About us

Kathleen Tweeten, Director
Center for Community Vitality and Community Economic Development Specialist.   

 Sandy Erickson, Administrative Office Manager
  

The NDSU Extension Center for Community Vitality Advisory Board represents strong diverse community interests, agencies, and education entities throughout the state of North Dakota.

 
Center for Community Vitality Advisory Board Members

 Bill Davis, Out Reach Coordinator, ND USDA Rural Development; 701-530-2042

 Gary Goreham, Professor, NDSU Department of Sociology/Anthropology; 701-231-7637

 Paul Govig, Director, Division of Community Services; 701-328-5300

 Cornelius Grant, Consultant; 701-328-7252

 Larry Lesitritz, Professor, NDSU Department of Agri/Business & Applied Economics; 701-231-7455

 Bill Patrie, Director, Common Enterprise Development Corporation (CEDC); 701-663-3886

 Tim Peterson, Associate Professor, NDSU College of Business; 701-231-7061

 Randy Schneider, CPA, Senger & Associates PC; 701-222-4100

 Terry Traynor, Assistant Director, ND Association of Counties; 701-328-7300

Center for Community Vitality Program Planning Team 

The Program Planning Team for the area of community, economic development and leadership is listed below. This team designs and gathers input on critical needs and issues affecting the residents of North Dakota. The team assesses these needs and issues for priority, including the capability of the NDSU Extension Service to address these needs.   Co-chairs of the team are: *Marie Hvidsten and *Jodi Bruns. If you would like to provide input into this program area, please send an e-mail to any individuals name listed below.

Donna Anderson - NDSU Foster County Extension Agent, Family Economics
Lance Brower - NDSU Stutsman County Extension Agent, Cropping Agent
*Jodi Bruns-NDSU Dickey County Extension Agent, Horizons Community Leadership Coach
Lynette Flage - NDSU Extension Horizons Community Leadership Specialist
Chet Hill - NDSU Williston Research & Extension Center, Area Extension Specialist/Value Added
Scott Hochhalter - NDSU Extension State Soil Conservation Specialist
*Marie Hvidsten - NDSU Extension Rural Leadership North Dakota Specialist
David Lehman - NDSU Extension Manufacturing Engineer
Randy Mehlhoff - Director, NDSU Langdon Research & Extension Center
Glenn Muske -NDSU Extension Rural & Agribusiness Enterprise Development Specialist
Helen Volk-Schill - NDSU Pembina County Extension Agent, Community, Economic Development & Leadership
Sharon Smith - NDSU Mountrail County Extension Agent, Family & Consumer Sciences 
Kathleen Tweeten - Director, NDSU Extension Center for Community Vitality, Community Economic Development Specialist
Rachelle Vettern - Assistant Professor, NDSU Extension Center for 4-H Youth Development Leadership/Volunteer Development Specialist

NDSU Resource Faculty

Paul Brown-MBA Director, NDSU College of Business [Senior Lecturer, Management]
Gary Goreham - Associate Professor, Sociology [Rural Sociology, Voluntary Organizations, Research & Cooperatives]
Larry Leistritz - Professor, Agribusiness and Applied Economics, Research Specialist [Assessing Socioeconomic Impacts & Feasibility Studies]
Tim Peterson - Associate Professor, NDSU College of Business
Richard Rathge - Professor, NDSU and Director North Dakota State Data Center [Demography (Population Studies), Community/Economic Development, Survey Design and Methodology]

Center for Community Vitality Brochure
for more information

Community Economic Development and Leadership Staff listing
for more information