Staff Directory
Land Policy Institute Director
Soji Adelaja, Ph.D.
John A. Hannah Distinguished Professor in Land Policy
Director, Land Policy Institute
Director, Michigan Higher Education Land Policy (MIHELP) Consortium
Co-Director, People and Land
Professor in the MSU Departments of Agricultural, Food and Resource Economics; and Community, Agriculture, Recreation and Resource Studies; and the School of Planning Design and Construction
517.432.8800 Ext. 102
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Dr. Adelaja is an eclectic scholar and team-builder whose research and outreach programs span a variety of areas, including the areas of land use, land policy, renewable energy, metropolitan growth strategies, place science, prosperity science, New Economy growth modeling, political economy modeling and regional prosperity strategies in the New Economy. He is best known for his work in land use policy, agricultural and food policy at the urban fringe, asset-based economic development and emerging issues in the New Economy. His international work is focused largely on asset-based economic development strategies and economic placemaking for prosperity. A committed land grant scholar, his work has impacted on public policy in a variety of areas and he advises many leaders at the local, state, national and international levels.
Dr. Adelaja's recent ongoing policy research includes such topic areas as:
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economic performance of regions
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regional prosperity
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place science and the economics of place performance
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the emerging green economy
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land use in the New Economy
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renewable energy and economic development
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agricultural viability and farmland preservation
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population dynamics and the role of amenities
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impact of population loss on local economies
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strategic growth
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planning for the New Economy
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role of amenities in economic development
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new approaches to brownfield reuse
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innovation transfer in emerging economies
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implications of globalization for the economies of places
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immigration-based strategies for economic development
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food industry economic development and emerging issues in the food industry
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new agriculture
Prior to coming to MSU in 2003, he was at Rutgers University for 18 years, during which period he served as Executive Dean of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dean of Cook College, Executive Director of the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, Director of Rutgers Cooperative Extension, Professor and Chair of Agricultural Food and Resource Economics, Director of the Food Policy Institute, Director of the Food Innovation Center, and Director of the Eco-Policy Center. Soji has a Bachelor's degree in Agricultural Mechanization from the Pennsylvania State University, dual Master's degrees in Agricultural Economics and in Economics from West Virginia University, and a Ph.D. in Economics from West Virginia University.
Monica Day
Special Assistant to the Director
517.884.0796
Monica assists the Director with oversight of LPI's programs, projects, initiatives and activities. She is responsible for coordinating planning, reviews and accountability. Monica coordinates integrative administrative and programmatic functions to support the LPI units. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Ecology from Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois, and a Master of Science degree in Resource Development at MSU.
Kate Baird
Executive Assistant
517.432.8800 Ext. 102
As executive assistant to the John A. Hannah Distinguished Professor in Land Policy and the director of LPI, Kate manages his daily scheduling, travel and communication. After 30 years of employment at MSU, Kate is excited about being a part of the LPI team. Her educational focus at MSU was Resource Development.
Entrepreneurial Communities
Associate Professor, MSU Rural Entrepreneurship
Associate Director, Entrepreneurial Communities, Land Policy Institute
517.432.8800 Ext. 116
Barb's role at LPI is to develop and direct outreach programs for communities to create entrepreneurial support systems. As campus co-chair for the MSUE Economic Development Team, she helps lead several community-based programs; Energizing Entrepreneurs (e2) Institute, Business Resource Centers, Youth Entrepreneurship and Arts & Culture Entrepreneurship. She chairs EnGen, the mid-Michigan entrepreneurship education consortium, advises the MSU Entrepreneurship Association and teaches Entrepreneurship. At MSU, Barb taught retail horticulture, started Sparty's Flowers, directed University Outreach Instruction, developed programs for entrepreneurs at the Product Center for Agriculture and Natural Resources, and started her own business, Florabundance. She has taught at Oklahoma State University, and has degrees from Cornell University and Virginia Tech.
Faculty Research Development and MIHELP Consortium
John D. Warbach, Ph.D.
Professor at MSU
Associate Director, Faculty Research
Development, Land Policy Institute
Coordinator, MIHELP Consortium
517.884.0795
John coordinates the Michigan Higher Education Land Policy (MIHELP) Consortium, LPI research initiative development and teambuilding, curriculum development, grant administration and the Distinguished Speaker Series. He taught Landscape Architecture at the State University of New York and at MSU, and he has been a consultant to units of government at all levels on a wide range of environmental and land use planning projects. John has a Bachelor of Science degree from MSU, a Master's in Landscape Architecture from the University of California at Berkeley, and a Doctorate in Urban Forestry from MSU.
Yohannes G. Hailu, Ph.D.
Visiting Assistant Professor
Associate Director, Land Policy Research Program, Land Policy Institute
517.432.8800 Ext. 112
Yohannes is responsible for programmatic leadership of projects and initiatives of the Land Policy Research Program. His prior research encompasses regional growth modeling, the role of natural amenities in economic growth, linkages between growth and land use change, economic growth and inequality, renewable energy policy and land policy analysis. Yohannes holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Finance from the University of Asmara, Eritrea, as well as a Ph.D. in Natural Resource Economics from West Virginia University.
