Lehman to Coordinate New MSU Extension District

posted on April 28, 2010 9:20am

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  517-432-1555, ext. 151

EAST LANSING, Mich.—Michigan State University Extension (MSUE) is pleased to announce that Don Lehman has been appointed as the district coordinator for District 8 which covers Montcalm, Gratiot, Ionia, Clinton, Barry, Eaton, and Ingham counties. Lehman brings 12 years of experience to this position and will officially begin his district coordinator position on July 1, 2010.
             
  “District coordinators are critical to MSUE’s ability to move Michigan forward.  Working with local governments, nonprofits, school systems and neighborhood groups, MSUE is focused on providing the knowledge resources necessary to identify community challenges and propose and implement successful solutions,”  commented Michelle Rodgers, associate director of MSUE. “These leaders will represent Extension in communities across the state and serve the role of linking Michigan State University’s vast research and teaching resources to Michigan communities.”
             
  Creating the thirteen districts was part of Extension’s redesign to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the organization. Five regional director positions and 82 county Extension director positions were eliminated in the redesign and replaced with the redefined district coordinator role. Some staff members are being reassigned as education specialists increasing Extension’s capacity to get relevant and essential information critical to improving our communities and assisting individuals out to Michigan residents.
             
  “It is a great opportunity to work as the district coordinator in District 8,”  said Lehman. “I am fortunate to be in an area where I already know our quality staff and the supportive community partners well, and I look forward to helping build upon our good Extension programs to meet the needs of central Michigan.”
             
  Lehman joined MSUE in 1998 as a district Extension groundwater educator.  Utilizing his training and experience in administration, he became Montcalm Extension director in 2003 and MSU Southwest regional director in 2008. Lehman holds a bachelor’s degree in park and recreation administration from the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at Michigan State University, and a master’s degree in public administration from Western Michigan University.
             
  Lehman will join other district coordinators in training and program planning during the transition period leading up to July 1.
  #ml#

  Photo available upon request.