THE ORGANIZATION
meet our team
Megan Langley
Executive Director
Megan Langley is the Founder and Executive Director of Strengthen ND. Ms. Langley is a 2014 Bush Foundation Fellow, 2020 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Social Impact Strategy, and an alumnus of the Harvard-Kennedy School of Government’s Leadership in the 21st Century Program (2016), Women & Power Program (2023), and the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana State University. Ms. Langley currently holds several state-based positions related to rural placemaking and economic and community development, including positions on the North Dakota Economic Development Foundation Board of Directors and North Dakota Rural Development Council. In addition to working across North Dakota, Ms. Langley is a member of the board of directors of Arts Midwest, Prairie Public, and former member of the National Endowment for the Arts’ Steering Committee, which provides guidance to the Citizens’ Institute on Rural Design (CIRD), and The Rockefeller Foundation’s Food Systems Game Changers Lab. Most recently, Ms. Langley was appointed to the Federal Reserve Board’s Community Advisory Council. Ms. Langley has also earned several awards for her work, including the Woman of Impact award from the North Dakota Women’s Network (2022) and a Leading Lady of North Dakota (2021) from the North Dakota Women’s Business Center.
Ann Olson
Local Foods Coordinator
Ann Olson brings six years of direct farmers market vendor experience to the Local Foods Coordinator position. A native of Des Lacs, North Dakota, Ann and her husband are raising their kids and produce business on her fourth generation farm. Besides market farming, Ann is a large animal veterinarian, aspiring baker and antique tractor show enthusiast. She is passionate about the local foods movement and assisting growers in growing their business to bring high quality products to local consumers.
barbara carley
Beth odahlen
Beth Odahlen, an original board member of Strengthen ND, worked for more than 22 years in higher education before transitioning to Strengthen ND. Her previous experiences were specific to leadership development, internship and experiential education, student support services, and grant management. During her time in higher education, Beth developed several successful programs which highly impacted student success. Beth is an eleven year member of the Society for Experiential Education (SEE) and is the current president of SEE.
Beth currently coordinates the Launching Leadership Program and the Strengthen ND AmeriCorps program. Beth brings a unique approach to program development and hopes to cultivate a passion for rural leadership and internships to youth and young adults in North Dakota.
Email: beth@strengthennd.com
Cher Hersrud
Desiree Carlson
Nancy Heskin-Rakness
Troyd Geist
Troyd holds a Master of Arts degree in Sociology/Anthropology from North Dakota State University.
Troyd has participated in and conducted projects involving the impact of folk art and folk traditions on health and wellness. He directed the original Art for Life pilot project in 2001-2003, which measured the effects of long-term folk arts and artist interaction on combating the negative impact of the “Three Plagues” (loneliness, boredom, and helplessness) that many residents in elder care facilities experience. Subsequently, he developed the Art for Life Program, which seeks to improve the health and wellness of elders in care facilities through folk and fine art.
Troyd is the producer of eight enhanced CDs and the author of three books devoted to the folk arts, music, and storytelling. He has coordinated and directed multiple art exhibits curated by the North Dakota Heritage Center and State Museum.