Bethany Prykucki

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Bethany Prykucki is an MSU Extension educator whose work focuses on strengthening the capacity of individuals, organizations and communities to lead, collaborate and make effective decisions. She delivers programs statewide in leadership, facilitation, conflict communication, strategic planning, effective meetings, parliamentary procedure and local government education.

Prykucki serves as a co-program coordinator and instructor for Tools for Effective Facilitation, an experiential program designed to strengthen participants’ skills and confidence in facilitating productive meetings and group processes. She is also the coordinator and an instructor forCommunicating Through Conflict, helping participants better understand and navigate conflict, strengthen communication and work more effectively with others.

Her local government education focuses on helping elected and appointed officials understand their roles, strengthen governance practices and build the skills needed to serve their communities effectively. As part of MSU Extension’s Michigan Citizen Planner program, she teaches the Successfully Fulfilling Your Role session, which focuses on ethical decision-making, applying standards to planning and zoning decisions, and recognizing when additional expertise or assistance is needed.

Prykucki also works with communities, municipalities and organizations to design and implement strategic planning processes. Her approach emphasizes creating meaningful opportunities for people to participate, identify shared priorities and translate ideas into actionable plans.

She works extensively with the National Charrette Institute at MSU, contributing to both program instruction and the design of customized charrettes and collaborative planning processes.

Her work also includes leadership for Choices for Sustainable Living, a collaborative, multi-state learning initiative involving Michigan State University Extension, Purdue Extension and University of Florida IFAS Extension. Through facilitated discussion, participants explore sustainability and consider how individual and community choices intersect with larger environmental, economic and social systems.

Across her work, Prykucki enjoys creating learning environments where people can explore complex issues, engage different perspectives and move from conversation toward greater clarity, stronger working relationships and practical next steps.

Prykucki has worked for MSU Extension since 2002, beginning her Extension career with Michigan 4-H in Cheboygan and Otsego counties. Throughout her career, she has worked collaboratively to develop and deliver educational programs for local officials, community leaders, organizations and residents across Michigan, including County Commissioner Academy and customized governance and leadership education.

She is a co-author of the Facilitative Leadership Participant Guide (Bulletin E3238) and a co-author and researcher of Measuring Impacts Using Ripple Effect Mapping and Survey Evaluation Techniques: MSU Extension’s Citizen Planner Program (Bulletin E3312). She has also authored numerous articles and educational resources published through MSU Extension.

Prykucki holds a Master of Science in Public Administration from Central Michigan University and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies and Applications from Michigan State University, with a specialization in Environmental Economics and Policy.

Professional Leadership and Affiliations

Community and Natural Resources Development Association (CNRDA)
• Executive Board Member, 2026–2027
• Executive Board Member, 2014–2017
• Secretary, 2016–2017

Epsilon Sigma Phi

Michigan Association of Parliamentarians
• Publications Committee Chair, 2017–2019

Michigan Epsilon Sigma Phi, Alpha Psi Chapter
• President-Elect, 2014–2015
• President, 2015–2016
• Past President, 2016–2017

National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals

National Association of Parliamentarians
• Technology Team Committee Member, 2015–2017