WP Alum | Partner, Community Resilience & Innovation

Bobby Cochran (he/him) is solidly committed to the fact that rose-colored glasses are cool. He uses that optimism to build community resilience – which means strengthening collaboratives, planning for natural/economic/social disruption, and creating innovations that help community leaders work with nature to improve our quality of life. Part of the community resilience work includes creating statewide funding for water infrastructure, connecting people to the health benefits of nature, and helping communities access the resources they need to create health equity.

Cochran is now with the Rural Community Assistance Partnership. He has also been a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Culture of Health Leader and adjunct professor at Portland State University in Portland, Oregon. He has worked on collaborative and policy innovations for Defenders of Wildlife and the State of California, Clean Water Services, and for the Asian International Rivers Center in Yunnan, China. He received a PhD and master’s degree in urban studies/conflict resolution from Portland State University, and a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Southern California. He has a bachelor’s degree in biology and society with a minor in French studies from Cornell University. When he’s not working or teaching, he enjoys spending time in the mountains with his two daughters and wife and attempting to grow spicy chilies during Oregon’s summers.