Nina Johnson, Principal

Nina Johnson has over 30 years of experience in public policy development and public opinion research and analysis.  She joined Tashman Johnson LLC in January 1996.  During her career, Johnson has been responsible for many projects that involve integrating public opinion into policy formulation and implementation.  She is especially skilled at facilitating group process, problem solving and research and analysis, and has presented findings and reports before many advisory and policy-making bodies.  Nina also is an excellent researcher and writer; she co-authored The History of Urban Renewal in Oregon with Jeff Tashman the other principal of Tashman Johnson LLC.

Since 2001, Nina has helped the Portland Public School District develop policy for critical issues such as school choice and student discipline.  Her past public policy experience includes serving as executive assistant to Oregon’s Secretary of State (1991-1995) where she developed policy options, coordinated the legislative agenda, served as Land Board assistant and managed special projects, including legislative redistricting.  She had responsibilities in the areas of natural resources, citizen participation and elections, all of which required working with widely divergent interests.

Since 1995, Nina has worked with Davis, Hibbitts & Midghall, Inc., an independent nonpartisan public opinion research firm located in Portland, Oregon, on both qualitative and quantitative research.  She has analyzed the findings of numerous research projects and developed strategic recommendations for a variety of clients including The Chalkboard Project (improving Oregon’s public schools), Metro (representing the Portland region), Northwest Health Foundation (advancing public health in Oregon/Southwest Washington), and Oregon Forest Resources Institute (promoting public understanding of Oregon’s forest resources and environmentally sound forest management).  Most recently, she has developed expertise in assessing public opinion related to K-12 education.

Nina’s prior experience included being executive director of the City Club of Portland (1984-1990) where she managed a 2500 member public policy and civic education organization, co-counsel to the Oregon Senate Judiciary Committee (1983), and executive assistant to the Alaska State Legislature (1982).  She also served as acting director, program administrator, and attorney for a Eugene, Oregon non-profit organization representing low-income people (1978-81).

An honors graduate of the University of Kansas, Nina received her JD from the University of Oregon School of Law in 1975.  She is a member of the City Club of Portland, Oregon State Bar Association (inactive), and the Oregon Law Foundation.