Leveraging Higher Education Institutions for Regional Economic Innovation

The Michigan State University Center for Community and Economic Development Approach

Authors

  • Mary ZumBrunnen Michigan State University
  • Jenan Jondy Michigan State University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18060/28675

Keywords:

Asset-based community development, Economic Development, Economic Revitalization, Educational Leadership, community engaged research, community engaged scholarship, innovation, technical assistance, entrepreneurship, Land-grant University Model

Abstract

Inequities continue to weaken Michigan's capacity to respond quickly and effectively to crises, both natural and human made. Minority and low-income populations, already disadvantaged, suffer the burden of the inequitable social, environmental, and economic injustices that have culminated in previously unacknowledged levels. Since 2011, the Michigan State University U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) University Center for Regional Economic Innovation (REI) has been leveraging higher education assets in collaboration with distressed regions to support the co-creation, co-implementation, and dissemination of new economic development strategies to build equitable, resilient, and inclusive economies. The Michigan State University Center for Community and Economic Development (CCED) and its Regional Economic Innovation (REI) initiative’s unique approach embraces collaboration to create innovative economic development tools, models, policies, and programs to improve the lives of underserved and historically excluded citizens. The Center addresses these challenges through community engagement, strategic partnerships, and collaborative learning.

 

Through technical assistance, Student-Led Faculty-Guided (SLFGs) projects, Co-Learning Plans (CLPs), and Innovation Fellowships (IFs), REI and partners co-create innovative and equitable initiatives leading to long-term economic recovery across Michigan. Addressing these issues requires an innovative, community-centered approach that leverages higher education assets. Engaging Michigan’s underserved communities through a collaborative model can drive high-growth entrepreneurship, job creation, and equitable economic development, fostering resilience and long-term prosperity.

REI’s approach also emphasizes justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging (JEDI+B), and draws on the unique strengths of higher education to empower local communities. The model has produced measurable impacts, such as increased investments and strengthened community networks, positioning REI as a replicable model for regional economic innovation.

Author Biography

Jenan Jondy, Michigan State University

Jenan Jondy

Jenan Jondy is the REI Coordinator at Michigan State University's Center for Community and Economic Development. She holds a Bachelor of Science in biology, a minor in chemistry and Master of Social Work. Selected as an Advocacy Scholar, her studies focused on policy, advocacy, and engaging government leaders. As a Flint native, Jondy has been dedicated to working with local communities in their effort towards greater systemic equity. Jenan has over two decades of experience in outreach, resource development, human rights work, research, and development of programs at a national and international level. She co-founded and served as board member of the Sylvester Broome Empowerment Village (SBEV), also directing SBEV’s response to address the health needs of residents during the Flint water crisis. This included a lead-screening and dermatology clinic with volunteer staff and physicians.

Her past roles have focused on providing support to student populations disproportionately affected by structural inequities in education. Collaborating with students resulted in their acceptance to their preferred higher education institution with various scholarship awards. Jenan incorporates a unique perspective and understanding of different backgrounds and cultures that she has gained from engaging with populations struggling from economic inequities, including her work with refugee and immigrant populations. Her interests include neuroscience, sociology, economic development, community capital, housing, and education policy. Jenan is a board member of The National Coalition for Community Capital (NC3now.org). NC3 is a group of passionate community advocates that have gathered together around the possibility of using local capital to create equitable, inclusive, and resilient local economies. In her spare time, she loves everything outdoors…and is always open to suggestions for good reads! Jenan may be contacted at jondyjen@msu.edu or by phone at (517) 353-9555.

 

Mary ZumBrunnen

For two decades Mary ZumBrunnen has worked across communities at home and abroad on sustainable development to improve quality of life. Since 2005 she has focused on Michigan helping hundreds grow their community vision to fruition. It is from the impact of these experiences that she founded One-Community Consulting in 2007 to help connect industry expertise to solve local cross-sector challenges. In 2019 One-Community Consulting was awarded a “10 Over the Next Ten” social change-maker award from the Greater Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Grand River Connections across Ingham, Eaton, Clinton and Shiawassee counties.

Mary believes in paying it forward and offers rich training ground for those also wishing to give back to their community through One-Community’s unique social entrepreneur knowledge leadership system. Learn more about Mary's background including: commitment to National Service, sustainable development, public health and regional food systems on LinkedIn. A serious Spartan, she holds a BS in agriculture and natural resource communication, an MS degree in community resource development and an executive MBA from Michigan State University. She is a ​two-time fellow through the US Department of Education Foreign Language and Area Studies Program and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.

In December of 2017, Mary's first book, Transcendent Partnership: Aligning Agendas for Collective Impact, was published by the Difference Press and a second edition later through Morgan James Publishing in 2018. This reached #1 on Amazon in both Business & Money and Politics & Social Science in the areas of philanthropy and charities. Combining professional expertise implementing sustainable development with nonprofit partners, she applies business supply chain management to work through many common system and relationship challenges that citizen stakeholders run into when solving large scale community issues.

An AmeriCorps*VISTA alumna, she still continues to serve and volunteers for the MSU Diversity, Equity & Inclusion committee. In her spare time Mary is a certified yoga instructor, licensed realtor and member of the Greater Lansing Association of Realtors. With family on multiple continents, most of her free time (when not traveling) involves developing Midwestern-Asian Fusion cuisine, painting in acrylic and taking care of her rescue animals.

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Published

2025-08-22

Issue

Vol. 36 No. 2 (2025): 2024 CUMU Conference Issue

Section

Research Articles

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Copyright (c) 2025 Mary ZumBrunnen, Jenan Jondy

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.