On March 26th 2025, Portland City Administrator Michael Jordan served as the featured speaker in a candid conversation about the recent changes in Portland’s governance. The discussion was facilitated by Lake Oswego City Manager Martha Bennett, who guided the conversation with thoughtful questions and insights.
Portland is undergoing a historic transformation in its local government structure, shifting from a commissioner-based system to a new model with 12 district-based council members, a mayor, and a city administrator. While the transition has had its rocky moments, Michael Jordanemphasized the long-term potential of the new system to deliver more efficient and responsive governance. With clearer roles, faster decision-making, and stronger internal coordination, the city is already seeing signs of progress. They encouraged deeper partnerships with PSU to research the impacts of this change and prepare future public leaders for the complexity—and promise—of modern urban governance.
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In a webinar hosted by PSU’s Hatfield School of Government, Harvard Professor Theda Skocpol delivered a sobering yet hopeful analysis of the ongoing threats to American democracy. Drawing on decades of research, she traced how elite-driven networks have weakened traditional party structures and fueled the rise of authoritarianism within the GOP. Skocpol argued that Donald Trump’s political success reflects a convergence of top-down agendas with bottom-up grassroots movements, resulting in a change of democratic norms.
Despite this shifting landscape, Skocpol emphasized that hope lies in grassroots civic action, state-level leadership, and engaged public institutions. She called on universities, civil society groups, and everyday citizens to build alliances and speak plainly about what’s at stake for them. Her message to public universities was clear: they are essential in strengthening trust and democratic resilience, while also preparing the next generation of ethical public leaders.
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Upcoming Events - Mark your Calendar!
How to Govern AI for Governments & Nonprofits
Date: Wednesday, April 30th
Time: 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm
Location: Smith Memorial Student Union, Room 327/328 (3rd Floor)
This event will explore the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in the public and nonprofit sectors, with a focus on how to implement AI in ways that are thoughtful, ethical, and aligned with organizational values.
Public Service Recognition Ceremony: Honoring Creative Community Engagement
Date: Wednesday, May 7th
Time: 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Location: University Place Hotel & Conference Center, 310 SW Lincoln St
In honor of Public Service Recognition Week, this event will feature a panel discussion with individuals nominated by each of the units within the Hatfield School for their notable contributions to public service. The discussion will highlight their perspectives on the current state of public service, the roots of their passion for serving the public, and many more.
The panel will be moderated by Wendy Willis, National Policy Consensus Center / Director, Oregon Kitchen Table and the panel feature:
The Department of Public Administration
Peter Newbegin, Executive Director, Pacific Refugee Support Group
The Center for Public Service
JT Flowers, Director of Government Affairs & Communication, Albina Vision Trust
The National Policy Consensus Center
Karina Guzman-Ortiz, Partner Engagement Specialist, Department of Early Learning and Care / Board Director, Salem-Keizer Public Schools
The Cybersecurity and Cyber Defense Policy Center
Ron Silver, Former US Attorney with the US Department of Justice / Chief of the Civil Division in Oregon
The Center for Woman's Leadership
Ellen Rosenblum, Former Oregon Attorney General
The Department of Politics and Global Affairs
David Yadin, Former Chair of Oregon Board of Higher Education
Other Faculty Accomplishments
Chris Shortell (PGA Faculty) - Elected to serve as the Chair-Elect for the Pre-Law Advisors National Council
Shortell's appointment starts July 1st with the body gathering leaders of the regional professional associations to advance professional development in the field and speak on behalf of pre-law advisors around the country. Shortell will serve for two years as Chair-Elect before taking over as Chair of the council for two years, followed by two additional years as Immediate Past Chair. During that time, Shortell will serve as part of the executive council, steering policy and helping others navigate the ever-changing landscape of law school admissions. In August, Shortell will also be finished with his three year term as President of the Western Association of Prelaw Advisors.
Legacy in Action: In Memory of Brent Canode
Brent Canode, who graduated with a Bachelor's of Science in Political Science from Portland State University, was a transformative leader in the national recovery movement. As Executive Director of the Alano Club of Portland, he built the largest non-clinical recovery center in the US, pioneering peer support, advocacy and wellness programs that touched thousands of lives. His visionary work extended to co-founding Oregon’s recovery high school initiative called the Oregon Recovery High School Initiative which aims to bring together the best minds in Oregon across education, healthcare and youth treatment and recovery support to build Oregon’s first high school exclusively for students impacted by substance use disorders. Brent’s legacy of compassion, innovation, and tireless service continues to inspire communities across the country.
Get Involved: Hatfield Futures 2025
Hatfield Futures is a free, statewide summer program that brings together high school students from across Oregon to imagine and design solutions for the state's most pressing social, environmental, and economic challenges. Through workshops, mentorship, and a culminating showcase, students collaborate to create innovative proposals envisioning Oregon's future in 2050. The program is a partnership between Oregon’s Kitchen Table and Portland State University’s Mark O. Hatfield School of Government.
Volunteer as Guides + Experts
Hatfield Futures 2025 is looking for volunteers to support the highschool student teams as they move through the program. We are looking for people to be Team Guides, Skills experts, and Topic experts.
Team Guides - Adult allies for the teams as they work through creating their futures proposals, checking in regularly with the students and encouraging them along the way.
Skills experts - People to help us lead workshops at Camp that will teach the teams helpful skills around framing problems, developing solutions, implementing plans, etc.
Topic experts - People with expertise in the topics that students are exploring
If you are interested in being a Guide, please email Eliot Feenstra at feen@pdx.edu.
If you’re interested in being a Topic Expert or Skills Expert, please email Sarah Giles at sagiles@pdx.edu.
Work as Camp Counselors
Camp Counselors provide overnight residential supervision to the highschool students who are participating in Hatfield Futures. This is a paid position, with meals and lodging included.The weeklong camp takes place at the Portland State University campus from June 22nd to June 28th, with orientation and training to be scheduled in mid May and June.
To apply: please email a resume and short cover letter in a single document to ninapami@pdx.edu. The subject line should state your first and last name followed by “Hatfield Futures Camp Counselor.”
Apply by April 30th.