Extension > Community > About Community Vitality > Leadership and Civic Engagement Educators
Leadership and Civic Engagement Team
Mary Ann G. Hennen
Program Leader, Leadership & Civic Engagement
henne011@umn.edu
612-624-4226456 Coffey Hall
1420 Eckles Ave
St. Paul, MN 55108-6070Education
- B.S. Individualized major in Personnel Services, Recreation minor, Moorhead State University, Moorhead, MN
- Master of Arts, Educational Psychology and Social Foundations, Counseling emphasis, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
- Mini-MBA for Nonprofit Organizations, Management Center, University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN.
Work Experience
As program leader for the Center for Community Vitality's Leadership and Civic Engagement programs, Mary Ann provides direction to regional educators as they develop, design, deliver and evaluate leadership and civic engagement programming across the state. Mary Ann joined Extension in January of 2005 after leading, for six years, Community Leadership Initiatives for the Wilder Center for Communities. In that role, she created and managed a new unit offering leadership development programs and services to the St. Paul neighborhood its leaders, residents and partners. She also provided training, coaching, facilitation and consulting services to individuals, organizations and boards. This is Mary Ann's second career with Extension. In the '90's, she was an Extension Leadership Development State Specialist, co-creating leadership education programs around the state. Her earlier career focused on student services in several university settings.
Affiliations, Honors and Community Service
- Member: National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals, Community Development Society
- Certified Trainer: Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), Dimensions of Leadership Profile
Denise Trudeau Poskas
Leadership Development Specialist, Community Vitality and Public Engagement
dtrudeau@umn.edu
612-625-5943456 Coffey Hall
1420 Eckles Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55108-6070Education
- Bachelor of Science, Biological Sciences, Education, Northern State University, South Dakota
- Master of Science, Counseling and Psychology, Emphasis in Gestalt Therapy, University of Nebraska, Kearney
- Doctor of Philosophy: Human Science & Leadership Studies, Emphasis in leadership coaching and consulting, University of Nebraska, Lincoln
Work Experience
Denise joined Extension in 2010 to develop and strengthen leadership training program and curriculum efforts. Denise brings experience in evaluation methods, leadership training, leadership coaching, and supervisory management. As a Leadership Specialist, she has worked collaboratively with teams to develop an online leadership library, inform models for leadership development in Community Vitality, and has centered program concepts around essential core elements of adult learning theory. Denise also provides staff development opportunities to Extension educators in the area of leadership theory, followership theory, leadership program design and delivery, adult learning theory and presentation.
Before joining Extension, she spent four years with Virginia Tech University where, as a Director of leadership, she restructured and designed the undergraduate leadership program and minor. In this role, her responsibilities included fiscal strategies, personnel development, university teaching, curriculum development and leadership training. She spent three years work closely with program evaluation, curriculum enhancements and teaching leadership at the university level while at the University of Nebraska Lincoln campus. Denise has ten years of experience developing and writing curriculum for teaching and training purposes. She has established expertise in leadership coaching/consulting and teaching leadership studies at the university, corporate and community levels.
Affiliations, Honors and Community Service
- Member: National Counseling Association, International Leadership Association, American Society for Training and Development, Community Development Society, Minnesota Association of Community and Leadership Education Professionals.
- Professional Certification and Licensure: Licensed School Counselor, Minnesota Department of Education, Middle School and High School Science Education; Myers Briggs Type Inventory;Center for Creative Leadership Benchmarks and Leadership Dimensions; Skillscope Certified; Frio B; EQ-I BarOn & 360; Lominger Voices and Career Architect.
Mike Liepold
Statewide Programs
mliepold@umn.edu
Phone: 507-389-6741
Fax: 507-389-6787Extension Regional Office, Mankato
1961 Premier Dr Ste 110
Mankato, MN 56001Counties Served:
All Minnesota countiesEducation:
- B.S., South Dakota State University, Ag Education
- Masters of Education, University of Minnesota
Work Experience:
Mike joined the Leadership and Civic Engagement Team in 2003 and currently serves as a Statewide Leadership Educator teaching adult leadership programs for Extension. He co-designed, and is the primary educator for, the Minnesota Agricultural and Rural Leadership (MARL) program, a two-year statewide cohort leadership program offered since 2000 through a partnership with the University of Minnesota and Southwest Minnesota State University. Mike also provides educational support to the National Extension Leadership Development Program (NELD) improving leadership skills of Extension staff in the Midwest. Mike plans and conducts Washington DC based leadership experiences for the programs he leads. Mike also coaches and facilitates planning processes for state, county and city staff and elected officials.
