Local Government Educators and Committee

Michelle Norris is a Community and Economic Development Educator with University of Illinois Extension at the Champaign Center. She has more than a decade of progressive community development experience in the United States and abroad, in areas including strategic and organizational planning, recreation and tourism development, business retention and expansion strategies, local government education, community development research, project management and grants administration.

Michelle has a B.A. in Political Science from John Carroll University, an M.A. in International Studies from The Ohio State University and an M.A. in Political Science from Western Illinois University. She served in the United States Peace Corps as a College Instructor/Community Project Coordinator, and subsequently as Program Manager for the Council on World Affairs in Columbus, Ohio. Michelle joined University of Illinois Extension in 2003 as a Community and Economic Development Educator in the Clark County Unit. Prior to her Extension appointment, she completed a year-long strategic planning initiative with Clark County, while serving as a Western Illinois University Peace Corps Fellow in Community Development.

In addition to her work with University of Illinois Extension, Michelle has authored numerous community development articles for the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs and the Illinois Municipal League. She is a member of the National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals, the Community Development Society and the Association for International Agricultural and Extension Education. She currently serves as a Co-Chair for Extension's Community and Economic Development Team and as Vice-Chair for Extension's International Committee.

Larry W. Wilson is an Extension Educator in Community and Economic Development at the Countryside Extension Center and provides community-based leadership training, researches and develops educational programs on community leadership and volunteerism and works closely with community groups and grassroots organizations.

Wilson's education includes a B.S. in animal science and vocational education, a secondary education-teaching certificate and an M.S. in Extension Education. He completed his Ph.D. at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign College of Education in the field of organizational leadership and development.

From January through December 2006, Wilson served on special assignment for the Assistant Dean, Urban and Metropolitan Affairs, University of Illinois Extension as Visiting Educator, Staff Development, Training and Mentoring. From January 1999 through July 2000, Wilson served on special assignment to the Associate Dean, University of Illinois College of Agriculture, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, as Program Coordinator for Rural Route 2, a confidential help system for farm families in need. Wilson previously served as interim state specialist in leadership development for the University of Illinois Cooperative Extension Service from August 1995 to May of 1996. He also serves as program coordinator for the Marshall Memorial Foundation, Washington, DC in which he develops, organizes and facilitates learning opportunities for young leaders representing the European Community.

Dr. Wilson helped design the national and Illinois Family Community Leadership (FCL) Program that teaches citizens and grassroots leaders how to work with and influence political leaders and public policy. Wilson has worked with all ages and sizes of audiences. His expertise in facilitating educational workshops through an engaging interaction model has been recognized around the world. Wilson and two colleagues have conducted sessions at the Ninth Annual International Conference on Post-Compulsory Education, Griffin University, Queensland, Australia and the International Conference for Adult Literacy, Murdock, University, Perth, Western Australia. Most recently, Wilson conducted educational sessions at the Hawaii International Conference on Education.

In 2007, Wilson was recognized by the Association of Leadership Educators with their Distinguished Service Award, the Highest Honor bestowed by the Association for his service and contributions to the field of leadership Education. Wilson was also inducted into the Distinguished Alumni Society, Lake Land College, Mattoon, Illinois earlier in 2007.

In 2005, Wilson and a team of colleagues received the Outstanding and Innovative Program award, University of Illinois Extension for "Which Way is Right", and educational program for county board members and local officials focusing on risk management. In 2000, Wilson was recognized as the Outstanding Agricultural Alumni by Lake Land College, Mattoon, Illinois.

Wilson received the National Association of County Agricultural Agents Distinguished Service Award for 1996. In 1993, Wilson and the Master Gardener Design Team, Chicago/Cook Unit, received recognition for Outstanding and Innovative Programs. His other awards include the Academic Professional Award for Excellence (1991); Illinois Cooperative Extension Service Peer Award; the Lake Land College Distinguished Alumni Award, (1991); and the National Association of County Agricultural Agents Achievement Award, (1989).

Wilson's professional affiliations include the National and Illinois Association of Community and Economic Development Professionals; the Association of Leadership Educators where he has served as President, Vice-President, Treasurer and Program Chair. Wilson has also provided leadership to the National Association of County Agricultural Agents, Illinois Extension Advisers Association, Epsilon Sigma Phi and Gamma Sigma Delta.

Statewide, Wilson has provided facilitation skills for the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Governor's Green Communities Grant Program. Within the Chicago Metropolitan Area Wilson is known for his network of area agencies and organizations. He additionally provides leadership and facilitation skills to numerous Extension Committees and groups at the state and local level.

