Richard Margerum

Richard Margerum serves as Professor of Planning, Public Policy, and Management and Associate Dean for Faculty and Academic Affairs in the College of Design at the University of Oregon. His scholarly work focuses on collaborative governance frameworks for resolving complex environmental and planning challenges, with particular expertise in watershed management systems and metropolitan governance structures.

His educational foundation includes:

• PhD in Urban and Regional Planning (with Law minor) from the University of Wisconsin, Madison (1995)
• MS in Water Resources Management from the University of Wisconsin, Madison (1992)
• MCRP in Environmental Planning from the University of Cincinnati (1989)
• BA in Geology from Wittenberg University (1987)

Margerum's research examines collaborative decision-making processes through multiple theoretical lenses, developing practical frameworks for implementing collaborative governance in environmental contexts. His seminal MIT Press book Beyond Consensus: Improving Collaboration to Solve Complex Public Problems establishes foundational principles for moving beyond theoretical consensus to actionable solutions. Current investigations explore the professionalization of watershed councils, stakeholder motivations in restoration efforts, and network-based approaches to collaborative planning.

Analysis of his publication trajectory (2022-2008) reveals three dominant thematic strands: (1) collaborative hazard mitigation planning informed by enhanced information utilization, (2) professionalization dynamics within watershed management organizations, and (3) metropolitan governance challenges in regional planning contexts. His work consistently bridges academic theory and practical application, often employing comparative international methodologies and mixed-methods evaluation frameworks.

Margerum actively mentors graduate students through co-authored research, with recent advisees including Curtis Thomas, Sam Ault, Stephen Dobrinich, Ray McPadden, and Andrew Dutterer. He directs the Oregon Experiential Learning Model and has secured sponsored research funding for collaborative governance initiatives. His Collaboration Curriculum instructional resource demonstrates commitment to pedagogical innovation, providing free teaching materials adopted by institutions worldwide.

He leads interdisciplinary research teams working with watershed councils, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations to develop implementable collaborative frameworks. Current projects focus on improving information flows in collaborative hazard mitigation and evaluating network effectiveness in metropolitan governance systems.