By Matt Roberts | CNA Board Chair
Dear Neighbors and Board Members,
As someone who might be considered an “outsider,” I want to begin by sincerely thanking the board for the confidence you’ve placed in me by selecting me as Chair for the coming year. I use that term lightly, as while I don’t live in the neighborhood, I have been part of it since the summer of 2022, when the University of Oregon purchased the former Concordia University campus and established UO Portland as its newest campus.
In my professional role, I serve as the Associate Vice President of Community Relations for the University of Oregon. My work focuses on neighborhood relations, partnerships with city, county, and public agencies across the state, and managing a portfolio of university sponsorships. At its core, my role is about building trust, listening, and finding ways institutions and communities can work better together.
The university is genuinely happy to be part of this neighborhood. We want our campus to be seen as a resource, a welcoming space, and most importantly, a good neighbor. This past year, we enjoyed hosting the Woodlawn Farmers Market, Neighbors Night Out, and the Winter Celebration, and we hope to continue opening our campus for events that bring people together and strengthen community connections.
Over the coming months, you’ll also see some physical changes on campus. We are removing outdated buildings and preparing the northeast corner of campus for a new home for the Ballmer and Prevention Science Institutes. This will be our first mass timber building, designed to complement surrounding structures and help frame the university’s central quad. As this work progresses, we remain committed to communicating and listening as our campus evolves alongside the neighborhood.
Since arriving, one of the most frequent questions we’ve received has been about the recreation fi elds and how organizations can reserve them. With a small staff and limited expertise in athletic facility management, we knew early on that partnering with an experienced organization would best serve the community. After an extensive procurement process, we’re pleased to share that Central Catholic High School has been selected to manage the fields on our behalf. They plan to invest in new turf and facility enhancements, use the space for their baseball, softball, soccer, and lacrosse teams, and develop a process to make the fi elds available to community groups and Portland Public Schools. We see this as an opportunity to strengthen access while improving a valued neighborhood asset.
As I step into the Chair role, I’m excited to work alongside the board to continue the good work already underway. Looking ahead, one of our shared goals is to engage more neighbors in what we do. Our association thrives when people participate. If you’re interested in getting involved, we’d love your help with events and activities that neighbors enjoy. Please consider reaching out to our social committee leaders if you have a few hours to contribute.
Finally, I want to extend sincere thanks to our past chair, John Fitzgerald. John very graciously—and somewhat reluctantly— extended his service an extra year. His commitment and leadership have meant a great deal to this board and to the neighborhood, and we are all grateful for his dedication.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out with questions, ideas, or suggestions about how our board and association can better serve the neighborhood. I look forward to working together in the year ahead.
Warm regards,
Matt Roberts
Chair, Concordia Neighborhood Association
Matt has been with UO since 1997. He represents the university interests with public agencies, school districts, community colleges and the Eugene, Springfi eld and Portland Chambers of Commerce. Before that, he did telemarketing research, and marketing and development for the Oregon Festival of Music.