Affiliations, Honors and Community Service:
- Member: National Association of Community Economic Development Professionals, Community Development Association, Association of Leadership Educators, International Association of Facilitators and the Minnesota Council of Extension Professionals
- Trainer: Bar-On Emotional Intelligence Assessment, Pew Foundation's LeadershipPLENTY Program
- Honors: Extension Dean's Award for Distinguished Field Based Faculty (2010); National Association of Community Development Professionals Distinguished Service Award (2009)
Ben Winchester
Research Fellow
benw@umn.edu
320-589-5033U of MN Extension
c/o UMM Center for Small Towns
600 E 4th St 200 Welcome Ctr
Morris, MN 56267Education
- B.A., 1995, Mathematics, Area of Concentration in Statistics, University of Minnesota, Morris
- Masters in Rural Sociology, 2001, University of Missouri, Columbia
Work Experience
Ben has worked in and for small towns across the Midwest since 1997 – with a focus on his home state of Minnesota. He joined the Extension Center for Community Vitality in 2008. As Research Fellow for the Community Vitality, Ben manages evaluation studies that monitor the effectiveness and outcomes of leadership, civic engagement and community economics programs at Extension. Ben also conducts research on topics relevant to community vitality. Currently, he is documenting a "brain gain" to rural areas – the trend of 30-49 year old people moving to more rural areas – to identify the social and economic opportunities of this migration. He is also analyzing rural community leadership, especially the community-wide requirements to "keep the town running" through the public sector. Prior to joining Extension, he was on staff with the University of Morris and the Center for Small Towns.
Published Research
- Winchester, Benjamin; Nash, Art; and Tobias Spanier. 2011. The Glass Half Full: A New View of Rural Minnesota. Rural Minnesota Journal 6(1): 1-30.
- Winchester, Benjamin. August, 2010. Regional Recruitment: Strategies to Attract and Recruit Newcomers. Economic Development Center, University of Minnesota, Crookston.
- Winchester, Benjamin. 2009. Social Capital and Crime. Blandin Community Leader. Vol. 8(1): Blandin Foundation.
- Sungur, Engin; Anderson, Jon; and Benjamin Winchester. 2005. "Integration of Service Learning into Statistics Education" in Mathematics in Service to the Community, Charles Hadlock (ed.). Mathematical Association of America.
Affiliations, Honors and Community Service
- Award: Minnesota Association of Community and Leadership Education Professionals, Excellence in Research, (2012)
- Memeber: Community Development Society, Rural Sociological Society, Minnesota Evaluation Association
Ryan Allen, Assistant Professor, Humphrey School of Public Affairs
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Barbara Radke
Southeast Minnesota
radke008@umn.edu
Phone: 507-536-6305
Fax: 507-280-2872Extension Regional Center, Rochester
863 30th Avenue SE
Rochester, MN 55904-4915Counties Served:
Dodge, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Houston, Martin, Mower, Olmsted, Steele, Wabasha, Waseca, WinonaSpecial Projects:
Civic Engagement Domain team with focus on collaboration and civic engagement for decision-making and sustainable community action
Education:
- B.S., Family Life and Child Development, Mankato State University
- J.D., Hamline University School of Law
Work Experience:
Prior to joining Extension, Barbara worked for a non-profit and then acquired her attorney license, practiced law and was an administrative law judge. In her career with U of MN Extension's Center for Community Vitality in Leadership and Civic Engagement, her experience includes design and implementation of community initiatives on poverty which incorporated collaborative and civic engagement components and design and facilitation of civic engagement processes to support a regional initiative on sustainable growth in communities. Her applied research efforts focus on civic engagement and collaboration for decision-making and sustainable community action. Barbara has provided education on leadership development, work team development, civic engagement process and facilitation skill building. Barbara applies her analytical and strategic questioning skills developed in law school to effective process design and management to facilitate local, regional and statewide meetings. She had presented at regional, state, national and international conferences on leadership skill building, social capital, facilitating effective work teams, and civic engagement.
