Assistant Director of Educator Community and Cohort Initiatives
makena neal (she/they) approaches education not as a simple transfer of knowledge, but as a communal act of care. As a scholar-practitioner with a Ph.D. in Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education, Makena’s work sits firmly at the intersection of community-building and human-centered design. Driven by the belief that we are all knowers, she facilitates, holds space for, and builds cohort initiatives across the MSU community that move beyond knowledge exchange and toward a deep sense of dignity, belonging, and shared practical wisdom.
In her role, makena designs and nurtures both structured cohorts and organic networks where educators— anyone contributing to institutional teaching and learning, student success and/or outreach missions— can gather to share lived experiences. makena approaches collaboration through a relational lens, holding space across MSU’s decentralized units to advance a university culture rooted in care as essential infrastructure. Her foundation in cohort building and human-centered design took root through directing Graduate Fellowships with the Liberty Hyde Bailey Scholars Program and the Graduate Leadership Institute, crafting institutional storytelling at the Graduate School, and facilitating statewide youth leadership and civic engagement with MSU Extension.
A "Spartan-lifer," makena holds a B.S. in Environmental Studies and Agriculture Sciences (specializing in Connected Learning) and an M.S. in Community Sustainability Studies focused on community food systems, alongside a certificate in Adult Teaching and Learning. She has recently earned the Inclusive Leadership Certificate from Brown University, and is currently working towards her certificate in Human-Centered Leadership from University of Wisconsin-Madison. makena regularly participates in the American Association of Adult and Continuing Education, Lilly Conference: Advancing Teaching and Learning, and the POD Network. You can find her scholarly work in publications such as To Improve the Academy, Journal on Centers for Teaching and Learning, and Adult Learning among others.
Today, Makena works remotely from Kalamazoo, Mich., where she lives with her partner, their two children, and two dogs—continuing to build transformational, person-first spaces where every individual feels seen, welcome, and valued.
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