Celebrating the Impact of Debbie Kaufman: A Champion for Community Health, Advocacy, and Justice

After 18 years of dedicated service, Debbie Kaufman, a beloved faculty member in the School of Public Health, is retiring. Hired at Portland State University in 2007, Debbie brought with her a blend of nonprofit experience and community advocacy that transformed how students and colleagues alike think about public health.

Kaufman earned her undergraduate degree with a double major in Business: Marketing and German from the University of Oregon, and later pursued a graduate degree in Speech Communication at Portland State University. Before entering academia, she spent 17 years in Portland’s nonprofit sector, including five years devoted to statewide tobacco control advocacy. Among her many accomplishments, she managed a Kellogg Foundation grant that supported the expansion of school-based health care across Oregon—an effort that continues to benefit communities today.

It wasn’t until her late 40s that Debbie decided to begin teaching. Kaufman joined the School of Public Health as a passionate and engaging instructor, initially teaching drug education and advocacy courses. Over time, she expanded the curriculum by creating public health communications and marketing courses, offering students critical tools for advocacy and change-making in a rapidly evolving media landscape.

Kaufman’s influence extended far beyond the classroom. She was the driving force behind the School’s “Get Out the Vote” efforts, mobilizing students to see civic engagement as a public health issue. Her leadership also helped foster a culture of inclusion and justice within the school. She founded and facilitated the Fat Justice Working Group and taught a groundbreaking course on body liberation—creating space for students and colleagues to rethink health, size equity, and identity through a social justice lens.

Whether sparking critical dialogue or encouraging students to embrace their own power as advocates, Debbie has inspired a generation of public health leaders. Her retirement marks the end of an extraordinary chapter, but her impact will echo throughout Vanport and Portland State for years to come.

Thank you, Debbie Kaufman, for your passion, leadership, and unwavering commitment to justice. You will be deeply missed—and always celebrated.