Affiliations, Honors and Community Service:
- Member: Minnesota Association of Extension Educators; The National Academy of Community Development Extension Professionals; The Community Development Society; The Community Leadership Association.
- Qualified Trainer: LeadershipPlenty, Intercultural Developmental Inventory, Implications Wheel; Everyday Democracy Study Circles, National Issues Forum
Catherine Rasmussen
South Central Minnesota
rasmu035@umn.edu
Phone: 507-389-6749
Fax: 507-389-6787Extension Regional Office, Mankato
1961 Premier Dr Suite 110
Mankato, MN 56001-5901Counties Served:
Blue Earth, Brown, McLeod, Meeker, Nicollet, Renville, Sibley, Watonwan, WrightSpecial Projects:
Lead educator: County Bridging Leadership Programs in Brown, McLeod and Nicollet Counties
Education:
- B.S., English and Speech, Minnesota State University, Mankato
- M.S., Continuing Studies (emphasis on curriculum and instruction)
Work Experience:
Catherine (Catie) Rasmussen is the primary designer of "bridging" leadership program initiatives in three Minnesota counties. Her work focuses on building leadership capacity and enhancing collaboration among communities, elected officials, and local organizations so that they collectively address public issues. Catie is a frequent trainer of leadership development workshops for groups, including county staff, community organizations, and professional conferences. Her expertise includes personal leadership styles, communication and conflict, strategic visioning, teambuilding, and effective group management. Rasmussen co-authored the guidebook, Committees That Work: Common Traps –Creative Solutions (2008), a popular resource used by both professionals and community members.
Affiliations, Honors and Community Service:
- Awards: National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals Excellence in Teamwork Award (2009) and Excellence in Community Development Programming Individual Award (2007); Association of Minnesota Counties Achievement Award (2009 and 2006); Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs Local Government Innovation Award (2007)
- Certified Trainer: Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), Bar-On Emotional Quotient Inventory (EQ-I), Intercultural Development Inventory, Intercultural Conflict Style Inventory, Everyday Democracy Study Circles
- Member: International Leadership Association; International Association of Facilitators; Community Development Society, National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals
Tobias Spanier
Southwest Minnesota
spani001@umn.edu
Phone: 507-337-2815
Fax: 507-337-2802Extension Regional Office, Marshall
1424 East College Dr. Suite 100
Marshall, MN 56258Counties Served:
Chippewa, Cottonwood, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lac Qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, Rock, Yellow MedicineEducation:
- B.A., Political Science & Public Administration, Saint Mary's University, Winona, MN
- M.A., Education, Towson State University, Baltimore, MD
Special Projects:
- Multicultural Integrative Community Leadership Programs, SW Minnesota
- NELD – National Extension Leadership Development Program
- Leadership, facilitation and civic engagement consultation
Work Experience:
Toby's work focuses on Leadership and Civic Engagement in communities, specializing in teambuilding and leadership for multicultural audiences. Toby has been with Extension for more than 12 years; he has been with the Center for Community Vitality since 2007. Toby has spent the last 25 years working to make improvements in communities through educational experiences. His professional educational experiences include Association Management, the United States Peace Corps, non-profit organizations, public schools in Minnesota and Maryland, the Maryknoll Mission Association in South America, and Extension. In Extension, Toby has contributed to the Community Youth Development Program Area and the Center for Community Vitality by providing research, education and strategic advice to individuals, organizations and communities.
