State Outreach

State Outreach personnel provide a direct line of communication between the University of Michigan and communities statewide. Their goal is to connect U-M resources such as faculty expertise, student projects, unique facilities, research opportunities and findings to the needs of Michigan communities. To that end, they regularly travel the state to establish and maintain personal contact with community organizations, associations and local leaders.

State Outreach includes the Lansing Service Center which manages the Wolverine Caucus that links the expertise and research of University faculty with legislators, staff and interested alumni in the greater Lansing area. The monthly caucus seminars provide relevant research findings about topics of current interest to the state’s policy makers.

State Outreach also manages the Michigan Road Scholars Tour, a traveling seminar around the State of Michigan for UM faculty. This educational tour exposes faculty to the state’s economy, government, culture, educational systems, health and social issues, history, and geography. The goal is to encourage university faculty to think about ways their own academic work can help organizations, individuals and communities in our home state.

Associate Director of State Outreach, LaSonia Forte

LaSonia Forte

Associate Director of State Outreach

ljforte@umich.edu | 734-764-7901

LaSonia Forte serves the eastern region of the State of Michigan, including Detroit, Saginaw, Bay City, Midland, and Alpena. As an outreach representative in the Office of Government Relations, LaSonia's role is to build strategic partnerships in the business, institutional, government, education and non-profit sectors throughout the east side of Michigan.

Associate Director Dana Sitzler

Dana Sitzler

Associate Director of State Outreach

dds@umich.edu | 734-763-5554

Dana's areas of outreach include the west side of Michigan, northern, Tribal Connections and Project Manager for Michigan Road Scholars Tour.