In recent days, President Cudd’s announcement regarding the University’s financial exigency has understandably created concern and uncertainty across our campus community. Moments like this can feel heavy, casting a cloud over the work we care deeply about. Yet they also remind us why institutions like the Hatfield School matter. In times of challenge, the need for thoughtful public leadership, collaboration, and service becomes even more important.

What continues to inspire me is the strength of the Hatfield community. Our faculty, students, staff, alumni, and partners remain deeply committed to advancing public service and democratic governance. The stories highlighted in this issue—from faculty research and student engagement to community partnerships—demonstrate that even in uncertain times, the work of the Hatfield School continues to move forward with purpose.

One event that beautifully reflects this spirit is the upcoming Friends of Hatfield Speaker Series on April 9. This gathering will bring together representatives from the three Oregon institutions that carry Senator Mark O. Hatfield’s name—the Hatfield School of Government at Portland State University, the Hatfield Marine Science Center at Oregon State University, and the Mark O. Hatfield Library at Willamette University. Together, we will reflect on Senator Hatfield’s remarkable legacy and explore opportunities to strengthen collaboration among these institutions through what we are calling the emerging Hatfield Network.

Senator Hatfield believed deeply in public service, civic dialogue, and the power of institutions to serve society. As we navigate this challenging moment for higher education, his legacy reminds us that meaningful change and progress are built through relationships, shared purpose, and enduring commitment to the public good.

Thank you for being part of the Hatfield community and for continuing to support our mission. Together, we will keep moving forward.

Warm regards,
Masami Nishishiba
Director, Mark O. Hatfield School of Government

On Wednesday, March 11, Public Service Fellows showed off their projects in the Toulan library on campus! Fellows work with local institutions as on-site professionals to perform needed research and analysis. Fellows are matched with partner organizations to start, advance and complete important projects, generate reports and presentations, and more. This program operates through the Center for Public Service and recruits exceptional graduate and post-graduate students who are passionate about public service.

Learn more about the program here!

On March 3rd PSU’s Politics and Global Affairs (PGA) Department hosted a Politics and the Arts Forum, with the theme of building support for the arts in Portland. This was hosted with the support of the College and Urban and Public Affairs, with PSU President Ann Cudd delivering opening remarks about PSU’s future of supporting the arts in Portland. 

Panel participants included City Council President Jamie Dunphy alongside representatives from Humans for Housing, Metro, and Metropolitan Group. 

This was the second in a two-part forum organized as part of the Politics and the Arts class taught by PSU Professor Richard Clucas. The first forum on February 4 brought together members of the Portland arts community to discuss what steps can be taken to strengthen the arts in Portland. The March 3 forum discussed the needs of the arts community more broadly and how to develop partnerships outside the arts in order to strengthen the arts and address challenges the community is facing. Check out the latest from PGA with the link below! 

Nonprofit Confluence: A Solidarity Summit is a one-day, interactive gathering of nonprofit leaders, practitioners, researchers, and community partners focused on strengthening collaboration and impact across the social sector. The event will take place Thursday, March 19, 2026 (9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.) at the Native American Student & Community Center at Portland State University. For students, this is a valuable opportunity to connect with nonprofit professionals, explore career paths, learn about real-world challenges facing organizations, and gain insights that complement classroom learning. Participants will engage in facilitated dialogue, peer-to-peer learning, and collaborative activities aimed at building relationships, sharing resources, and shaping the future of the sector. Learn more and register at: https://nonprofitconfluence.org/

Students interested in volunteering are especially encouraged to participate. Volunteer shifts are available for event support and note-takers, who will attend sessions and help capture key insights — offering a unique behind-the-scenes learning experience and additional networking opportunities. To volunteer, contact Kristy at kristy@healthequityp.com 

Save the date! The Mark O. Hatfield School of Government will host its third annual Friends of Hatfield Speaker Series on Thursday, April 9th, from 5:00 PM to 7:30 PM, at the University Place Hotel, Wahkeena & Elowah Ballrooms.

Under the theme, “Building the Hatfield Network: From Legacy to Partnership,” representatives from three organizations connected to Senator Hatfield’s enduring legacy—Masami Nishishiba from the Mark O. Hatfield School of Government, Mark Farley from the Hatfield Marine Science Center, and Seth Cotlar from Willamette University—will join a conversation moderated by Laurel Singer, former Director and current Senior Fellow of the National Policy Consensus Center.

The discussion will explore how Hatfield’s values continue to shape public leadership, research, and civic life. Participants will also be invited to reflect on how institutions inspired by his work might collaborate more intentionally in the future and help imagine what a stronger Hatfield Network could become.

This event is free and open to the public. Please scan the QR code to the right to register.

Dr. Billie Sandberg is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Public Administration. Dr. Sandberg spent 20 years working in the nonprofit sector before earning her PhD in Public Administration. During that time she became interested in the forces that shape decision making in nonprofit organizations. 

Her recent research has focused on the idea of meaningful work, exploring issues like burnout, work-life balance, and how performance pressures affect employees.

What makes PSU special? 

PSU’s commitment to community engagement and applied research sets it apart from other institutions. It has the capacity to be engaged with communities, which faculty and students exemplify. There is a desire and shared belief across the university to be of use and of service.

Dr. Frankline Muthomi is an Assistant Professor of Public Administration in the Mark O. Hatfield School of Government. His research interests include participatory budgeting, performance budgeting, and budget reforms in local governments. While there is a wide range of research on citizen participation, he tends to focus on whether and how individuals, groups, and communities can influence and change budgetary decisions in local governments.

His latest paper is titled “Citizen Engagement in Budget Simulation: Examining the Effectiveness of Balancing Act Modules in Aligning Public Priorities and Allocation Choices”. This research demonstrates participatory benefits of Balancing Act budget simulations that are increasingly gaining recognition among scholars and local government managers in facilitating effective and meaningful public engagement in the contemporary digital era. The study advances the concept of decision alignment through sequential budget simulation exercise and contributes to behavioral public budgeting frameworks. 

Read the full paper here https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0160323X261416888. 

Join the Community Environmental Services team at PSU! CES is a research and service unit at PSU’s Center for Public Service. They are searching for a student to fill the role of Project Assistant, which will play a critical role in the Regional Waste Plan (RWP) Multifamily Indicator Study. This research project is focused on improving waste services for apartment and condominium residents across the greater Metro area and provides hands-on experience in urban planning, public administration, and environmental research. 

Learn more about the job’s key responsibilities and requirements here! 

For any questions please email cesadmin@pdx.edu (Subject: CES Project Assistant)

PSU graduate students have a strong history scholarship using PSU’s week–long immersive course in Havana, Cuba. Students have explored topics of governance, health, and economic development. Using their analytical and collaborative skills students engaged with Cuban history, political structures, and community networks. Through dialogue, observation, and critical reflection students developed a nuanced understanding of governance in an international context and returned with tools to navigate complexity, ambiguity, and contradiction in their own professional fields. 

Read student-published scholarship in the Hatfield Graduate Journal of Public Affairs!

Check out Hatfield School's graduate programs below! Each program equips students to face challenges head-on and effect real change. Application deadlines are coming up soon!

Support the Hatfield School of Government today to prepare students for community leadership and to promote change in our community.