Heidi is an Extension Associate with the Community and Regional Development Institute (CaRDI) in the Department of Development Sociology at Cornell University. As CaRDI's Community Development Coordinator, she develops educational programs and tools, facilitates regional networking opportunities, and conducts research designed to help local officials, community and economic developers, and other local leaders to collaboratively identify, pursue, and achieve their community's development goals. Most recently her work has involved: developing a national community of practice designed to support rural communities (eXtension’s Enhancing Rural Communities CoP); supporting multi-county regional economic development planning and implementation through the Stronger Economies Together Program; and the launch of the CALS NYS Internship Program, a new program designed to connect businesses, non-profit organizations, and government agencies with exceptional and motivated Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences students seeking opportunities to explore careers and contribute to community. In this context, Heidi is interested in an array of issues related to regional community and economic development, including community capacity building, learning networks, the role of higher education institutions in economic development, sustainable communities, agriculture and food systems, leadership and organizational development, impact assessment, and professional networks for peer- support and collaboration.