Paul Lachapelle, IACD President has earned the NACDEP (National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals) western region and national Distinguished Career Award.
Paul oversees Montana State University (MSU) Extension’s community development programming, which provides education, research and engagement opportunities across the state in areas such as local governance, strategic planning, leadership development, public officials training, citizen board workshops, community foundation education, conflict management, community and health and grant writing. He is also a political science professor at MSU, where he has researched topics such as Native American men’s health, community foundation building, international community development and tourism planning.
The award was presented at Big Skies, Bold Partnerships, the Community Development Society /NACDEP joint conference, which was hosted by MSU Extension in Big Sky, June 11-14. The event brought more than 350 community development professionals to Montana for networking, workshops and tours. Participants learned about Montana’s local food scene, how breweries are impacting local economies, ways the Big Sky Arts Council brings culture to the area and more.
NACDEP is an organization dedicated to improving the visibility, coordination, professional status and resource base of community and economic development Extension programs and professionals. You can find out more about them here https://www.nacdep.net/
