Great Lakes Leadership Academy celebrates 2025 graduating cohort and honors statewide alumni of the Leadership Advancement Program

Kara Kelly<kellyk16@msu.edu> and Audrey Etzin-Gagner<gagnerau@msu.edu>, Michigan State University Extension - March 06, 2025

The Leadership Advancement Program is a rigorous, year-long experience for leaders dedicated to empowering their communities and organizations for the common good.

For decorative purposes. — Participants of the 8th Leadership Advancement Program cohort completed their international capstone experience in South Africa over the course of 11 days in January 2025.

The Great Lakes Leadership Academy (GLLA), a premier leadership development program through Michigan State University Extension, proudly graduated its 8^th cohort of the Leadership Advancement Program (LAP). The ceremony took place in February 2025, with a special gala to honor both graduates and alumni of the program.

"We are immensely proud of this cohort, whose diverse talents and unwavering commitment to service exemplify the spirit of leadership that drives positive change in Michigan and beyond," said Jordan Burroughs, director of the Great Lakes Leadership Academy. "Their dedication to addressing complex issues in agriculture, natural resources, and community development is truly inspiring."

At the graduation event, Burroughs announced the formation of a statewide alumni membership network to connect past GLLA program participants to continued leadership development opportunities.

Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame inductee John Bebow, while accepting GLLA’s 2025 William Milliken Leadership for the Common Good Award, also shared insights on the importance of collaborative leadership in today’s dynamic societal landscape.

Bebow served as the founding executive leader of the nonprofit news service Bridge Michigan from 2006 to 2022, an organization widely recognized for their delivery of in-depth, nonpartisan coverage of Michigan public policy and political spheres.

Immersive leadership development for the common good

The 8th cohort of the year-long Leadership Advancement Program (LAP) brought together 24 Michigan leaders committed to enhancing their skills and empowering their communities for the common good. This rigorous experience included two classroom intensives, three community-based regional sessions, virtual cohort projects, and an international capstone in South Africa.

Participants explored topics such as regenerative agriculture, urban sustainability, and indigenous knowledge through hands-on learning, site visits, and cross-cultural engagement. The 11-day capstone in South Africa focused on food systems, natural resources, and leadership in a global context, broadening perspectives on complex societal challenges while fostering leadership growth and systems thinking.

Graduates of the Leadership Advancement Program’s 8^th cohort include:

Jon Beard
Director, Public Sector Consultants
Trust Manager, Great Lakes Fishery Trust

Christina Contreras Stone
Communications Program Manager, Great Lakes Fishery Commission

Christine Heverly
Volunteer Management Co-Lead/Extension Educator
Michigan State University Extension

Tiffany Jones
Business Opportunity Director, Detroit Water & Sewerage Department

Andrea LaFontaine
Executive Director, Michigan Trails & Greenways Alliance

Caroline Liethen
Senior Manager of Regulatory Affairs, Magna International

Charles Loveland
Sales Representative, Golden Harvest

Andrea Munoz-Hernandez
District Supervisor, Michigan Dept. of Environment, Great Lakes & Energy

Matthew Munsell
Owner, Munsell Farms/Munsell’s Poultry Processing

David Ortega
Professor, Noel W. Stuckman Chair in Food Economics & Policy at Michigan State University

Taylor Ridderbusch
Executive Policy Advisor, Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources

Marisa Rinkus
Associate Director & Co-Founder, Toolbox Dialogue Initiative Center

Rebecca Rogers
GIS/IT Manager, Michigan Natural Features Inventory

Mitchell Schafer
Vice President of Agribusiness Lending, GreenStone Farm Credit Services

Emily Sorroche
Associate Director, MSU College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Office of Culture, Access and Belonging

Julie Staveland
Assistant Division Director, Michigan Dept. of Environment, Great Lakes & Energy

Jason Stephens
Forest Resources Division Assistant Chief, Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources

Tina Stephens
Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator, City of Ann Arbor

Jenna Tews
Sea Lamprey Control Program Station Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Katelyn Thompson
Agribusiness Program Manager, Lucid Insurance

Carla Wardin
Owner, Evergreen Dairy

Benjamin Wickerham
Agriculture Program Director, The Nature Conservancy

Michael Witkowski
Director of Environmental and Regulatory Policy, Michigan Manufacturers Association

Michael Wozniak
Environmental Engineer, Michigan Dept. of Agriculture and Rural Development

About Great Lakes Leadership Academy

The Great Lakes Leadership Academy, part of MSU Extension, develops leaders through intentional personal introspection and growth, working across differences to create constructive and inclusive solutions for today’s complex problems. The Academy offers programs designed to enhance leadership skills, promote civic engagement, and foster collaboration among diverse sectors to lead for the common good.

For more information about the Great Lakes Leadership Academy and its programs, please visit glla.msu.edu.

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).