Chuck McKeown
Renewable Energy Program Manager and Informatics Coordinator, Land Policy Research Program
517.432.8800 Ext. 106
Chuck is responsible for managing LPI's Renewable Energy Program to provide science-based renewable energy policy information, data, research, analysis and outreach to stakeholders as part of the Land Policy Research Program. He is a member of the Michigan Wind Working Group, the State Wind Outreach Team, and the Great Lakes Wind Collaborative. Chuck holds two degrees from MSU, a Bachelor of Science degree in Entomology, and a Master of Science degree in Entomology, specializing in Ecology. He is also a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps.
Melissa Gibson
Special Initiatives Coordinator, Land Policy Research Program
517.432.8800 Ext. 110
As Special Initiatives Coordinator for the Hannah Professor in Land Policy, Melissa coordinates research projects that focus on priority land use issues. Melissa holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics, with a specialization in Environmental Economics, and a Master of Science degree in Agricultural Economics, with a specialization in Environmental and Resource Economics, both from MSU.
Majd Abdulla
Visiting Scholar, Land Policy Research Program
517.432.8800 Ext.113
Majd conducts research for the Land Policy Research Program in the areas of agricultural economic viability and sustainability. She is a Ph.D. candidate in Sustainable Agriculture. Majd has a Master's degree in Agricultural Economics from Iowa State University and a Bachelor's degree in Agricultural Science from the University of Damascus in Syria.
Benjamin Calnin
Data & Spatial Analyst, Land Policy Research Program
517.432.8800 Ext. 107
Ben collects, organizes and analyzes spatial data and other information for program initiatives and research projects. He received a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Studies and Applications, specializing in Spatial Information Processing, from MSU.
Wayne Beyea, J.D., AICP
Associate Director, Citizen Education, Land Policy Institute
Statewide Coordinator, Michigan Citizen Planner
514.432.7600 Ext. 115
Wayne provides leadership in delivering outreach and training programs for planning officials. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Urban Planning from MSU, a Master of Public Administration degree with a concentration in Community Development and Growth Management from the University of Maine, and a Juris Doctor Degree from MSU College of Law with a concentration in Environmental Law.
Gayle Taylor-Thorne
Administrative Assistant, Michigan Citizen Planner
514.432.7600 Ext. 114
As assistant to the Citizen Planner State Coordinator, Gayle's duties include budgeting, accounting, assisting with the implementation of Citizen Planner classroom programs around the state, and event planning.
Jessica McFarland
Account Manager
517.432.8800 Ext. 103
Rosalva Aguilar
Secretary
517.432.8800 Ext. 105
Rosalva serves as the receptionist for the Institute's main office. She processes financial transactions for the unit, including invoicing, billing, payroll and Personal Service Contracts. Rosalva also provides clerical support to the Land Policy Research Program and assists with student and labor hiring.
John A. Kinch, Ph.D.
Communications Manager
517.432.8800 Ext. 111
John manages marketing, communications and outreach for the Institute. He is responsible for the Institute's print and digital communications, legislative initiatives, annual summit, media relations and brand management. John serves as a liaison with like-minded partners of LPI and volunteers his time with sustainability organizations around the state. He holds a Ph.D. in American Studies from MSU and teaches courses on professional green communications and civic engagement.
Heidi Charron
Communications & Information Associate
517.432.8800 Ext. 109
Heidi supports all marketing, communications and outreach activities. As Webmaster for the Institute, she manages LPI's websites, including layout and content. Heidi also coordinates events, produces LPI's weekly e-newsletter, edits publications, monitors the Ask the Expert online discussion forums and manages LPI's exhibit displays. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Anthropology from Michigan State University.
Planning & Zoning Center at MSU
Mark A. Wyckoff, FAICP
Professor at MSU
Director, Planning & Zoning Center at MSU
Senior Associate Director, Land Policy Institute
517.432.2222 Ext. 120
Mark is a driving force in the outreach services of PZC and LPI. He has 30 years of applied planning experience in Michigan at the state, regional, and local level, with most of it as a private consultant. Mark has also been an assistant professor of Urban Planning at MSU at various times, teaching both graduate and undergraduate students. He has a Bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan and a Master's degree in Urban Planning from Michigan State University.
Program Development and People and Land
Mary Beth (Lake) Graebert
Program Development Manager
517.432.8800 Ext. 117
As Program Development Manager for the LPI, Mary Beth is responsible for helping existing programs to become sustainable and for developing innovative initiatives to meet new policy needs. She serves on the People and Land (PAL) Initiative Workgroup, a collaborative partnership funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation that provides a conduit between higher education and land use and economic development stakeholders. Mary Beth is a co-coordinator of the Public Policy Response Initiative, along with John Warbach and John Kinch, which seeks to put policy-relevant research from universities into the hands of decision makers at the state level. She is also a member of the LPI Administrative Team. Prior to her role in program development, Mary Beth served as the Institute's Associate Director for Operations and Research Program Coordinator. Mary Beth has a Bachelor's degree in International Relations from Michigan State University and a Master's degree in Applied Economics from the University of Minnesota.
3rd Fl. Manly Miles Bldg., 1405 S. Harrison Rd., East Lansing, MI 48823