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.