PSU Magazine Winter 1988

Honoring a global man 0 range dots representing urban planning projects cover a map of the world in Nohad Toulan's of– fice. The dots give a global sense of the man who is a respected master planner and dean of the School of Urban and Public Affairs. In recognition of his international achievements and contributions to the University, a reception was given in Toulan's honor earlier this fall. The event , sponsored by the school's Advisory Coun– cil , included tributes from a number of civic and government leaders, city and county officials, and educators. "This is a celebration of the li fe and times of Nohad Toulan," said Multnomah County Commission Pauline Anderson, master of ceremonies for the evening's event. She made it clear for the several hundred attending guests that the dinner had nothing to do with Toulan retiring or leaving, but was in appreciation of "how much he has contributed to Portland State University, to Portland , to Oregon, to the U. S., and to the world ." Toulan came to Portland State in 1972 and helped establish the School of Urban and Public Affa irs four years later, becom– ing its first and only dean. "When you come with good ideas and you are early in the process obviously you can move fast," said Toulan. The school is one of the ma– jor graduate divisions of the University with the largest Ph .D. Program and "a quality faculty," Toulan said , with obvious pride. In the 12 years the school has been in existence at Portland State it has built a respected national reputation which Toulan credits in part to its graduates. Judy Barmack , a Ph .D. graduate and speaker at Toulan's tribute, said, "one of the best tributes to Nohad is the success of the graduates." She is currently a proj– ect specialist with Portland Public Schools. According to Barmack, graduates of the school include city planners in Newport , Ore., Vancouver, Wash. , and Gresham, Ore. Several alumni are with the City of Portland as port manager, community development specialists, landscape ar- chitect, and graduates hold academic posi– tions at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Harvard Uni versity and Oregon Health Sciences University. Student projects have also brought the school notoriety while prov iding service to the urban community. In 1982 students won a national award for their plan of "Sullivans Gulch ," an area near Lloyd Center. Students have also produced a planning study for the city of Milwaukie and most recently for Oregon Health Sciences University and the surrounding Homestead neighborhood . " Portland State is an urban university," said Toulan. "Whichever definition you select, and there are several, an urban university has to be sensitive to the condi– tions that prevail in the local community and be a good neighbor. And being a good neighbor means we don't turn in– wardly. This is a resource that belongs to the community." T oulan's personal community en– compasses more than just the University, city or state. He began his career as a planner and architect in Egypt during the 1950s. He has been in the United States more than 25 years and his concerns and projects have always been global as told by the orange dots on his map. One of his most formidable challenges came in 1984 when he was as ked by the United Nations to coordinate an interna– tional team of specialist in developing a comprehensive plan for the holy city of Mecca . The plan had to cope not only with the one million pilgrims who converge on the city each year, but the skyrocketing growth of the city and its half-million permanent residents. " It was a rewarding experience," said Toulan. "I was particularly proud of the urban design we did for the center of the city." This part of the plan allows for expansion underground leaving surrounding buildings undisturbed . Even when Toulan is not physically in the Middle East participating in a project, the interests of the area are his. He is a member of a local Interreligious Commit– tee for Peace in the Middle East. " Nohad is the statesman in our midst and a soothing influence on us all ," said Rabbi Joshua Stampfer at the tribute dinner for Toul an. Stampfer is a former PSU pro– fessor and has served the Portland Neveh Shalom congregation since 1953. His sentiments were shared by the school's advisory committee chairman and local businessman Fred Rosenbaum. "Toulan is an exceptional citizen of two worlds - that of the east and west," said Rosenbaum . Toulan does not consider himself a career academic administrator and so his community work and global city planning will continue. However, the School of Ur– ban and Public Affairs along with the students it graduates remain a priority. "This is a good uni versity," said Toulan. "We are very young and the long term reputation of the University rests in our hands." D Dr. Nohad Toulan, dean of the School of Urban and Public Affairs PSU 17