International Extension Training Program 
Group XIII Biosketches

Mary Andrews is the Director of International Program for Extension at Michigan State University and is the organizer of the training program. She also serves as Coordinator of Staff Professional Development for MSUE. She has been with Extension for 25 years and has served as both program leader for International Programs and for Evaluation and Reporting. Mary has extensive international experience having worked in Asia, the Pacific Islands, Latin America and the Caribbean. She has directed a number of international research projects and currently is active in developing institutional linkages to promote faculty, student and professional exchange. Mary provides international training to support Michigan Extension agents and coordinates the hosting of international scholars and visitors to MSUE.

Harry Andrews is Mary’s husband. He is retired from the role of Director of the Learning Resources Center for the College of Human Medicine at MSU and now a full-time soccer referee for the local community. He has a Bachelor’s Degree from St. Lawrence University, NY and University of Denver and a Master’s Degree from the University of Hawaii in Educational Technology. Harry and Mary met in India when they served as U.S. Peace Corps Volunteers. Upon completion of his Master’s Degree, Harry and Mary worked as part of a University of Hawaii team at the Community College of Micronesia, in Pohnpei, the Eastern Caroline Islands. Harry is an active sports enthusiast and internationalist. He has worked with youth sports programs in Ireland and with farmer education programs in Boa Vista, Brazil. He accompanies Mary and assists with the MSU Study Abroad Program in India.

Joyce Belonga, 4-H Youth Agent for Mackinac County for the past 12 years, has interesting experiences before her tenure with 4-H.  She worked at a resort in Mackinac City and Mackinac Island and was an instructor for community education in the Straits area.  Joyce grew up in Ohio and attended Central Michigan University earning a B.S. degree in K-12 education.  She then pursued a masters degree in Administration and Community Leadership.  Joyce has visited Belize two time in one year.  Her hobbies include reading and learning.  She has two children; one, Lindsey, is a freshman at Grand Valley State University and Aaron, her son, is a sophomore and enjoys golfing.

Mona Ellard is currently the Eaton County Extension Director; she has been in this position for 4 years.  Her previous work experience includes teaching home economics in a Flint area high school for 13 years and then serving as a MSUE Home Economist for 16 years.  Mona graduated from Western Michigan University with and undergraduate degree in Home Economics and then obtained a Masters Degree from Michigan State University in Human Ecology.  Her international experiences include travels to Ireland, Canada, Mexico, France, Belgium and England.  In her spare time, Mona enjoys spending time with her family, reading, golfing and learning new things.  Mona has been married for 33 years, has one daughter and one son whom are both married.

Sherman Ellard, has worked in the automobile industry for over 30 years in the area of Quality Assurance. At present he tracks the inventory at the Lansing Parts Plant.  He has a bachelor's degree from Western Michigan University which he just received in 2003.  In his free time he loves to garden and is certified as an Advanced Master Gardener.  He traveled with the military right after high school  to Viet Nam, Korea and Japan and personally to Mexico, Canada, England, Bahamas, Netherlands, Belgium and France. He is married to Mona and they have two married children, Courtney and Kyle.

Brian Gardner has been the 4-H Youth Agent in Montcalm County for 4 years.  He was previously in business with his father.  He has a bachelor’s degree in biology from Michigan State University and plans to do graduate work in the future.  He traveled abroad with his high school band to the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark.  His family has a standardbred horse farm and Brian married Lisa on November 2, 2002.  Congratulations!

Lisa Gardner is the Tutoring Program Coordinator for Montcalm Community College in Sidney, Michigan where she also oversees many of the community's assessment exams.  Lisa received her associate's degree from Montcalm Community College and is currently pursuing a Bachelor's Degree.  Lisa is a member of the American Rabbit Breeders Association where she raises and shows angora rabbits.  Lisa along with her husband Brian enjoy traveling and have traveled throughout Western Europe and Canada.

