60 Years of Impact
School of Planning, Public Policy and Management
For six decades, PPPM has been where ideas meet action—where students become changemakers, and where communities become stronger, more resilient, and more just.
A Legacy of Purpose
For nearly 60 years, the School of Planning, Public Policy and Management (PPPM) at the University of Oregon has prepared leaders to tackle society’s most complex challenges. Our roots trace back to pioneering programs through the Wallace School of Community Service and Public Affairs and the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, which merged in 1982 to form PPPM. Since then, the school has evolved alongside the needs of communities:
- Launching research projects, incubators, and serving all 36 counties in the state.
- Expanding education at all levels of public administration, nonprofit management, and planning
- Becoming an anchor of evidence-based, community-engaged decision-making in the state
From the beginning, PPPM has been grounded in a simple belief: learning happens in partnership with communities.
Alumni Leading Change
Our alumni are planners, policymakers, nonprofit leaders, and public servants making a difference across Oregon and around the world. Each year, PPPM honors this impact through its annual awards, recognizing distinguished careers, emerging leaders, and extraordinary service. These leaders reflect what PPPM graduates do best: translate knowledge into meaningful, lasting change.
Recent Honorees:
Learning By Doing
At PPPM, students don’t wait to make an impact—they start in the classroom. Through hands-on programs and community partnerships, students work on real-world challenges every term. In fact, all graduate students engage in applied, experiential learning.
Recent Student Impact in Action
- Partnering with Food for Lane County to map food access and address food insecurity
- Developing transportation and infrastructure plans with Oregon communities
- Designing public space improvements to be implemented locally
From housing and climate to mobility and equity, student projects are shaping the future—right now.
Research That Matters
PPPM faculty lead research that informs policy, strengthens communities, and advances equity. Our work spans critical issues such as:
- Housing and homelessness policy
- Climate resilience and natural hazards
- Transportation equity and sustainable cities
- Nonprofit leadership and social innovation
In research groups like Sustainable Transportation and Cities, faculty explore how mobility, land use, and policy intersect to shape healthier and more equitable communities. Through the Institute for Policy Research and Engagement (IPRE), faculty and students collaborate with partners across Oregon on projects that address real community needs—from economic development to disaster recovery. PPPM research doesn’t just describe the world—it helps change it.
Looking Ahead
As we celebrate 60 years, we honor the students, alumni, faculty, and partners who have built this legacy together. We continue to prepare the next generation of leaders who will strengthen communities, advance equity and sustainability, and transform policy into action. Service happens here. Join us in celebrating the difference we’ve made for the past 60 years and are already making for the next 60 and beyond.
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