Dr. Greg Townley is a professor of community psychology at Portland State University and co-founder of PSU's Homelessness Research & Action Collaborative. He received his Ph.D. in Clinical-Community Psychology from the University of South Carolina, his M.A. in Psychology from the University of South Carolina, and B.A.s in Psychology and Africana Studies from North Carolina State University. Dr. Townley specializes in community psychology, his research examines the impact of individual and environmental factors on community participation and inclusion of individuals with psychiatric disabilities and histories of homelessness. He is also interested in sense of community theory and measurement among members of marginalized groups.
Central to Dr. Townley’s work is the promotion of positive, reciprocal relationships between academic and community stakeholders. He directs the Community Inclusion Research Group (CIRG) at Portland State University and collaborates with numerous local service providers, including Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare, Central City Concern, Luke-Dorf, and p:ear to address and evaluate issues surrounding homelessness, supportive housing, and community attitudes about mental illness. He also works closely with the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion of Individuals with Psychiatric Disabilities, funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR).