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Find an Educator Near You
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Statewide Leadership Programs
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Statewide Programs
Mike Liepold
Extension Regional Center, Mankato
1961 Premier Dr Ste 148
Mankato, MN 56001
Email: mliepold@umn.edu
Phone: 507-389-6741
Fax: 507-389-6787 |
Counties
Served:
All Minnesota counties |
Special
Projects:
- Lead Educator, Minnesota Agricultural and Rural Leaders
U-Lead program
- Lead Educator, Extension Local Leadership Project
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Education:
- B.S., Ag Education, South Dakota State University
- M.S., Education, University of Minnesota (emphasis on marketing
educational programs and social marketing)
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Work Experience:
Mike was first hired by the University of Minnesota
Extension Service as a 4-H Summer Assistant during his junior
year of college at South Dakota State University. Nineteen
years later, Mike continues to serve Extension as Regional
Educator in Leadership and Civic Engagement. Mike has specialized
in leadership education since the mid-80s. He took
a sabbatical to work as an intern with the Vice President‘s
Reinventing Government Group, the National Performance Review
in Washington DC. There he studied performance-based management
for local units of government. As part of his current Extension
role, Mike manages the Minnesota Agriculture and Rural Leadership
Program. MARL is a two-year, statewide cohort leadership
program offered through a partnership between Southwest
Minnesota State University and the University of Minnesota
Extension Service. |
Affiliations,
Honors and Community Service:
- Member: National Association of Community Economic Development Professionals,
Community Development Association, Minnesota Association
of Extension Educators
- Trainer: Pew Foundation’s
LeadershipPLENTY Program
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South Central Minnesota
Catherine Rasmussen
Extension Regional Center, Hutchinson
980 2nd Ave SE
Hutchinson, MN 55350
Email: rasmu035@umn.edu
Phone: 320-234-0437
Fax: 320-234-0444 |
Counties
Served:
Blue Earth, Brown, Faribault, Kandiyohi, Martin, McLeod, Meeker, Nicollet, Renville, Sibley, Waseca |
Special
Projects:
Catherine is the lead educator for the Bridging Brown County
U-Lead program. |
Education:
B.S., English and Speech
M.S., Continuing Studies with an emphasis in curriculum
and instruction Minnesota State University, Mankato |
Work Experience:
Catherine has over 25 years of teaching experience
in secondary education and currently
work in the area of leadership and civic engagement. She
has worked with appointed and elected officials, state and
federal agencies, non-profit organizations, and community
groups. Catherine specializes in facilitation, community
team building, strategic planning, and leadership development.
Her development of a customized countywide leadership program
in Brown County has received statewide recognition. |
Affiliations,
Honors and Community Service:
- Award: Minnesota Association of Extension
Educators Early Career Award
- Member: National Association of Community Development
Extension Professionals; Community Development Society;
International Association of Facilitators; Association of
Leadership Educators
Extension Representative: Council of Academic Professionals
and Administrators Certified
- Consultant: Myers-Briggs Type Indicator
- Trainer: The Pew Foundation's LeadershipPLENTY curriculum
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Southeast Minnesota
Mary Laeger-Hagemeister
Extension Regional Center, Albert Lea
2360 Crossroads Blvd,
Albert Lea, MN 56007
Email: laege001@umn.edu
Phone: 507-379-3523
Fax: 507-379-3529 |
Counties
Served:
Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, LeSueur, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, Wabasha, Waseca,
Winona |
Special
Projects:
U-Connect Program Team |
Education:
- B.A., Family and Consumer Science
- M.Ed.: Individual and Family Development
- (in progress) Ph.D.: Work, Community and Family Education
focusing on Cross Cultural Leadership
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Work Experience:
Mary has an array of experience working with families and
community leaders from diverse backgrounds in Minnesota,
Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island. Much of Mary's work experience
is combined with her passion for guiding people as they
improve the quality of the lives of individuals, families
and community. Her work focuses on Leadership and Civic
Engagement. She was one of the authors of the University
of Minnesota's Facilitation Resource series that has been
honored nationally through the National Extension Association
of Family and Consumer Sciences. |
Affiliations,
Honors and Community Service:
Mary has been the recipient of several state and national
awards since she began her career in Extension in 1988.
Continued professional development opportunities are provided
by her involvement in National Extension Association of
Family and Consumer Sciences. She is a member of Community
Development Society and is pursuing a Ph.D. in Work, Community
and Family Education focusing on Cross-Cultural Leadership.
She is currently on the board of directors for the Minnesota
Association of Extension Educators. |
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Southwest Minnesota
Tobias Spanier
Extension Regional Center, Marshall
1424 East College Dr. Suite 100
Marshall, MN 56258
Email: spani001@umn.edu
Phone: 507-337-2815
Fax: 507- 337-2802 |
Counties
Served:
Chippewa, Cottonwood, Jackson, Lac Qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, Rock, Yellow Medicine |
Education:
- B.A., Political Science & Public Administration, Saint Mary’s University
- M.A., Education, Towson State University, Baltimore, MD
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Work Experience:
Toby has spent the last 20 years working to make improvements in communities through educational experiences. Toby began his educational career in the non-profit sector before volunteering with the United States Peace Corps. Later, Toby worked in public school systems in Maryland and Minnesota. In 1995, he was hired by the University of Minnesota Extension Service as a Leadership Specialist. In 2000, Toby took a sabbatical to work as an educational development specialist with the Maryknoll Mission Association in South America. In 2002, Toby returned to the University of Minnesota Extension Service to continue work as a Community Youth Development Regional Educator. Toby provided youth development research, education and strategic advice to individuals and organizations. Toby began work with Leadership and Civic Engagement in January of 2007. |
Affiliations,
Honors and Community Service:
- Award: State Early Career Award, Epsilon Sigma Phi (National Honorary Extension Fraternity), Certificate of Achievement National Extension Leadership Development Program (NELD) 1998-99
- Member: Member Minnesota Association of Extension Educators, Participant in University of Minnesota Multicultural Teaching and Learning Fellowship, 2006-2007 Humphrey Institute Policy Fellow, Southern Minnesota Area Health Education Council Board, Emerging Leadership Investment Program Board
- Trainer: Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, The Matrixx System, Minnesota At-Your-Service, Minnesota Youth Work Institute’s Art of Facilitation
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Central Minnesota
Maxine Norman
REE, Leadership & Civic Engagement
Ext Regl Ctr Brainerd
708 Maple Street
Brainerd, MN 56401
Email: norma035@umn.edu
Phone: 218-828-2333
Fax: 218-828-2424 |
Counties
Served:
Benton, Cass, Crow Wing, Hubbard, Morrison, Stearns, Todd, Wadena |
Education:
- B.S. Home Economics Education, North Dakota State University
- Masters’ Degree, NDSU
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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. Most recently, she was with the Minnesota State Health Department working in Cardiovascular Health and Tobacco Prevention and Control. Maxine also has done consulting for Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Prevention for Central CAPT, Hazelden Foundation and the Minnesota Prevention Resource Center. |
Affiliations,
Honors and Community Service:
- North Dakota Association of Family and Consumer Sciences Leader Award, 1995
- Phi Upsilon Omicron – Beta Chapter, Community Service Award, 1984
- Volunteer Missions Co-chair, United Methodist church, Mehahga
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East Central Minnesota and East Metro
Lisa Hinz
Extension Regional Center, Farmington
Dakota County Extension & Conservation Center
4100 220th St W Ste 100
Farmington, MN 55024
Email: hinzx001@umn.edu
Phone: 651-480-7734
Fax: 651-480-7797 |
Counties
Served:
Chisago, Dakota, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, Pine, Ramsey,
Washington |
Special
Projects:
- Contracted Coordinator, Northcountry Cooperative
- Development Fund, Paul Revere Housing Cooperative
- Lead Educator, Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts U-Lead program
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Education:
- M. S., University of Minnesota Humphrey Institute Community
Development
- B.A. Psychology and Sociology
|
Work Experience:
Lisa's work over the past 20+ years focuses on helping groups
and communities work more effectively together. Specialty
areas include leadership development including facilitation
and conflict transformation; using diversity to build strengths;
public participation strategies; and community economic
development. Prior to her work in 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: Minnesota Facilitators Network, National
Association of Community Development Extension Professionals,
Economic Development Association of Minnesota, Minnesota
Association of Extension Educators
Trainer/Consultant: Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, the Intercultural Conflict Style Inventory, the Pew Foundation’s LeadershipPLENTY curriculum and other educational instruments
- Awards: Early Career Award, Minnesota Association of Extension Educators; Communicator Award, Minnesota Association of Extension 4-H Educators.
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Hennepin and West Metro
Kim Boyce
U of MN Extension Service
462 Coffey Hall, 1420 Eckles Avenue
Saint Paul, MN 55108
Email: boyce003@umn.edu
Phone: 612-624-7781
Fax: 612-625-1955 |
Counties
Served:
Anoka, Carver, Hennepin, Sherburne, Stearns, Wright |
Special
Projects:
Lead Educator, Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation
District U-Lead Program |
Education:
- BA in Psychology, Concordia College, Moorhead MN
- MA, Education, University of Iowa
- Additional graduate level coursework in human and
organization development
|
Work Experience:
Kim was a primary designer of leadership programs for the
Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation District
(MASWCD), a program that has involved 130 SWCD supervisors
and staff. Kim is also a teacher of facilitation education
and a frequent facilitator of groups, including county boards,
community organizations, and Citizen's Juries
conducted by the Jefferson Center. Kim is certified as a
Drug Counselor, as an administrator of the Myers Briggs
Type Indicator, and a YMCA National Trainer in the subject
area of employee supervision. He is also experienced in
administration of numerous leadership inventories and instruments,
including the Dimensions of LeadershipProfile, Thomas-Kilmann
Conflict Mode Instrument, and the ParkerTeam-Player Survey. |
Affiliations,
Honors and Community Service:
In 2005, Kim received the Dean and Director's Award for
Distinguished Extension Faculty.
Kim has received several Early Career Awards from Extension
organizations and is a past president of the Minnesota
Association of Extension Educators. He is a member of the
International Association of Facilitators, the Association
of Leadership Educators, and the National Association of
Community Development Extension Professionals. In 1984,
he received the Distinguished Program Service Award in
the Metropolitan Minneapolis YMCA. In the 2004 he was elected as chair of the Hennepin County Conservation District. |
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Hennepin County
Rachel Hefte
U of MN Extension, Hennepin County
479 Prairie Center Dr, Ste 2
Eden Prairie, MN 55344
Email: hefte003@umn.edu
Phone: 612-596-2110
Fax: 952-828-7280 |
Counties
Served:
Hennepin |
Education:
- B.A., Liberal Arts, Luther College, Decorah, Iowa
- M.A., Education, Hamline University, focusing on leadership and curriculum development, St. Paul, MN
- Teaching Certificate, University of Minnesota, College of Education
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Work
Experience:
Rachel has been a facilitator, trainer, researcher, writer and community program specialist. Most recently, she worked with Draw Forth Consulting as a trainer to public organizations and community groups. She has taught social studies and citizenship in high school and young adult settings and, as violence prevention coordinator in Anoka County, she developed and coordinated citizen-led violence prevention efforts. |
Affiliations,
Honors and Community Service:
Award: Fullbright Scholar to Namibia, 1995 |
Member
Minnesota Facilitators Network, National Association of Community Development Economic Professionals, Hamline University Adjunct Faculty |
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Northeast Minnesota
Barb Radke
Extension Regional Center, Cloquet
Cloquet Forestry Center
179 University Rd
Cloquet, MN 55720
Email: radke008@umn.edu
Phone: 218-726-6476
Fax: 218-879-0857 |
Counties
Served:
Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca,
Koochiching, Lake, St. Louis |
Special
Projects:
U-Facilitate Team Leader |
Education:
- B.S., Family Life and Child Development, Mankato State University
- J.D., Hamline University School of Law
|
Work Experience:
Prior to joining Extension, Barb was a practicing attorney
and administrative law judge, with specialized training
in mediation. In 2003, Barb coordinated a regional survey to identify leadership education needs of women in Greater Minnesota. Her work includes facilitation and leadership education for the environmental sector. |
Affiliations,
Honors and Community Service:
Barb is a member of the Minnesota Association of Extension
Educators, the National Academy of Community Development
Extension Professionals, the Community Development Society,
and the Community Leadership Association. |
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Northwest Minnesota
Jody Horntvedt
Extension Regional Center, Roseau
1307 3rd St NE STE 102,
Roseau, MN 56751
Email: hornt001@umn.edu
Phone: 218-463-0296
Fax: 218-463-0297 |
Counties
Served:
Beltrami, Clearwater, Kittson, Lake of the Woods,
Mahnomen, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, Roseau |
Special
Projects:
Red River Valley Emerging Leaders U-Lead Program Project
U-Connect Team Leader |
Education:
- B.S., University of Wisconsin-Stout
- Home Economics Education
- Masters of Education, University of Minnesota Human Resource
Development
|
Work Experience:
Jody's work focuses on enhancing the leadership and collaboration skills of community board and council members. Her passion for work is
in the area of civic connections which works with communities
on public participation, community visioning, consensus
building, and assessing social capital. Jody served as a
Project Team Facilitator to develop flood damage reduction projects to enhance the natural resources of the watershed districts in the Red River Basic.
For 12 years, she has coordinated the
Red River Valley Emerging Leadership Program for local leaders
from a 21 county area of NW Minnesota. Her work has also included management of the Horizons Program, a program focused on
building the capacity of community leaders to address issues
of poverty. This initiative was developed through a partnership
with the Northwest Area Foundation. |
Affiliations,
Honors and Community Service:
- Qualified Trainer: Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), LeadershipPLENTY
- Member: Minnesota Association of Extension Educators,
National Association of Community Development Extension
Professionals, and the Community Development Society.
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West Central Minnesota
Cindy Bigger
Extension Regional Center, Fergus Falls
223 W Cavour Ave,
Fergus Falls, MN 56537
Email: cbigger@umn.edu
Phone: 218-998-5793
Fax: 218-998-5798 |
Counties
Served:
Becker, Big Stone, Clay, Douglas Grant, Otter Tail, Pope,
Stevens,
Swift, Traverse, Wilkin |
Special
Projects:
Red River Valley Emerging Leaders U-Lead, Mini-Horizons
Project Leader (Northwest Area Foundation) |
Education:
- Associate of Applied Science, University of MN –
Crookston
- Bachelor of Science, North Dakota State University
- Home Economics Education
- Masters of Education, University of Minnesota
- Public Policy Fellow, Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs
|
Work Experience:
Cindy's work focuses on leadership programs for adults
and organizations. She is a trained facilitator for the
Myers Briggs Type and has been a consultant for various
organizations including the YMCA of New York City, Merck
Pharmaceutical, GlaxoSmithKline, the Restless Leg Syndrome
Foundation, the Joint Council of Extension Professionals,
the American Dairy Association of Minnesota, Iowa's Maternal
and Child Health Program, and 15 Extension Services
across the country. |
Affiliations,
Honors and Community Service:
Ms. Bigger is North Central Regional Representative for
the National Association of Community Development Extension
Professionals. She is also a 19-year member of Epsilon Sigma
Phi - Pi Chapter. She has served on the University of Minnesota - Crookston Alumni Board
of Directors, the Center for Small Towns Advisory Committee,
and the Board of Commissioners for the Alexandria Housing
and Redevelopment Authority. |
Other:
Ms. Bigger’s Extension work includes educating legislators about extension programs and educating the public on how to build relationships with decision-makers. |
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