Profile

Nancy Hales manages First Stop Portland, a field-based program that develops and leads study tours of Portland’s smart growth and livability efforts.

The program connects leaders from around the globe with Portland’s experts and practitioners from the public, private and non-profit sectors. These field studies include in-depth discussions about the most pressing issues facing urban areas today.

Since 2009, First Stop Portland has hosted 2250 urban leaders (and future leaders) from around the world. Study topics range from transit-oriented development and green streets to livable neighborhoods and civic engagement.

Prior to managing First Stop Portland, Ms. Hales led a regional philanthropic foundation, the Community Foundation for Southwest Washington, for 17 years as its President. Much of the Foundation’s granting was in community development, neighborhood improvement, and social services.    

She was as a founding Commissioner on the country’s first federally designated National Scenic Area, the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, serving as its vice chairman for several years.

Hales has a Masters in Public Administration with honors from Lewis & Clark College, and a BS in Economics from the University of Vermont.

Contact Nancy Hales:

Office: 780H Urban Center, 506 SW Mill St.

Phone: 503-725-5132

E-mail: nhales@pdx.edu
Web: http://www.pdx.edu/ims/fsp