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About Laura Burney Nissen

Dr. Laura Burney Nissen is a professor, futurist and former dean of the School of Social Work at Portland State University.  Dr. Nissen currently holds a faculty position in the School of Social Work where she received full tenure and has taught for 20 years. She is also a first inaugural "Futures Fellow" for Portland State University leading a year-long exercise in futures thinking. She's a Research Fellow at the Institute for the Future in Palo Alto, CA. Laura has just received funding to launch a national "Social Work Education Health Futures Lab" funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Her work on utilizing a futures lens in social work and social change is available at her blog on this topic: www.socialworkfutures.com. Additionally, she was National Program Director of Reclaiming Futures, another Robert Wood Johnson Foundation funded initiative transforming substance abuse treatment in the juvenile justice system for 11 years. Dr. Nissen completed her Ph.D. and M.S.W in Social Work at the University of Denver, and a B.A. in Psychology from Metropolitan State College of Denver. She has focused her scholarly work in strengths-based approaches with youth and families, community collaborative change models, increasing equity in justice and treatment practice settings, and service innovations. Her full CV can be accessed here.

Positions

2000 - Present Professor, Portland State University School of Social Work
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2014 - 2019 Dean, Portland State University School of Social Work
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1992 - 2000 Assistant Professor, Metropolitan State College of Denver ‐ Department of Human Services
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Curriculum Vitae


Disciplines



Grants

2014 - Present SBIRT (Screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment) in partnership with OHSU
SAMSHA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)
Role: Principal Investigator
$96,158.11
2011 Reclaiming Futures National Program Office Training and Development Grant
Johnson, Bassin & Shaw (OJJDP and CSAT Funding)
Role: Principal Investigator
$240,000
2011 Reclaiming Futures, National Program Office Training and Development Grant #12
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Role: Principal Investigator
$1,299,480
2010 Reclaiming Futures, National Program Office Training and Development Grant #11
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Role: Principal Investigator
$1,675,140
2009 Reclaiming Futures, National Program Office Training and Development Grant #10
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Role: Principal Investigator
$1,030,035.00
2008 Reclaiming Futures, National Program Office Training and Development Grant #9
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Role: Principal Investigator
$1,435,730
2008 Reclaiming Futures, North Carolina Assessment/Technical Assistance Grant
Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust
Role: Principal Investigator
$916,792.00
2007 Reclaiming Futures, National Program Office Training and Development Grant #8
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Role: Principal Investigator
$1,144,817
2007 Reclaiming Futures, Oregon Groundwork Grant
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Role: Principal Investigator
$150,000
2006 Reclaiming Futures, Communication and Dissemination Grant
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Role: Principal Investigator
$437,500
2006 Reclaiming Futures, National Program Office Training and Development Grant #7
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Role: Principal Investigator
$1,306,035
2005 Reclaiming Futures, National Program Office Training and Development Grant #6
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Role: Principal Investigator
$1,264,090
2005 Reclaiming Futures, National Program Office Training and Development Grant #6
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Role: Principal Investigator
$1,220,938
2004 Reclaiming Futures, National Program Office Training and Development Grant #5
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Role: Principal Investigator
$1,350,000
2003 Reclaiming Futures, National Program Office Training and Development Grant #4
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Role: Principal Investigator
$1,218,638
2002 Reclaiming Futures, National Center for Coaching and Development Grant
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Role: Principal Investigator
$752,598
2002 Reclaiming Futures, National Leadership Program Meeting Grant
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Role: Principal Investigator
$107,655
2002 Reclaiming Futures, National Program Office Training and Development Grant #3
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Role: Principal Investigator
$1,401,425
2001 Reclaiming Futures, National Program Office Training and Development Grant #2
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Role: Principal Investigator
$1,235,312
2000 Reclaiming Futures, National Program Office Training and Development Grant #1
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Role: Principal Investigator
$997,374
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Honors and Awards

  • 2009 – Oregon Social Worker of the Year, Oregon Chapter, National Association of Social Workers
  • 2008 – Nominated for CSWE Distinguished Recent Contributions in Social Work Education Award.
  • 2006 - 2008 Appointed to Oregon Governor’s Advisory Committee for Alcohol and Drug Abuse Programs.
  • 2006 – President’s Award, New England Association of Drug Court Professionals
  • 2000 – Named National Program Co-Director for Reclaiming Futures, an initiative of The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. (2002) Named sole Executive Director.
  • 1998 - Outstanding Asset Builder - Assets for Colorado Youth, A Search Institute/Colorado Trust Initiative

Education

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1997 PhD, University of Denver ‐ Graduate School of Social Work
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1989 MSW, University of Denver ‐ Graduate School of Social Work
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1985 BA, Metropolitan State College of Denver ‐ Department of Psychology
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Futures Collaboratory (2)

PDXTalks (1)

Articles (15)

Contributions to Books (3)

Books (1)