Profile

Assistant Professor
Assistant Director, Population Research Center (PRC)
Community Development

Ph.D., University of Arizona; M.A., University of North Carolina – Charlotte; B.B.A., University of Wisconsin – Whitewater

Email: Jason.Jurjevich@pdx.edu
Phone: (503) 725-8590
Office: Urban Center 780G

Professional Biography

Dr. Jurjevich is an Assistant Professor in the Toulan School of Urban Studies and Planning and Assistant Director of the Population Research Center (PRC).  As Assistant Director of PRC, Dr. Jurjevich addresses questions and technical issues related to demographic data and works to ensure that PRC provides Oregonians with accurate and timely analyses of population trends from across the state.

Research

A broadly trained human geographer, Dr. Jurjevich’s research interests focus on the spatial implications of demographic change.  A significant political consequence of Frostbelt to Sunbelt migration for example, has involved the corresponding shift in political power to states in the South and West.  In his own research, Dr. Jurjevich has examined the intersection between migration and politics by specifically considering the varied spatial and temporal compositional effects of migration across political landscapes.

Currently, Dr. Jurjevich continues to address issues related to population and political geography by considering the social and political implications of inferring same-sex demographic statistics from U.S. Census data.  Another research project compares the social, economic, and demographic characteristics of in-migrants to Portland with in-migrants to other peer metropolitan areas.

Teaching

Using a learner-centered approach to accommodate different learning styles, Dr. Jurjevich strives to connect with students by demonstrating how population and geography affect students in their daily lives.  Highlighting unequal infant mortality rates within cities, states, or even across countries for example, allows students to address issues of inequity driven by race, class, gender, and economic differences. In short, Dr. Jurjevich’s teaching approach looks to help students uncover narratives within numbers. Dr. Jurjevich teaches courses in population geography and applied demography.

Community

As a geographer with a steadfast belief in the importance of place and local context, upon moving to Portland, Dr. Jurjevich made a point of traveling to communities throughout Oregon. His belief is that the work of the Population Research Center, and his own research, can be better informed by collecting as much information about communities as possible. Since moving to Oregon, Dr. Jurjevich has worked alongside regional planners, not-for-profit organizations, private business, and state and local government officials across the state to address population-related issues in Oregon.