Urban Studies school gets new name

The School of Urban Studies and Planning will be named after founder and emeritus dean of the College of Urban and Public Affairs, university administration announced Friday.

Portland State officials announced plans for the school to become the Nohad A. Toulan School of Urban Studies and Planning at a meeting of the State Board of Higher Education.

Toulan, an urban planner who has contributed to the development of major urban and regional plans in the United States, the Middle East, and North and West Africa, retired as dean emeritus of the College of Urban and Public affairs last year. He was also a professor emeritus of the School of Urban Studies and Planning.

Toulan remains an adviser to President Daniel Bernstine on the development of the University District.

A native of Egypt, Toulan came to PSU in 1972 from Columbia University and became dean of the School of Urban and Public affairs in 1976. Toulan has won numerous awards for his work as an urban planner and is credited with bringing international prominence to the College of Urban and Public Affairs at Portland State.