Twenty-one fellows of the Food Systems Leadership Institute were honored during a ceremony at the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities annual meeting. Shana Forster of North Dakota State University was among those honored. She currently serves as director at the NDSU North Central Research Extension Center and a district director for NDSU Extension.

The fellows were recognized for their accomplishments in completing the Food Systems Leadership Institute executive leadership development program and for contributions they have made to their organizations and the broader higher education and food systems.

“The Food Systems Leadership Institute program provided me with the opportunity to develop my personal, organizational and food systems leadership abilities,” says Forster. “I am grateful for the ability to network with others serving in leadership roles across the U.S.”

The institute is a two-year program designed for experienced leaders in academia, government and industry. Through a dynamic curriculum that includes three executive-style residential sessions, individual coaching, mentoring and personal projects, the program seeks to enhance personal leadership ability, develop skills and knowledge for organizational change, and broaden perspectives on integrated food systems.

Fellows report that the experience has significantly impacted their leadership abilities. More than 40% of alumni have experienced promotions, selection to lead high-profile initiatives, election to university-wide leadership posts, and other recognitions. Other fellows are using their enhanced leadership and broader food systems perspectives to lead change from their current positions.

The Food Systems Leadership Institute is a program of the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities. It was created with financial support from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and is operated in a partnership between North Carolina State University, The Ohio State University, and California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. More information is available at www.fsli.org.

NDSU Agriculture Communication – Nov. 22, 2023

Contact: Shana Forster, 701-857-7679, shana.forster@ndsu.edu

Editor: Elizabeth Cronin, 701-231-7881, elizabeth.cronin@ndsu.edu