This is a reprint of a news story originally published by the Toulan School of Urban Studies and Planning.

Congratulations to Toulan School Assistant Professor Dr. Ozcan Tunalilar, inaugural recipient of the Arthur C. and Monika Z. Nelson Endowed Scholar Award, and Urban Studies doctoral candidate Minju Kim, inaugural recipient of the Nelson Endowed Doctoral Award.

The awards were established by PSU alumni Dr. Arthur Christian “Chris” Nelson and his wife Monika to support emerging scholars in the College of Urban and Public Affairs (CUPA). Dr. Nelson was inspired to create these awards because he himself received financial aid at a critical moment as a graduate student.

The Scholar Award supports new and early career faculty, as determined by the Dean of CUPA. The fund will supplement university funding for the recruitment and retention of early career faculty. The Doctoral Award supports doctoral students enrolled in CUPA with an approved dissertation proposal.

About our Nelson Scholar

Dr. Ozcan "Ozzy" Tunalilar is an Assistant Professor at the Institute on Aging & Toulan School of Urban Studies and Planning. His primary objective as a scholar is to enhance the lives of older adults and individuals with disabilities.

With a scholarly agenda rooted in aging/gerontology and housing, Dr. Tunalilar’s research focuses on the complexities of residential care environments, such as assisted living communities and nursing homes, and examines their supply, organization, financing, and quality. His commitment to impactful research is evident through his substantial funding record and his extensive publication history.

In addition to his research, Dr. Tunalilar is dedicated to teaching and mentoring the next generation of scholars in aging, and he regularly teaches courses on aging and demography, such as Perspectives on Aging and Population and Society. Outside the classroom, Dr. Tunalilar actively involves both undergraduate and graduate students in research projects, providing them with valuable research experience.

His contributions extend to community engagement, as exemplified by his appointment to Oregon’s Quality Measurement Council, where he leverages his expertise in quality of care and quantitative methods to support the well-being of individuals living in assisted living and residential care settings.

About our Nelson Doctoral Awardee

Minju Kim is a PhD candidate in Urban Studies who also received a certificate in Gerontology. With a background in urban and transportation planning and gerontology, she brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her doctoral studies. Her work specifically focuses on older adults’ travel behaviors and how the transportation system can evolve to better accommodate the aging population.

As many countries face aging societies due to increasing average life expectancies, the discussion about older drivers and accessibility for older people will continue for generations to come. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the challenges confronted by the older population in increasingly aging societies. Specifically, Kim’s doctoral research seeks to uncover insights into the effectiveness of ride-hailing services as a viable transportation option for older adults when they stop driving through quantitative analysis and qualitative interviews. By delving into their perceptions, experiences, and challenges, she will explore ways of understanding and mitigating accessibility problems for older people. Ultimately, she'd like to make meaningful contributions to the fields of transportation and aging.

About Chris & Monika Nelson

Chris earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science with certificates in Urban Studies and Social Service at PSU in 1972, followed by a Master of Urban Studies degree in 1976 and then a PhD in Urban Studies specializing in regional science and regional planning in 1984. Monika Zimmermann Nelson earned her BA in Foreign Languages at PSU in 1973.

After graduation in 1972, Chris was a consultant in management, planning, and development along the West Coast. He likes to say that he kept going back to PSU to learn new skills so he could raise his rates. In 1984, with his PSU doctorate, Chris changed career paths into academia but remained active professionally through pro bono work, advisorships, research, and service. The College is grateful to Chris and Monika for their generous support.