MSU Sociology Associate Professor Jennifer Carrera named Extension Fellow

August 13, 2026

MSU Sociology Associate Professor Jennifer Carrera is one of four inaugural MSU Extension Administrative Fellows.  
She will be working with a forestry researcher, a food safety specialist and a local government and economic policy expert to gain a broader view of how the Michigan State University Extension operates across Michigan.  

The Extension is the university’s community network working to bring research-based knowledge to every county in the state. 

Over the next year, fellows will work with MSU Extension mentors, participate in leadership meetings and professional development, and complete a service project focused on an organizational priority. Along the way, they will gain a broader view of how MSU Extension operates across the state, from strategy and program planning to partnerships and stakeholder engagement.  

“MSU Extension’s success depends on people who understand both the communities we serve and the organization that makes that work possible,” said Quentin Tyler, director of MSU Extension. “This program gives us another way to bring new perspectives to our work and invest in talented leaders who can help shape the future of Extension.”  

For Carrera, the fellowship offers an opportunity to strengthen connections between MSU Extension, the College of Social Science, and her community partners.  

“I am excited about working with my mentor, Lisa Bottomley, learning more about the work of the Children and Youth Institute, and thinking about how I can enhance the positive impact that MSU has across Michigan,” Carrera said. 
The other fellows are MSU Extension food safety specialist Wade Syers, senior academic specialist Sarah Klammer and MSU Forestry Associate Professor Asia Dowtin. 

Carrera holds joint appointments in the Department of Sociology, the Environmental Science and Policy Program and AgBioResearch. Her research centers on community-based participatory research and environmental health, with a particular focus on collaboratively addressing environmental and public health challenges. 

Carrera has worked extensively with community partners in Flint and other underserved communities to develop innovative approaches for environmental monitoring, citizen science and environmental health literacy. Her scholarship emphasizes the value of community-driven research and public engagement in addressing complex societal issues.