Meet the Center for Small Towns Staff

Jessica Beyer

Community Program Assistant

B.A., University of Minnesota, Morris

Participant in Leadership Morris
University of Minnesota Presidents Emerging Leaders

Areas of Expertise

• Coordinates student projects
• Recruiting/Hiring/Monitoring student employees
• Blandin Community Leadership Program Graduate
• Horses

David Fluegel

Comunity Program Specialist

M.Ed., University of Minnesota
B.A., University of Minnesota, Morris

Areas of Expertise

• Delivering visioning and planning assistance to rural communities
• Writing, administering, and implementing contracts and grants
• Serving on planning committees and presenting at regional, state, and national conferences
• Swimming

Troy Goodnough

Campus Sustainability Coordinator and Community Program Specialist

B.S., University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

Outstanding Faculty/Staff Award for Support of Student Leadership

Areas of Expertise

• Coordinates Morris GreenCorps program
• Student engagement efforts
• Help evaluate community projects
• Aikido

Barb Hesse

Principal Office and Administrative Specialist

Molly Pitcher Award-United States Field Artillery Association
Family Readiness Leader, civilian volunteer for Minnesota National Guard, Morris/Appleton

Areas of Expertise

• Receptionist/Support to staff and students
• Budget monitoring/reconciling
• Connects students with local resources and expertise
• Blandin Community Leadership Program Graduate
• Photography

Arne Kildegaard

Professor, Center for Small Towns Director

Ph.D., University of Texas
M.A., University of Chicago
B.A., Gustavus Adolphus College

Areas of Expertise

• Environmental and Natural Resource Economics
• Economics of Renewable Energy Systems
• Economic Development
• General aviation (small planes) pilot

Rose Murphy

Associate Administrator

B.A., University of Minnesota, Morris

Outstanding Support Staff Award
CEE Outstanding Staff Award
CEE Project Award

Areas of Expertise

• Administrative support to the director
• Personnel, internal, and external sales agreements
• Communication and publicity
• Blandin Community Leadership Program Graduate
• Grief Aftercare