Meet the CfRP Team!
Thaddeus C Guldbrandsen, PhD ~ Director
A New Hampshire native, Thad joined PSU in 2005 as the Center's founding director. He also serves on the faculty as Research Assistant Professor of Anthropology and Research Assistant Professor of Environmental Science and Policy. Before coming to Plymouth, Thad served as the director of the Center for the Study of Community at the University of New Hampshire. His scholarly research and published writings explore aspects of urban-regional planning and governance; regionalism; social inequality; local politics; environmental anthropology; and race, gender, and social inequality in the United States. He is co-author of the book, Local Democracy Under Siege: Activism, Public Interests and Private Politics (NYU 2007).
Benoni L Amsden, PhD ~ Partnerships and Grants Coordinator
Ben is a rural sociologist with expertise in community/economic development; place attachment; the sustainability of natural resource-based recreation and tourism; and volunteer stewardship. In addition to providing outreach, project development, and project management assistance to PSU faculty/staff/students, and off-campus partners, Ben teaches courses in rural sociology, outdoor recreation, and the rural cultural environment, including Topics In Rural Sociology during the Spring of 2009. Currently, he is taking a leadership role in the Coös County Outreach Initiative seed grant program, working closely with recipients, regional project partners, and other affiliated organizations. Ben joined the Center in October of 2008.
Frances M Belcher, EdM ~ Regional Collaboration Coordinator
Fran is working to build PSU's capacity to serve the region through collaboration with partners in higher education and the nonprofit sector, and to diversify the University's revenue stream. She has extensive experience in community development, multi-sector collaboration, public policy, and philanthropy. Prior to joining the Center in November of 2008, Fran served as Director of the NHHEAF Network Educational Foundation, which funded collaborative projects in higher education. She teaches Non Profit Management and Philanthropy at PSU, through a generous grant from John and Carrie Morgridge. Fran obtained her Master's in Education, with a specialization in school and community systems, from Temple University in Philadelphia, and a BA in Psychology and Organizational Behavior from Shippensburg State University of Pennsylvania.
Alice C Richmond ~ Administrative Assistant
In addition to administrative duties, Alice directs specific focus to key areas of CfRP infrastructure, such as multi-media communications strategy and production; financial management and planning; and technology. Since joining the Center in September of 2008, she has initiated and facilitated a variety of endeavors. Currently, Alice is engaged in creating a formal communications plan for the Center; developing a set of process management tools to assist seed grant recipients in navigating the ins and outs of working with grant money; mentoring specifications development for a proprietary funding opportunity management database; and acting as a partner liaison for a North Country technology and telecommunications infrastructure implementation and training project. Her work background is diverse, including both touring the world as a professional musician and being the president of a software development and technology consulting company.
