Constance Carlson

Constance Carlson is the assistant statewide director for the University of Minnesota Extension: Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships (RSDP). She has been at the University of Minnesota since 2016, where her work has been focused on rural development, novel supply chain development and market opportunities for UMN specialty crops, as well as the new crops and cropping systems in UMN Forever Green Initiative (FGI). In her current position, Carlson oversees operations and communications to ensure RSDP meets its mission of bringing together community and University knowledge and resources to drive sustainability solutions for rural Minnesota communities. Prior to coming to the University, Carlson spent almost two decades in publishing, product development, media relations, strategic sales, marketing and communications. Carlson grew up on an organic farm in western Minnesota that is still in operation. She is a state board member of the Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota and the Executive Committee of the North Star Chapter of the Sierra Club. Carlson is pursuing her MA in Public Affairs through the Humphrey School and lives in Buffalo, Minnesota with her family.