Our Leadership Team
Masami Nishishiba, Director
nishism@pdx.edu
Dr. Nishishiba is Director of the Mark O. Hatfield School of Government and is a Professor of Public Administration at Portland State University. She is committed to ensuring that the School remains a premier destination for students pursuing careers in public service. Simultaneously, she seeks to expand the school’s role as a trusted partner and source of knowledge for leaders in the public, nonprofit, and political sectors. Through collaboration, engagement, and innovation, Dr. Nishishiba hopes to help the Hatfield School continue making a meaningful impact throughout Oregon and beyond.
Dr. Nishishiba teaches graduate courses in organizational theory, research methods, and intercultural communication. Her research focuses on social diversity, civic capacity, the government–citizen interface, and comparative local governance.
She has led the Japanese Local Governance and Management (JaLoGoMa) program since 2004 and served as Academic Director of the U.S. Department of State–funded Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) program from 2022 to 2025. She leads initiatives that connect academic research with community-engaged practice to strengthen democratic governance and public service capacity.
Dr. Nishishiba’s book, Culturally Mindful Communication: Essential Skills for Public and Nonprofit Professionals (Routledge), received the 2019 Best Book Award from the Section on Democracy and Social Justice of the American Society for Public Administration.
Sara Saltzberg, Assistant Director
ssaltz@pdx.edu
As the Assistant Director for the Hatfield School of Government, Ms. Saltzberg’s goal is to help develop and implement a total integrated vision of the School’s Centers and academic departments.
Sara is also the Director of the Center for Public Service in the Mark O. Hatfield School of Government. As Director, she provides leadership and management of the Center, builds collaborations and partnerships to support the Center’s work, and continues to participate in program design and delivery as a trainer, facilitator, and coach.
A long-term PSU champion and staff member, Sara started at PSU in 2007, administering human resources, budget, and contracting for the Executive Leadership Institute, and then served as the CPS Assistant Director from July 2011 – July 2019. Before transitioning into higher education, Sara worked for the City of Portland, Bureau of Human Resources.
Sara holds an M.A. in Education: Policy, Foundations & Administration from PSU, and completed her B.A. in International Affairs and Hispanic Studies at Lewis & Clark College. Her areas of specialization include talent development; strengths-based leadership development for individuals and teams; emotional intelligence for individuals and teams; instructional design for adult learners; and organization development. Sara is a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach
Amber Quinn, Executive Assistant
amquinn@pdx.edu
Ms. Quinn has a rich background spanning roles in community engagement; program and change management; and administrative leadership.
In her current and ongoing volunteer role as Membership Secretary at the Friends of the North Plains Public Library, Amber successfully designs targeted membership campaigns, aligns strategies with organizational goals, and implements innovative solutions that boost membership retention and satisfaction. Amber previously contributed significantly to student success initiatives in higher education through her roles at Portland Community College and Aims Community College. There, she honed her expertise in compliance, mentorship, and strategic planning, notably improving participant retention and operational efficiencies for the TRIO SSS programs.
Amber holds dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in Psychology and Social Sciences from Portland State University, graduating summa cum laude in 2024. She is passionate about affecting positive change in her community, organization, and the teams she is a part of. She obtained her certification as a Prosci Change Practitioner to further support this endeavor.
On a personal note, Amber and her husband love going camping, on road trips, biking, gardening, and spending time with friends. They also quilt, work on puzzles, and read in their free time. Amber is a dog person and a plant parent with approximately 70-80 houseplants.
James Francesconi, Senior Fellow
jamesfra@pdx.edu
As a Senior Fellow at the Hatfield School of Government, Mr. Francesconi's responsibilities include strengthening the School’s connections with local and state governments and key community stakeholders. In this role, he assists the Director in expanding the Hatfield School’s role as a trusted government and community partner while creating opportunities for students to gain experience in government and pursue careers in public service.
Jim also works to build coalitions of community stakeholders and government partners to address complex public problems. He brings extensive experience across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, including service as an elected Portland City Commissioner, as an executive in the healthcare industry, and as an attorney representing labor organizations and working people.
Jim received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Stanford University, his JD from the University of Oregon, and completed a year-long fellowship with Harvard’s Advanced Leadership Initiative.
Jim’s civic accomplishments include co-founding Multnomah County’s SUN Schools, serving for a decade on Oregon’s State Board of Higher Education, and assisting in a successful U.S. Supreme Court case that overturned a Trump administration attempt to weaken the Affordable Care Act.