Doctor of Humane Letters HONORIS CAUSA THE HONORABLE VERA KATZ Portland State University is proud to honor Mayor Vera Katz for her leadership in Oregon, her passion for public service, her commitment to higher education and the mission of the urban university, and for achieving results and progressive change in public policy. Mayor Katz’s leadership has resulted in greater partnerships between the city and Portland State University. The cornerstone of this effort is development of the University District, a national model for a “learning community” within a vibrant urban neighborhood. The University District enhances downtown Portland and emphasizes its role as the center for transportation, commerce, culture, and educational services in the metropolitan region. An exciting result of this partnership is PSU’s impressive new Urban Center and Plaza, which was funded, in part, by the city of Portland. This year Mayor Katz joined President Dan Bemstine in calling upon business, industry, public leaders, and private philanthropists to support world-class educational programs at PSU, beginning with the School of Engineering and Applied Science. As a first step, the mayor is working with the Portland Development Commission to provide $5 million for construction of engineering facilities. Mayor Katz served 20 years in the Oregon Legislature and was Oregon’s first woman Speaker of the House. She was involved significantly in education issues and wrote the landmark Oregon Educational Act for the 21st Century, which put Oregon at the forefront of educational reform in the United States. Mayor Katz’s commitment to higher education was repeatedly demonstrated during her tenure in the Oregon Legislature. She won funding for financial aid for low-income college students, promoted the admission of women and minority students to colleges and universities, and supported high technology and science education. In addition, she supported substantial growth in construction of higher education facilities, which at Portland State University included the Graduate School of Education and School of Business Administration buildings, as well as an extensive addition to Millar Library. Mayor Katz has never been afraid to stand up for what she believes is good public policy. While serving in the Legislature she wrote Oregon’s sweeping gun control legislation, which set mandatory waiting periods long before the Brady Bill. She also helped create the nationally known Oregon Progress Board, which sets state-level benchmarks to focus resources on critical needs, and received the Governing Magazine Public Official of the Year award for creating the similar Portland/Multnomah County Progress Board in 1994. Mayor Katz’s leadership and commitment to the citizens of Portland are the principal reasons why we recognize her today. Under her leadership, crime is down, employment and income are up, and people rate the livability and direction of the city more highly than ever. Vera Katz has set a standard of excellence for all of us. Portland State University honors her as a visionary mayor, a distinguished legislator, and a respected public leader with the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters. 7
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