Affiliations, Honors and Community Service:
- Awards: Dean's Distinguished Award – Diversity, University of Minnesota Extension (2011)
State Early Career Award, National Honorary Extension Fraternity ESP (1999)
Outstanding Diversity Programming, National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals (2011) - Member: Minnesota Association of Extension Professionals (Past President), Minnesota Association of Community Leadership Extension Professionals, National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals; Community Development Society; International Association of Facilitators; Association of Leadership Educators
- Certifications and Affiliations: Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, Intercultural Development Inventory, Intercultural Conflict Style Inventory, Pew Foundation's LeadershipPLENTY curriculum, Study Circles (Everyday Democracy), Technology of Participation – Group Facilitation Methods, Humphrey Institute Policy Fellows (2006-07), North Central Extension Leadership Development Program (1998-99)
Lisa Hinz
East Central Minnesota
hinzx001@umn.edu
Phone: 651-480-7734
Fax: 651-480-7797Extension Regional Office, Farmington
Dakota County Extension & Conservation Center
4100 220th St W Ste 100
Farmington, MN 55024Counties Served:
Chisago, Goodhue, Isanti, Kanabec, Le Sueur, Mille Lacs, Pine, RiceEducation:
- Masters of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota Humphrey Institute, Community Development
- B.A. Psychology and Sociology, St. Lawrence University, Canton, NY
Work Experience:
Since 1996, Lisa's work in Extension has focused on helping public-serving groups and communities work more effectively together. Specialty areas include building facilitation skills and insight, developing leadership for community and organizations, and strategies for improving public participation. Prior to coming to Extension, Lisa worked on organizational research and development and in nonprofit administration. Her research work contributed to the book Sustaining Innovation: Creating Nonprofit and Government Organizations that Innovate Naturally (1998) by Paul Light.
Affiliations, Honors and Community Service:
- Member: International Association of Facilitators, Community Development Society, National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals, Minnesota Association of Extension Educators
- Trainer/Consultant: Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, Intercultural Conflict Style Inventory, Pew Foundation's LeadershipPLENTY curriculum, Everyday Democracy Study Circles, and other educational instruments
- Awards: National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals, Excellence in Teamwork; National Association of Conservation Districts, National Friend of Conservation; Minnesota Literacy Council, Outstanding Community Partnership Award; Extension Dean and Director, Distinguished Diversity and Inclusion Team; Minnesota Community and Natural Resources Association, Excellence in Community Programming
- Community Service: Wilder Neighborhood Leadership program coach
Jody Horntvedt
Northwest Minnesota
hornt001@umn.edu
Phone: 218-463-0296
Fax: 218-463-0297Extension Regional Office, Roseau
1307 3rd St NE STE 102
Roseau, MN 56751-2105Counties Served:
Beltrami, Clearwater, Kittson, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, RoseauEducation:
- B.S., University of Wisconsin-Stout, Home Economics Education
- Masters of Education, University of Minnesota, Human Resource Development
Work Experience:
Jody is an Extension Educator in Leadership and Civic Engagement, a position she has held since 2004. Her passion is working with communities to enhance skills in public participation, community visioning, and consensus building. Her research as focused on social capital to develop community assessment processes and educational materials for understanding, assessing and building social capital. Since 1994 she has coordinated the Red River Valley Emerging Leadership Program for local leaders in a 21-county area of Northwest Minnesota. Her work has also included the Horizons Program (a program of the Northwest Area Foundation to build the capacity of community leaders to address issues of poverty). She has also served as a Project Team Facilitator for watershed districts in the Red River Basin.
