Barbara was president of LRSCC for 23 years. Her leadership has been felt and recognized on an international level. In addition to travels throughout Europe and Asia, she led delegations to Benin, Cameroon, Nigeria, South Africa, and Ghana. She has done comparative studies on education in several countries, evaluated military schools in Germany and served in a leadership forum in Baden-Wurtemburg, Germany. As former president of the Michigan State Board of Education, she advocated for global languages and international studies in k-12 education.

Dr. Siddharth Chandra is Director of the Asian Studies Center and Professor of Economics in James Madison College at Michigan State University. The Asian Studies Center supports all aspects of Michigan State University’s engagement with Asia, from research and teaching to community outreach, engagement, and linkages with Asian partners.

Marcie Alling is the Departmental Specialist/Team Lead for the Going PRO Talent Fund, Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity-Workforce Development.  She holds a BA degree in French, MA degree in International Affairs-African Studies and has lived and traveled abroad. She and her husband volunteered for 11 years as a host family for Japanese students studying at Michigan State University.

Christopher Hodshire is a University Lecturer and researcher in the Social Sciences and a Community Consultant, with expertise in Cool City Initiatives and Diversity Dimensions. Hodshire views himself as a global citizen and is an ongoing advocate for international relations, reciprocal exchanges, diplomacy and education.  Hodshire currently serves as the Chair of the Asan/Lansing Regional Sister Cities program with the country of South Korea. Hodshire has served on the LRSC board for more than 15 years. During that time, Hodshire served in dignitary roles for some of the exchanges and also hosted students’ nearly every year. Created the first-ever collaboration between (UN) United World College of Singapore and MMPS of Malaysia. Hodshire also currently serves on a number of other international organizations.

Maxine is Vice President of the Lansing Regional Sister Cities Commission, a very active volunteer with AARP, a member of the NAACP, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, the National and Detroit Chapters of the Association of Black Storytellers (portraying Harriet Tubman and Fannie Lou Hammer), and is a Certified Laughter Facilitator with World Laughter, Inc. She uses these platforms to emphasize the importance of education, the power of one to make a difference and the importance of giving back to the community.

Dr. Xinyu Wu leads the Visiting International Professional Program and the Office of China Program at Michigan State University. She also serves as the executive director of Michigan Council for Citizen Diplomacy which is part of a U.S. national-wide community-based network for international visitors leadership exchange.

Sung Lee has enjoyed being the commissioner of LRSCC for more than 10 years. He believes that citizen diplomacy, education, and cultural exchange will connect the world and improve the chance of Global Peace.  The exchange education with Asan, South Korea for high school students is one of the works LRSCC has done. He plans to continue working with all commissioners in helping Lansing to achieve economic development thru LRSCC.

Teri Bernero is a lifelong educational professional and practitioner with 30 years of hands-on experience.  An alumna of Michigan State University’s educational administration master’s program, Teri chose to commit her life and career to public service as an educator in the Lansing School District for 30 years — first as an elementary school teacher and then as a principal for 14 years. Currently, she serves as the Director of Promise Pathway and HOPE/Promise Scholar Programs.