Ron Goldy serves as the southwest district vegetable agent and is stationed at the SW Michigan Research and Extension Center in Benton Harbor.  He has been a manager of an orchard in western New York and worked at North Carolina State University.  His education has been at Eastern Michigan, Michigan State University and the University of Florida.  Ron’s international experiences have been in Mexico and Canada.  He enjoys his family, wildlife and reading.  He is married to Kathy and they have three children, Aaron, Mark and Laura.

David Guikema serves as the West Central Regional Director for Michigan State University Extension.  He has been employed by MSUE since 1983 serving as CED in Ionia County and then CED in Kent County.  His educational programs over the years have focused on crop production, economic development, and land use education.  Dave has a Masters Degree from MSU in Vocational Education.  Before joining MSUE he served as Vocational Agriculture Teacher.  His hobby is raising vegetables. 

Joyce Guikema received a BA from Calvin College in education, has taught school and also has served as school principal for five years.  After leaving education she has worked at a museum as well as in a local business.  Currently she is very busy at home as well as volunteering at her church with women and children. She has taught a Jr. Master Gardener course for Kent County Extension. She also tends her very large rose garden and other large flower beds.  She and her husband Dave have two adult, married sons. The Guikema's spent one summer in Columbia in the 1970s on a mission trip.

Jane Herbert has been the water quality agent at the Kellogg Biological Station's Extension Land and Water Program since 1996.  Before that Jane was both a stay-at-home mom and a fishery biologist.  Jane received an undergraduate degree in Fisheries from the University of Michigan and a master’s in Agriculture and Extension Education from Michigan State University.  Jane has worked for the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, an international agency, and other government agencies. She and Mark, her husband have traveled to England in 1982. In 2002 Jane, Mark and their youngest son, Gary, traveled to Rio de Janeiro to visit the family of their Brazilian exchange student.  Horse back riding, hiking, canoeing, and family are key interests of Jane’s. 

Mark Herbert is Jane’s husband of 30 years and they have two sons at Michigan State.  Mark has been with IBM Corporation for 26 years as an environmental chemist and then a computer network designer.  He holds a B.S. in Biology from Western Michigan University and an M.S. in Water Resources Science from University of Michigan.  Mark enjoys hunting, fishing, and gardening. 

 

Martin Nagelkirk has been the Extension County Extension Director and Field Crop Agent for Sanilac County for the past 15 years.  Prior to this, he served with Cornell Cooperative Extension as a field crop and vegetable agent.  As a young man, Martin worked on farms and ranches in Michigan, Wyoming, and Australia. Martin is a graduate of Michigan State University with a bachelor’s degree in Crop and Soil Sciences and a master’s degree in the same field from Cornell. Reading, hunting for small game, sports, his dogs and children are what Martin enjoys outside of his work. He is married to Joan Nagelkirk.  They have three sons, ages 23, 20 and 16 and are host parents to one exchange student, whom visits annually.

Joan Nagelkirk is co-owner of a business engaged in marketing, public relations and printing.  She is very involved in the Sanilac County community, serving as the Executive Director of the Sanilac County Community Foundation, and as a board member of McKenzie Memorial Hospital in Sandusky and of the Carsonville - Port Sanilac School.  In the past, Joan has served as the coordinator of Sanilac's Multi-Purpose Collaborative Body and in several positions as a Registered Nurse. She is married to Martin Nagelkirk.  They have two sons attending MSU and one son is a sophomore in High School.

Donny Ottoson has served Dickinson County as their 4-H Youth agent for the past 12 years.  He was a 4-H volunteer before that.  He has a BA in history and English and a minor in Speech Communications from Northern Michigan University.  Donny has traveled to Honduras, Belize, Mexico, North Guatemala and Costa Rica.  He served in the military and Coast Guard in the 70's  and was able to go to Cuba, Jamaica and Canada.  Organic gardening, traveling and being out doors are Donny’s personal hobbies.  All of his siblings live in the Upper Peninsula and he has a 24 year old son that lives with him.

