MSU partners with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to launch leadership development program for county directors

Michigan State University (MSU) has partnered with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) to create and deliver a first-of-its-kind director-level Leadership Development Program, designed to strengthen leadership capacity among agency directors across the state.

The program, developed after discussions between MDHHS Chief Operating Officer David Knezek and MSU leadership, responds to an opportunity for ongoing leadership training at the director level. MDHHS selected MSU and its Eli Broad College of Business Executive Development Programs unit to design and deliver the program, citing its alignment with the university’s land-grant mission and its deep expertise in leadership development.

The inaugural year of the program included three cohorts, each running over three months:

• Cohort 1: January–March 2025
• Cohort 2: April–June 2025
• Cohort 3: July–September 2025

Nearly 90 participants were divided across the cohorts to allow for deeper discussion and interaction. Each group meets for two days a month, with sessions held in Lansing, Traverse City, and Troy to minimize travel demands for directors across Michigan. The program concludes with a capstone session at MSU’s Henry Center.

MDHHS plays a vital role in providing child welfare and economic assistance services to millions of Michigan residents each year. Strengthening the leadership skills of its directors ensures that the agency remains equipped to meet the evolving needs of the state’s most vulnerable populations.

Participants engage with MSU faculty experts on a wide range of leadership themes, including:

• Effective leadership and decision-making
• Multi-generational management
• Negotiations and managing change
• Accountability and empowerment
• Crisis management
• Goal setting, coaching, and mentoring
• Strategic communication and teamwork

These sessions emphasize practical tools for leadership while also encouraging directors to explore new models of problem-solving from beyond their sector.

Feedback from participants highlights the program’s value and impact:

• “Great presentations that lit a fire inside to take back to my office.”
• “I am grateful for the investment the agency made in us. The information being learned in sessions will not only benefit me, but my team.”
• “This was overdue and necessary for my professional development. As leaders, we need ongoing training and recharge. This reminds us about our expectations and the purpose in leadership roles.”
• “The MDHHS Leadership and Development Program is thought-provoking and well-organized. It has helped me prepare for 2025 by re-energizing my passion for leading change.”
• “The opportunity to come together with peers from throughout the state has been phenomenal. We were able to learn together and from the experts in the areas presented.”
• “One important thing I learned is that although what we do is sound work, we can use models from other industries to enforce new thoughts and solutions to problems.”
• “This provided me with skill development for myself, in my position, and in assisting others in their growth.”
• “This was a tremendous symposium with entertaining and compelling presenters—all were top-caliber professors at MSU. I’m really grateful to have had the opportunity to be a participant!”

MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel emphasized the importance of the program:

“Developing and supporting our leaders is critical to the success of our mission. This partnership with Michigan State University equips our directors with the skills, confidence, and energy they need to continue serving Michigan families with excellence while improving internal department operations.”

Frederick Morgeson, the Eli Broad Professor of Management, who taught sessions on goal setting, shared:

“As a native Michigander from the Detroit area, I am honored to have worked with MDHHS, who play such a critical role in the state. It’s great to have such a strong partnership between MSU and MDHHS. The leaders in my session were dedicated and engaged, showing a deep interest in their own development.” Morgeson continued, “Goal setting is a fundamental leadership tool that can be used in many different ways to help the department achieve its organizational mission. By highlighting the key components of effective goal setting, along with showing how to implement and support goal accomplishment, I strive to enhance effectiveness in this essential leadership practice.”

Eileen Wilson, fixed-term faculty in The School of Hospitality Business, who led the module on cross-generational management, added:

“As a steward of one of Michigan’s public universities, I am humbled to partner with MDHHS through the Broad College. I deeply respect and admire MDHHS’s work, serving Michigan residents, including the most vulnerable in our communities, cradle to grave. MDHHS provides the essential glue for those who have fallen through the cracks or are looking into the abyss. As I scan the Broad Executive Development Program classroom filled with leaders of MDHHS, I see the embodiment of hope for our state.”

With the first cohorts set to conclude in September 2025, MSU and MDHHS are already looking at ways to sustain and expand the program. By investing in leadership development at the highest levels, this initiative ensures that Michigan’s public health and human services leaders remain well-equipped to serve communities across the state for years to come.