College of Agriculture & Natural Resources Alumni & Friends

The College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) has nearly 60,000 alumni living around the world. The CANR Alumni Board helps connect this large and diverse alumni community to meaningful ways to engage with the college after graduation.

The mission of the CANR Alumni Board is to build relationships that serve the college, alumni, students and friends of MSU. The board consists of volunteer members representing each of the college departments, MSU Extension, young alumni and at-large members. These members meet quarterly in East Lansing.

Alumni Board members have a variety of responsibilities, including promoting college events and philanthropic opportunities. They also serve as liaisons between the college, academic departments, alumni, and the agriculture and natural resources industries, among other duties. The work of the Alumni Board helps to keep the CANR community vibrant and connected.

Members of the Alumni Board recently helped select recipients of the 2026 ANR Awards and played a leading role in promoting CANR’s fundraising efforts on Give Green Day. The Board also manages the awarding of student club grants and CANR Alumni Association Student Scholarships.

CANR is releasing a series of spotlights on Alumni Board members. These stories highlight each member's motivation for joining the board and share their experiences in this role. Holly Bowers recently joined the CANR Alumni Executive Board. She earned her bachelor’s degree in 1998 from the Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering.

Bowers is currently the Vice President of Gas Engineering, Planning and Supply for Consumers Energy, the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy. She has almost 30 years of experience in the energy industry and has been instrumental in leading organizations within engineering, operations and business planning.

How did your experience at CANR set you up for success in your career after graduation?

CANR gave me a strong foundation in critical thinking, problem-solving and understanding how technical decisions ultimately affect people, communities and the environment. It also gave me the confidence and curiosity to pursue opportunities beyond what I originally envisioned, helping me tackle complex challenges, which enabled me to lead through change and balance business needs throughout my career in the energy industry. Just as importantly, my experience at MSU reinforced the value of relationships, collaboration and continuous learning—CANR taught me the belief that the best leaders never stop asking questions or expanding their perspective.

What inspired you to become a CANR Alumni Board member?

MSU helped launch my career, so serving on the CANR Alumni Board is a meaningful opportunity to give back and help students imagine what their own careers could become. I am passionate about connecting what students are learning today with the challenges industries will need them to solve tomorrow and showing them that their degree is the beginning of their story—not the definition of where they can go. Through the Board, I hope to bring an industry perspective, support the next generation of leaders and stay connected to the Spartan community that has meant a great deal to me.

What advice do you have for CANR current students?

Be curious, take some risks and say yes before you feel completely ready. You do not need to have your entire career mapped out when you graduate; many of my most valuable opportunities came from stepping outside my comfort zone and into roles I had not originally imagined. Build relationships with professors, classmates, alumni, mentors and people closest to the work, and seek experiences that challenge you. Your technical knowledge matters, but curiosity, courage, integrity and the ability to understand different perspectives will take you even further.

How would you encourage other CANR alumni to get involved and connect with the college?

I would encourage alumni to think about the person or experience that made a difference early in their career, then find a way to provide that for someone else. Giving back does not have to require a major time commitment—it could mean mentoring a student, speaking to a class, attending an alumni event, opening a door to an internship, or simply offering perspective when a student asks for advice. Staying involved is personally rewarding and strengthens the CANR community by connecting today’s students with the mentors, experiences and relationships that can shape their success.

What kind of impact do you hope to have as a member of the CANR Alumni Board?

I hope to strengthen the bridge between students, alumni and industry by helping students connect what they are learning today with the real-world challenges they will be asked to solve tomorrow. In my own career, engineering decisions directly affect families, communities and the economy—from improving safety and modernizing infrastructure to keeping energy affordable and preparing for a cleaner, increasingly digital future. CANR gave me a strong foundation, unexpected opportunities and relationships that helped me grow, and I want to provide those same connections for the next generation. If I can broaden students’ perspectives, help them explore opportunities they may not have considered and give them the confidence to bring their voice to the conversation, that would be a meaningful contribution.

More information about the CANR Alumni Board and ways you can get involved with Alumni Association can be found here.