, learning, and having the courage to stand up for justice—even when doing so was not the easiest path.
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In that spirit, the Civil Rights Tour gives us an opportunity to step outside the classroom, explore Oregon's often overlooked civil rights history, and reflect on the work that remains to build more just and inclusive communities.
A highlight of the tour each year is hearing from Vanport flood survivor Ed Washington, who generously shares his firsthand account of life in Vanport and the devastating flood. His stories bring history to life in a way that no textbook ever could. They remind us that behind every historical event are individuals, families, and communities whose experiences continue to shape our understanding of equity, resilience, and civic responsibility. I hope you will take a few moments to read about this year's tour in this issue.
This month's Hatfield Highlights also showcases the many ways our community continues to make a difference throughout the summer. Whether through research, teaching, community engagement, or student achievement, these stories reflect the creativity, dedication, and collaborative spirit that define the Hatfield School.
Thank you for being part of our community and for supporting our shared mission of preparing thoughtful, ethical, and effective public servants. I hope you enjoy this issue of Hatfield Highlights, and I wish you a wonderful rest of the summer.
Warm regards,
Masami Nishishiba
Director, Mark O. Hatfield School of Government
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Centers and Institute Highlights |
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Strengthening Global Ties at the Hatfield School of Government
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Longstanding partnerships between HSOG and international governments have expanded Portland State University’s mission—"Let Knowledge Serve the City"—to a global scale for over a decade. Administered through the Center for Public Service’s International Programs within HSOG, these initiatives help experienced public servants strengthen their leadership skills through curated lectures, seminars, facilitated research, and cross-cultural exchange.
Participants arrive from government bodies including the Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG), the Supreme Court of Japan, Toyama Prefectural Government, the Japanese Ministry of Education, and the Supreme Court of Japan. During residencies lasting between eight months to two years, they explore topics ranging from public culture policies and sustainable tourism to the digitization of judicial records.
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Last month, two scholars from SMG presented their research findings. Since 2013, the Center for Public Service (CPS) has hosted SMG scholars for a year of professional development and study in Portland. What began as a graduate capstone collaboration guided by CPS faculty member Dr. Masami Nishishiba—and supported by a Seoul official who later became Vice Mayor—has grown into one of CPS’s longest-standing international partnerships.
This year’s presentations highlighted two timely topics in urban governance and policy. Min Jung presented “Towards an Inclusive Seoul: Comparative Analysis of Urban Social Integration Policies,” focusing on strategies for strengthening social inclusion in rapidly diversifying cities. Mihee shared her research on “Sustainable Tourism: Environment, Society, Economy Impacts,” examining the balance between tourism development and long-term sustainability.
The presentations reflected both scholars’ year of applied learning in Portland and reinforced the ongoing exchange of ideas between SMG and CPS.
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48 Graduates From 2026 Certificate in Building Cyber Resilience Cohort
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The Mark O. Hatfield Cybersecurity and Cyber Defense Policy Center's Professional Certificate in Building Cyber Resilience program has graduated its largest cohort yet, with 48 participants receiving their certificates after presenting their final capstones in April. This certificate program is highly collaborative and uses a cohort-based case study approach to learn about common cyber risks; identifying, assessing, and communicating those cyber risks; and conducting the first step in mitigating threats through a risk assessment. This allows public sector leadership, staff, and IT professionals to develop a common language around and build collaborative efforts toward bolstering cyber resilience in their organizations and across the State. For the last 4 years, this program has been offered at no-cost to those working in the public sector thanks to various public funding sources, and receives more applicants every year. Additional funding to continue this program has been requested, and the Oregon Cybersecurity Center of Excellence, which houses the M.O.H. Cybersecurity and Cyber Defense Policy Center at PSU, is committed to making sure this program continues to serve this critical need in Oregon in the years to come.
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Hatfield PhD Student Receives RESF Scholarship |
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Rohan Khanvilkar, a PhD student in Public Affairs and Policy at PSU’s Hatfield School of Government, has received a Renewable Energy Scholarship Foundation award supporting his work on renewable energy, decarbonization, and just energy transitions. Rohan’s research and applied policy work focus on the institutional and equity dimensions of energy transition, including utility affordability, electrification barriers, stakeholder coordination, and the design of more inclusive energy governance systems. Through his graduate studies and applied policy work, Rohan is focused on helping design energy governance systems that are technically effective, socially equitable, and responsive to community needs.
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We have 3 PAP Ph.D. winners represented at the RESF awards banquet this year.
Hanan Alsadi (back row-Left) won last year and she got recognized this year.
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Student’s Experience - Connor Ayers, MPP '26 |
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Connor Ayers graduated in June from the Hatfield School of Government Master of Public Policy Program. During his first year at Portland State University, he worked at the Center for Public Service on a national elections research project conducted by the Elections and Voting Information Center (EVIC). In that role, he helped interview dozens of local election officials from across the country to better understand their administrative and political challenges facing election administration. He later traveled with the EVIC team to Tallahassee, Florida, to present the project’s findings at the 2025 Election Science and Reform Administration Conference.
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During his second year, Connor served as the editor of the Hatfield Highlights newsletter while working to complete his MPP capstone project. As editor, he gathered stories and interviewed PSU alumni, faculty, and staff to showcase the work of the Hatfield School’s centers, institutes, and community partners. His capstone project reviewed the City of Portland’s lobbying regulations and provided recommendations for improving compliance with lobbying rules while maintaining transparency and accountability.
What makes PSU special?
