Sharpe and Strachan establish endowed scholarship

Sumner Sharpe and Margaret Strachan are people who have devoted their careers to making a difference, and they are still doing just that. This past spring, Sharpe and Strachan started an endowed scholarship fund in the Toulan School of Urban Studies and Planning. The purpose of the fund is to award scholarships to students who are at least 30 years old, who are pursuing careers as professional planners, and who have made the commitment to pursue a Master of Urban and Regional Planning degree at PSU. “We believe, based on our personal experiences, that people often need a hand-up, especially when they make decisions to pursue a new career direction and are older with personal and family obligations. Hopefully, this scholarship will help ease some of those burdens and make that person’s educational experience more rewarding and less worrisome,” said Sharpe.

Sharpe has been in planning practice since 1958. Last year, he returned to the Toulan School as planner-in-residence, while continuing his consulting practice as a senior consultant with the Portland office of Parametrix, Inc. His career has included teaching planning in Thailand as a Peace Corps volunteer; working in city planning in Vancouver, Washington, as well as regional planning in Portland; directing a non-profit economic opportunity agency in Clark County, Washington; and managing his private consulting practice. He was a member of the Urban Studies and Planning faculty from 1968 to 1985, and during that time returned to University of Washington, where he earned a Ph.D. in urban planning.

Originally a geography major at Dartmouth, Sharpe decided to pursue a degree in planning after courses in sociology and economics peaked his interest. He went on to receive a master’s degree in city and regional planning at Cornell University, followed by post-graduate study at the London School of Economics. Strachan served as a Portland city commissioner from 1981 to 1986. She was the first woman elected—not appointed— to that office in her first term. She was commissioner in charge of planning, transportation and housing. During her term of office the Pearl District rezoning occurred, setting the stage for redevelopment; the Central City Plan was developed; new housing in the Park Blocks was initiated; and city-county agreements on transfer of social services and functions occurred.

After she received her undergraduate degree from Carroll College in Helena, Montana, Strachan taught in the Helena schools before coming to Portland in the early 1970s. Before becoming a city commissioner, she served as volunteer manager for Charles Jordan’s successful campaign for city council, coordinator for Neighbors West/Northwest, and a member of Commissioner Mike Lindberg’s staff. After leaving office, she served as executive director of Central City Concern.

The Nohad A. Toulan School of Urban Studies and Planning hosted a reception this past spring to announce this scholarship endowment. Over 100 friends and colleagues attended to celebrate this gift and join in the fund raising effort.

If you would like more information on the Sumner Sharpe and Margaret Strachan Endowed Scholarship Fund or if you would like to contribute, please contact Trish Hamilton at 503-725-5209 or thamilton@pdx.edu.