Affiliations, Honors and Community Service:
- Board of Directors:Northwest Minnesota Foundation, Northwest Minnesota Women's Fund Advisory Committee (Chair), Lake of the Woods Historical Society
- Awards: National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals (NACDEP), Media Presentation, Jumpstart your Workgroups (2011); NACDEP, National Educational Package, Building Leadership Programs Management Guide (2010), NACDEP, Regional Excellence in Community Development Team, Red River Valley Emerging Leadership Program (2009), Extension Dean and Director's, Distinguished Diversity and Inclusion Team, Horizons Program (2009); Minnesota Association of Extension Educators, Scholarship Award, Our Community Assessing Social Capital Theoretical Framework
- Affiliations: NACDEP (National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals), CDS (Community Development Society), IAF (International Association of Facilitators), ESP (Epsilon Sigma Pi), and MACLEP (MN Association of Community and Leadership Education Professionals)
- Certification: LeadershipPLENTY (Pew Foundation for Civic Engagement), Study Circles (Everyday Democracy)
- Certified Trainer: Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)
- Service: Pathways Bible Camping Ministry Strategic Planning, Wabanica Lutheran Church (organist and education committee)
Maxine Norman
West Central Minnesota
norma035@umn.edu
Phone: 218-828-2333
Fax: 218-828-2424Extension Regional Office, Brainerd
322 Laurel, Suite 21
Brainerd, MN 56401Counties Served:
Becker, Big Stone, Clay, Douglas, Grant, Otter Tail, Pope, Stevens, Swift, Traverse, WilkinEducation:
- B.S., Home Economics Education, North Dakota State University
- M.S., North Dakota State University
Special Projects:
Lead Educator: U-Lead Advisory Academy Leadership Cohort, Public Health Leadership Cohort
Work Experience:
Maxine's career has focused on education in various settings, including parenting education, consumer education, teaching methods, public health education and Extension education. Before coming to Extension she was a Principal Planner and Grants Manager with the Minnesota State Health Department in Cardiovascular Health and Tobacco Prevention and Control. Maxine also has been a consultant for Central CAPT, Hazelden Foundation and the Minnesota Prevention Resource Center conducting workshops in Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Prevention in communities.
Affiliations, Honors and Community Service:
- Membership: International Association of Facilitators, National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals, Minnesota Association of Community and Leadership Education Professionals (Membership Committee)
- Awards: (selected)
Dean's Distinguished Award—Diversity, University of Minnesota Extension (2009)
MN Broadband Community Awards, Blandin Foundation (2008)
Most Practical People's Choice Award, Rural Telecom Congress (2008)
Most Creative Use of Technology, Economic Development Association of Minnesota (2008)
Leader Award, North Dakota Association of Family and Consumer Science (1995) - Community Service: City Council, Menahga, MN; Commissioner, Region V Economic Development Commission; 12 Volunteer Missions Teams, Rosebud Reservation, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic and Ireland
Lori Rothstein
Northeast Minnesota
roths040@umn.edu
Phone: 218-726-6476
Fax: 218-726-6338UMD Center for Economic Development
Duluth Technology Village, Suite 210
11 E Superior Street
Duluth, MN 55802-2019Counties Served:
Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, St. LouisEducation:
- B.A., Ethnic Studies and German, Valparaiso University, Indiana (2000)
- M.A., Sustainable Development, School for International Training, Brattleboro, Vermont
Special Projects:
Educator: U-Lead Advisory Academy Leadership Cohort; Public Health Educator CohortWork Experience:
Lori brings a host of experiences in community development to Extension's Leadership and Civic Engagement team - from northern Minnesota to Namibia. Before joining Extension in 2010, Lori was a training and facilitation specialist for ARD, Inc. in Burlington, Vermont. ARD, Inc. helps people across the world create the conditions for successful economic development. There, she facilitated strategic planning efforts, provided technical assistance to five USAID-funded projects, designed trainings, developed orientation processes and provided training in participation methods. Before that, she worked for Extension's Horizons program, coaching five rural Minnesota communities through an 18-month process to reduce the effects of poverty through community action. Lori also has experience as a Crisis Corps Volunteer in Kenya, a Peace Corps Volunteer in Namibia, AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer in Alaska and as an educator and consultant for projects worldwide.
Affiliations, Honors and Community Service:
- Member: Community Development Society, International Association of Facilitators, Minnesota Association of Community and Leadership Education Professionals, National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals
- Certifications and Affilications: Intercultural Development Inventory Qualified Administrator, Technology of Participation Training in Group Methods, Strategic Planning and Facilitating Conciliation, LeadershipPlenty, Study Circles
- Award: Outstanding Young Minnesotan (2007)
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TBD
Mid Minnesota
Please contact Mary Ann Hennen for more information.
Counties Served:
Benton, Cass, Crow Wing, Hubbard, Morrison, Sherburne, Stearns, Todd, Wadena
