Neumann to Coordinate New MSU Extension District

posted on April 28, 2010 9:22am

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EAST LANSING, Mich.—Michigan State University Extension (MSUE) is pleased to announce that Brad Neumann has been appointed as the district coordinator for District 13 which covers Van Buren, Berrien, Cass,  Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, Calhoun, and Branch counties. Neumann brings seven 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.
             
  “These are challenging times for all of Michigan, but MSU Extension was designed to help residents, businesses, and organizations innovate and overcome adversity,” said Neumann. “I am eager to help lead MSU Extension into the future by fostering new partnerships and coordinating the delivery of timely,  transformational education that will help put Michigan on a path to renewed prosperity.”
             
  Neumann moves to the District 13 coordinator position from the role of   Extension land policy educator housed in St. Joseph County. His work experiences range from research and teaching as a National Science Foundation Fellow to community and economic development as a planning consultant. He is a graduate of the Great Lakes Leadership Academy and a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners. Neumann holds a bachelor’s degree in land use planning and economics from Northern Michigan University and a master’s degree in resource economics and policy from the University of Maine.
             
  Neumann will join other district coordinators in training and program planning during the transition period leading up to July 1.
  #ml#

Photo available upon request.