Carolyn Penniman is the Extension Educator for Family and Consumer Sciences in Emmet and Cheboygan counties in northern Michigan. She has been an Extension Educator for four years, previously serving four counties in northeastern Michigan.  Carolyn has a B.A. in Sociology from Oberlin College and an M.S. in Agricultural and Extension Education from MSU. She traveled to Belize on an MSU Study Tour and worked in St. Lucia with an NGO team distributing corrective eye glasses.  Carolyn was born and raised in California. Her interests include gardening, reading and walking.  Carolyn and her husband Dave live near Petosky and they have two sons.

Dave Penniman, married to Carolyn for 27 years, is a former minister, and now a substance abuse counselor in Community Mental Health. Prior to serving as a counselor, Dave coordinated a hospice volunteer program. He has a Bachelor of Industrial Administration degree from Kettering University in Flint and Master of Divinity degree from Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California. Dave's international experience consists of travel to Israel, Belize and St.Lucia. His personal interests include yardwork, kayaking, cross-country skiing, and helping college-age sons move in and out of dorms.

Dan Rossman has been in extension as an Agriculture Agent for 22 years. During that time he has served the Gratiot and Isabella county area.  He is currently the CED for Gratiot county.  Dan was a Spartan at Michigan State University and received an undergraduate degree in Crop and Soil Science and a masters degree in Adult Education.  He has a wealth of international experience ranging from attending a conference and giving a talk in Switzerland, touring in Germany and France, being part of an Ag Marketing group study tour to China, Hong Kong, Korea and Japan, and hosting a German and a Japanese exchange student.  In addition to traveling, Dan enjoys working his certified organic farm raising soybeans, wheat, oats, corn and rye.  He is vary involved in keeping up with his four children and wife.  Diana is a senior in high school and serves her school as the drum major.  Donnalee, a sophomore in high school, is on the cross country team, a 4-H ambassador and plays the trombone.  Danae, a 7^th grader, is on the cross country team.   Devon, in 5^th grade, has his own chicken enterprise, raises his own eggs and is a student representative at school.  His wife, Denise, has a degree in Dairy Science from Michigan State. 

Denise Rossman is the wife of Dan Rossman. Denise is a graduate of Michigan State University with a degree in Dairy Science. She is self-employed with a fabric and craft store that she started with her mother and sister in 1986. Denise and Dan have 4 children, 3 girls and a boy. Denise also substitute teaches part time for elementary age children. She is active in her church and is a 4-H leader. Denise enjoys sewing crafts and animals.

Diane Ruonavaara a 4-H/FCS Evaluation Specialist has been with Michigan State University for 2 1/2 years.  Dianne has a PHD in Resource Development from MSU, focusing on community development and Latin American studies.  She has traveled in Central America, Ecuador, Mali, the Dominican Republic and India.  Diane enjoys organic gardening, canoing and wilderness camping and being with her grandchildren.  She is married to Brian and has three grown children.

 

Louise Ryan has served for seven years as the Technology Transfer Agent in VanBuren County.  She previously worked at the Bronson Hospital.  Her education has been at Western Michigan University and Arizona State University.  Louise has traveled to Brazil, Jamaica, Mexico and Canada.  She enjoys painting landscapes. Louise grew-up on a grape farm in SW Michigan.

Jim Wiesing has been the County Extension Director in Grand Travers County for the past 10 years.  He also serves as the Co-chair of the MSUE Area of Expertise Team for Community Development.  His education includes a BS in Business Administration from the University of Missouri and a Masters degree in Extension Education from MSU with a focus on community development.  Jim has traveled to the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Jamaica, Canada and Mexico.  His hobbies include biking, woodworking, boating and working out in his exercise room.  He is married to Cass Miller, has 4 children including identical twin daughters and two granddaughters. 

Cass Miller is spouse to Jim Wiesing. She is a business manager in a dental clinic in Traverse City.  She has been in this position for 4 years.  Prior to that, Cass had been using her BA in Business from Ferris State University in various roles, including office manager, loan officer, financial officer for a community foundation and acting as Director of Hospital Foundation for Fund Raising.  Traveling to Europe, enjoying London and Paris, and Mexico are Cass’s international experience.  Cass enjoys roller blading, biking, walking, tennis, reading and her miniature daschund.  Cass has been married to Jim for 4 years and has 4 step children and 2 step grandchildren.