It is with pleasure that we announce the appointment of Dr. Hal Nelson to the Portland Professorship in Sustainability, Environmental and Natural Resource Policy. Dr. Nelson is a tenured faculty member in the Department of Public Administration in the Mark O. Hatfield School of Government where he leads environmental, natural resource and sustainability programs, especially in the energy policy field. Dr. Nelson has been at Portland State University for eight years following a decade at the School of Politics and Economics at the Claremont Graduate University. He is an established researcher, teacher and community engaged scholar.
The Portland Professor in Sustainability, Environmental and Natural Resource Policy was established by Craig and Kathy Shinn and Davis and Judy Moriuchi on their retirement. They, along with countless contributions from colleagues, friends and family, created this endowed position to ensure the legacy and further the work of applied research, community engagement and professional education and development so important to those professionals who carry out the challenging work in this area of policy and administration. The Mark O. Hatfield School of Government through academic programs like the Master of Public Administration and centers and institutes like the Center for Public Service have an almost fifty year history and legacy of meeting the learning needs of professionals in environmental, natural resource and sustainability policy. This professorship is created to recognize and support a faculty member who shares commitment to this legacy. Current gifts, sustaining gifts and bequests continue to support this position now and will into the future.
Dr. Hal Nelson follows Dr. Jennifer H. Allen who was the inaugural PPSENRP scholar. We are grateful for the significant contributions that Dr. Allen made while serving in this professorship and throughout her career at PSU. Many recognize the difference she has made in establishing Portland State University as a leader in sustainability policy and practice and building a community-based, cross campus and transdisciplinary approach to this work. She also has provided leadership to the specializations, degree programs, applied research and professional development programs in these policy areas. We are grateful for her service and the high bar she has set for the person filling this professorship. We wish her well in retirement.
Dr. Nelson is well positioned to fill the promise of this Portland Professorship. In addition to the general responsibilities of faculty, Dr. Nelson leads the energy policy programs in the Hatfield School, directs the Graduate and Professional Certificate in Energy Policy and Management, leads the Master of Public Policy and is a core faculty member in the Public Affairs and Policy PhD program. He is well established in the professional community locally, regionally and beyond for his academic, applied and community based research related to renewable energy policy and practice, sustainability and energy justice, and community resilience, capacity and response in the face of energy policy change. He is widely published with both scholarly articles and professional reports. His engagement with communities effected by energy and environmental policy decisions is close to his heart.
Hal Nelson also shares a deep appreciation for the remarkable legacy of Senator Mark O. Hatfield. At the tribute dinner and dedication of the MOH School of Government in 1998, the Senator offered remarks and this imperative: Govern with Civility – sensitive to relationships first and partisanship second. He noted that in these times with apathy, disillusionment and lack of enthusiasm for public service, leaders committed to civility, public service and the public good cannot be taken for granted. “We must arm those who answer the call of public service with the very best education and preparation to instill and nurture: the responsibilities of citizenship, citizen trust in government; a commitment to pluralism; and a recognition of diversity as strength.” This he saw as the mandate of the School. As he expressed it, his vision for the school is as a laboratory, a forum where we can bridge the gaps between academia and practitioner and citizen. This Portland Professorship is created with this imperative, mandate and vision in mind. It is worth noting that Dr. Hal Nelson had the privilege of supporting the Senator as a graduate research assistant during his doctoral studies.
It is with pleasure and deep regard for what Dr. Nelson has accomplished that we announce Dr. Nelson’s appointment to the Portland Professorship in Sustainability, Environmental and Natural Resource Policy in the Mark O. Hatfield School of Government. We look forward to what he will be able to accomplish during his appointment.