Explore our projects by region and focus area.
We encourage you to reach out to us with your sustainability ideas. Please contact the Executive Director in your region with your local project idea, or our statewide food or energy staff with questions about their work to advance food systems and clean energy across the state. We look forward to hearing from you!
Our staff
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Kathryn Draeger, Statewide Director, RSDP
[email protected], 612-625-3148
Kathryn Draeger, PhD, has served as the Statewide Director of the Extension Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships and an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics since 2005. As director of the Regional Partnerships, Kathy leads a multi-college program with one statewide and five regional and community-University boards to identify and address community issues of sustainable agriculture and food systems, natural resources, clean energy and resilient communities. Kathy's areas of research expertise include rural vitality, small and medium-size farm access to intermediated markets, supply chain models, and rural grocery store capacity and role in the food system. Kathy is nationally known for her expertise on rural grocery issues. Her research on an innovative bi-directional “backhaul” model for increasing farmer access to wholesale markets via rural grocery stores was featured in the University of Minnesota's 2018-19 Driven to Discover campaign. Kathy and her family farm in rural Big Stone County, Minnesota and produce wind power, grass fed beef, and organic grains and edible beans.
Constance Carlson, Assistant Statewide Director, RSDP
[email protected], 612-709-6790
Anne Dybsetter, Assistant Director of Operations, RSDP
[email protected], 320-235-0726 x 2012
Diane Seefeldt, Executive Secretary, RSDP
[email protected], 218-726-7555
Mary Hannemann, Student Engagement Director, RSDP
[email protected], 612-624-9430
Sara Rummel, Special Projects Manager, RSDP Empowering Small Minnesota Communities
[email protected], 612-626-5943
Gigi Otten, Sustainability Storyteller, Communications & Public Relations
[email protected], 612-625-4744
Molly Zins, Executive Director, Central RSDP
[email protected], 218-828-2332
Jan Jackola, Outreach Specialist, Central RSDP
[email protected], 218-236-2433
Jennifer Rushin, Executive Office and Administrative Specialist
[email protected], 218-828-2275
Central RSDP web page.
David Abazs, Executive Director, Northeast RSDP
[email protected], 218-726-6146
Tracy Chaplin, Outreach Specialist, Northeast RSDP
[email protected], 218-940-2196
Diane Seefeldt, Executive Office and Administrative Specialist, Northeast RSDP
[email protected], 218-726-7555
Northeast RSDP web page
Shannon Stassen, Executive Director, Northwest RSDP
[email protected], 218-281-8693
Crystal Rayamajhi, Outreach Specialist, Northwest RSDP
[email protected], 218-236-2001
Zachary Paige, Program Coordinator, Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems, Northwest RSDP
[email protected], 631-807-5163
Dawn Marinaro, Executive Office and Administrative Specialist, Northwest RSDP
[email protected], 320-203-6050
Northwest RSDP web page.
Andi Sutton, Executive Director, Southeast RSDP
[email protected], 857-928-4196
Danielle Piraino, Outreach Specialist, Southeast RSDP
[email protected], 507-258-8770
Dawn Marinaro, Executive Office and Administrative Specialist, Southeast RSDP
[email protected], 320-203-6050
Southeast RSDP web page.
Beth Labenz, Executive Director, Southwest RSDP
[email protected], 507-372-3900
Mary Jo Fox, Executive Office and Administrative Specialist, Southwest RSDP
[email protected], 320-235-0726 x 2001
Tobin Tyler, Assistant Project Manager, Southwest RSDP
[email protected], 401-787-0124
Southwest RSDP web page.
Josh Kielsmeier-Cook, Statewide Sustainable Ag and Food Systems Director, RSDP
[email protected], 612-965-7047
Zachary Paige, Program Coordinator, Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems, RSDP
Specialty: Rural Grocery
[email protected], 631-807-5163
Christopher Brittain, Program Associate, Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems, RSDP
[email protected], 320-203-6050
Joel Haskard, Statewide Co-Director, Clean Energy Resource Teams, RSDP
[email protected], 612-625-8759
Melissa Birch, Statewide Co-Director, Clean Energy Resource Teams, RSDP
[email protected], 218-866-2338
Shaylyn Bernhardt, Communications and Engagement Manager, Clean Energy Resource Teams, RSDP
[email protected], 612-626-0556
Maggie Kozak, Event Programming and Seed Grant Manager, Clean Energy Resource Teams, RSDP
[email protected], 612-626-0555
Karen Weldon, Evaluation Coordinator, Clean Energy Resource Teams, RSDP
[email protected], 612-626-0455
Peter Lindstrom, Local Government Outreach Coordinator, Clean Energy Resource Teams, RSDP
[email protected], 612-625-9634
Heidi Auel, Regional Coordinator, Central, Clean Energy Resource Teams, RSDP
[email protected], 218-828-2273
Nik Allen, Regional Coordinator, NE, Clean Energy Resource Teams, RSDP
[email protected], 218-726-6480
Anna Peterson, Regional Coordinator, NW, Clean Energy Resource Teams, RSDP
[email protected], 218-280-8994
Jennifer Lindahl, Regional Coordinator, SE, Clean Energy Resource Teams, RSDP
[email protected], 507-258-8770
Gigi Otten, Sustainability Storyteller, Communications & Public Relations
[email protected], 612-625-4744
Our projects
Explore our projects
Reviewed in 2022