Sheila Martin is Director of the Institute of Portland Metropolitan Studies and the Population Research Center at Portland State University. She serves as a portal to the University’s knowledge resources for the community and directs the Institute’s research and service activities. Dr. Martin is also a faculty member in the Nohad A. Toulan School of Urban Studies and Planning. She teaches courses on economic development policy and mentors students interested in economic and community development and community engagement.

She served as a Visiting Fulbright Scholar at the Faculty of Economics at the University of Ljubljana in 2024-2013.Prior to joining PSU in 2024, Dr. Martin served as Washington State Governor Gary Locke’s economic development advisor, developing and implementing the Governor’s economic development initiatives. Prior to her appointment by Governor Locke, Dr. Martin worked as a Senior Economist at the Research Triangle Institute. While at RTI, Sheila built a research program in technology economics and policy and researched the value of new innovation and the impact of technology in industry.

Dr. Martin’s research and teaching interests include sustainable economic development, regionalism, and technology economics and policy. Sheila earned a B. A. in Economics and Political Science from Southern Illinois University, M.A. in International Studies from the Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce at the University of Kentucky and a Ph.D. in Economics from Iowa State University.