Get Involved: Join a MACAE Committee

Our committees are a space for educators and program directors to come together, share ideas, and work as a team to improve and shape the future of adult, community, and alternative education in Michigan.

All committee meetings are held virtually, and SCECHs (State Continuing Education Clock Hours) are available for most committees. Participating is a great way to maximize your MACAE membership and make a lasting impact on the field.

Committee Purpose and Focus

MACAE Committees are designed to:

  • Share resources and identify best practices within specific content areas
  • Analyze statewide data trends to inform programming and strategy
  • Develop and promote innovative educational initiatives
  • Provide leadership and input on statewide efforts and policy
  • Organize professional development opportunities for practitioners
  • Recommend improvements to enhance program quality and learner outcomes

Learn more about our committees, meeting times, and ways to get involved below.

Michael Evans, Kalamazoo Literacy Council mevans@kalamazooliteracy.org

The MACAE ABE/Literacy Group will provide best practices and resources to the adult education field to increase performance goals and participant success. Vision: Every adult will develop strong lifelong knowledge and skills to contribute to their family, the workforce and their community to become global citizens.

Contact Marisol Adelmann at madelmann@wccnet.edu for more information. 

Contact Renae Gowen at gowenr@sgate.k12.mi.us for more information.

The Alternative Education Committee seeks to serve the Alternative education and Alternative high school populations across the state. The committee focuses on State Policies and Performance, Teaching and Learning Strategies, and Social/Emotional Aspects for both students and teachers.

Contact Brian Puffer at pufferb@salineschools.org for more information. 

The Community Education Committee promotes and advances community education statewide. Through collaboration and outreach, we work to broaden understanding of how Community Education supports learners of all ages and to reinforce that, in one way or another, everyone is Community Education.

Contact Nicole Hatch at nhatch@ioscoresa.net for more information. 

Contact Jessi Pavey at jpavey@kalamazooliteracy.org for more information. 

Mariah Shafer, Refugee Development Center, mshafer@rdclansing.org

The MACAE English as a Second Language (ESL) Committee will provide best practices and resources to the adult education field to increase performance goals and participant success.

Whitney Dettmer, Iosco RESA Adult Education, Chair, wdettmer@ioscoresa.net

The High School Equivalency Committee supports adult and alternative education, and workforce training preparation programs who offer high school equivalency options (High School Diploma, GED, HiSET, TASC). The committee seeks to identify best practices and guidance for instructional best practices, program administration of multiple HSE testing streams, preparation materials and curriculums, sharing participants success stories and access to cost effective testing for program participants.

Karyn Goven, Southwest Economic Solutions, Chair, kgoven@swsol.org

The Integrated Education and Training Committee’s vision is to prepare educators, researchers and policymakers to understand interdisciplinary education and work connections. This will be accomplished by networking, building partnerships, creating and providing professional development, curriculum and instruction in a variety of formats to meet the diverse needs of professionals in the field.

MACAE, Facilitator (macaeoutreach@gmail.com)

The Regional Conveners is a collaborative think tank made up of all regional prosperity fiscal agents along with one adult education provider. The Cohort meets periodically throughout the year virtually with members of the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity to discuss strategies and best practices to improve the delivery of adult education programming across the state.