Heather Coyle serves a dual appointment as Visiting Commmunity and Economic Development Educator, and Program Coordinator for the chronic disease self-management program entitled "Live Well Be Well."

Ms. Coyle graduated "summa cum laude" with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, followed by a Masters of Business Adminstration from Liberty University in Virginia. She was employed by the University for numerous years, concluding her with her appointment as an Academic Advisor for the School of Life Long Learning.

Upon returning to Illinois, Ms. Coyle was employed by Skills Incorporated as a Business Instructor. She then served 9 years as Central Services Administrator for Whiteside County Courthouse in Morrison, prior to her employment with the University of Illinois.

A native of La Salle-Peru, she has been a resident of Morrison since 1992 and has learned to appreciate the resources rural communities in Illinois have to offer.

Terry has two bachelor of arts degrees in communications (Organizational) and political science (International Relations) and a master's degree in public administration.

Terry has a diverse background divided between education/training and as a practitioner at the local and federal government levels. Her experience runs the gamut from being in charge of community development for the City of Indianapolis under the auspices of the CFO/Administrator for Community Development and Financial Services, to team member, then managing editor of the White House Task Force on Reinventing Government. Terry also served in the US Army as an Intelligence Analyst and Korean linguist.

With Extension, Terry focuses on programs designed to assist businesses and organizations in developing more positive work environments, employee relationships and robust bottom lines. At the local government level, Terry helped developed and currently provides Tomorrow's Leaders: Understanding Illinois Local Government to high school teachers in northern Illinois; is one of the instructors of the Certified County Officials program; offers strategic planning and other facilitation programming; and, works with associated agencies and nonprofits to better organize and provide services. She is also proficient in statistical analysis and demographics.

Terry is an adjunct professor of political science and public administration and has extensive experience in professional training in both public and private sector.

Terry holds a BA in communications from Eastern Illinois University, a MA in Social Justice Professions from Sangamon State University (now University of Illinois - Springfield) and a JD from Depaul University. He is a member of the National Association of Extension 4-H Agents (NAE4-HA), the Illinois and National Associations of Community Development Extension Professionals and the Illinois Extension Professionals for Youth Education.

He also belongs to the Illinois State Bar Association and serves on the Local Government Law Section Council of that organization. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Illinois Alliance for Arts in Education, the Illinois Juvenile Justice Initiative and the Advisory Board of the Illinois Youth Court Association. He is co-chair of the North Central Illinois Works - Youth Committee.

Terry believes that safe healthy communities provide the foundation for positive youth development and, toward that end, he is active with many organizations, committees, coalitions and councils.

Terry has presented to many youth, community and professional audiences. He is available primarily for programs related to leadership, service, social capacity building, organizing and similar topics.

Jim Becker is a community and economic development educator with University of Illinois Extension. His degrees are from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. He holds a master's degree in community development and a bachelor's in cinema and photography.

Becker specializes in community development, volunteerism, public policy education and community leadership.

He is a member of the Community Development Society and the American Creativity Association.

His community activities include involvement with the Salem Theater Board and the Salem Tennis Association.

Earl Bricker earned his bachelor's degree in political science with minors in English and secondary education from Western Illinois University. He received his master's degree in public policy analysis from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

During his career, Bricker has been an educator in the United States and abroad, involved with fundraising and grant writing, administered nonprofit organizations, managed educational and research programs within university centers and has worked in various levels of government, as staff, lobbyist and as an elected official.

Professional organizations include: Illinois Association of Community Development Extension Professionals (IL-ACDEP), Agriculture & Tourism Partners of Illinois; Illinois State Microenterprise Initiative; Rural Partners; Community Development Society, and Epsilon Sigma Phi.

Kathleen Brown received a bachelor's degree in home economics from Western Illinois University and a masters degree in health science/community health education from Western Illinois University.

Brown is a member of the National Association for Community Leadership, Community and Economic Development Team, and Association of Leadership Educators. She currently serves as a member of the Rural Partners statewide Affordable Housing Task Force.

Amanda Cole serves as Extension Educator, Community and Economic Development. She holds a bachelor of arts in business and a M.B.A. from Eastern Illinois University.

She has attended both Year 1, 2 & 3 of the Midwest Community Development Institute. She works with the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation, a local non-4 profit, who works "To Build a Brighter Future for Montgomery County."

Previous work experience includes C.E.F.S. Economic Opportunity Corporation and the former American Express Financial Advisors.