“One of the biggest things that made my time at PSU special was the people I met and learned alongside over the last two years. My cohort was filled with talented and passionate people who care deeply about public service and improving their communities. It was an incredibly supportive group, and I look forward to staying connected with them in the years ahead.
Some of my favorite classes I took explored the practical details of public policy and helped me better understand concepts I had encountered during my work in government. Courses on budgeting, contract management, and policy tool design gave me a deeper appreciation of how public organizations operate and achieve better outcomes.
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Honoring Senator Mark O. Hatfield's Legacy: A Journey Through Portland's Civil Rights History
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On Sunday, July 12th, the Hatfield School of Government hosted its fourth annual Civil Rights History Tour across the Portland area. Held each year on the birthday of Senator Mark O. Hatfield, the tour honors his enduring legacy of advancing civil rights and social justice. Throughout his career — as Governor of Oregon and later as a United States Senator — Hatfield championed equality, civility, and public service, making the annual tour a fitting tribute to his lifelong commitment to justice.
Guided by Ron Silver (former U.S. Attorney) and Ed Washington (Vanport survivor), participants heard powerful stories, personal reflections, and historical context at each stop. Attendees included Portland State University faculty, staff, and students, as well as community members and their families.
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Hatfield Futures Camp Empowers Oregon Youth to Shape Tomorrow
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Oregon’s Kitchen Table, a program of the National Policy Consensus Center, recently held its fourth annual Hatfield Futures Camp and Showcase, a program that brings together high-school-aged youth from across the state to imagine the future of Oregon and to propose projects that could help their vision become a reality. This year, 30 students came from Cave Junction, Corvallis, Wallowa, Eugene, Albany, Gresham, Madras, Haines, Sandy, Beaverton, Hillsboro, and Portland to form eight teams. Their projects included proposals related to the future of housing security, mental health, plastics, school funding, immigrant and refugee rights, recreational programming, and rural transit.
The week ended in a culmination of all of their work: the Hatfield Futures Showcase. Held at PSU’s Hoffman Hall, all eight teams presented their visions for Oregon’s future in front of elected officials, community leaders, families, and staff. At the end of the Showcase, the judges declared a winning team and two runners-up. The runners-up included the Corvallis High School team for their presentation on rural transportation and the Illinois Valley High School team for their presentation on the future of education in Oregon. The judges awarded the Horizon Project, a cross-regional team made up of students from Madras, Eugene, Beaverton, and Portland, as the winning presentation with their focus on the future of homelessness in Oregon. Former Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum also attended the Showcase and offered a lunch-time address, encouraging the students to follow their interests and lead now!
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Grace Peterson, third-year political science student in the Hatfield School and recipient of the 2026 Presidential Award for Service to the Community, attended Hatfield Futures as a high-school junior during its inaugural year. She has participated in every Hatfield Futures since, in various capacities as a counselor, Helping Hand, and always as the photographer!
“Hatfield Futures was the first opportunity I had to problem solve issues in my community and at a state-wide level. The future-focus was a unique learning experience, and I loved it. The project gave me my public service passion, and helped me decide to major in Political Science. I chose PSU because of Hatfield Futures, I loved the atmosphere and culture. The project changed my life, and I am so happy to see it continue to grow every year and impact more students.” remarked Grace.
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Strengthening Community Partnerships with OCCMA
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The Oregon City and County Managers Association (OCCMA), Oregon's largest professional organization for local government leaders, held its Summer Conference July 7–10 in Ashland under the theme "Leading with Purpose: People, Place, and Professional Integrity."
Representatives from Portland State University's Center for Public Service (CPS), Hatfield School of Government (HSOG), and the Oregon Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (OCCoE) attended, strengthening partnerships with local government leaders and showcasing PSU's commitment to public service education and research. CPS Director Sara Saltzberg called it a great chance to share resources and programs with city and county managers, while OCCoE Director Dr. Birol Yesilada used the conference to introduce attendees to OCCoE's work and expand its network.
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| R - L: Sara Saltzberg, Frankline Muthomi, Ph.D., and Birol Yesilada, Ph.D.
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A highlight was celebrating our MPA alumni, including Mr. N.J. Johnson (MPA), recently appointed City Manager of Clatskanie, Oregon. About six current MPA/MPP students also attended, gaining hands-on insight into local governance through sessions, networking, mentoring, and tours of Ashland, Talent, Phoenix, and neighboring cities.
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A Conversation on AI, Nonprofits, and Public Values
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Dr. Rafeel Wasif recently had the chance to sit down with Fundraising AI for a podcast conversation about AI, nonprofits, fundraising, and the book project he is currently working on. The conversation gave Dr. Wasif an opportunity to talk through some of the ideas he has been developing around:
- AI governance: what responsible oversight looks like inside mission-driven organizations
- Mission alignment: how nonprofits can adopt AI tools without losing sight of the values that define them
- Strategic and ethical use of AI: practical ways organizations can move forward thoughtfully, rather than reactively, as these technologies evolve.
For those interested in how the nonprofit sector is approaching AI, or curious where these conversations are headed, the full episode is available below.
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10th Edition of the Hatfield Graduate Journal of Public Affairs Published
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The Hatfield Graduate Journal of Public Affairs has been published. Congratulations to Chief Editor Carlos Arias and his team (Anis Zaman, Evan Tusei, and Gabriella Tomei, (Associate Editors) for their efforts. Their commitment provides an important platform for showcasing graduate scholarship and contributes greatly to our Hatfield School community.
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