About Us
Our mission is to strengthen the capacities of local governmental units and provide training, technical assistance, and research services to elected, appointed, and administrative officials. We work to support Montana's cities, towns, and counties by partnering with local government practitioners and their professional associations.
The MSU Local Government Center is located in Culbertson Hall on the beautiful Montana State University campus in Bozeman, MT.
The origins of the Local Government Center lie in Montana's unique process of periodic citizen review of the state's municipal and county governments. Montana's constitution gives citizens of local jurisdictions the option to elect a study commission every 10 years to review the structure of their county or municipal government. In 1985, the Local Government Center was established at Montana State University to provide assistance to counties and municipalities and their study commissions.
The Montana Board of Regents officially authorized the Local Government Center in 1989 (Item 62-204-RO389, June 21, 1989). As the Center grew, it broadened its efforts to assist Montana's local governments. In 1993, the Montana State Legislature formally established the mission of the Center to "strengthen the capacities of Montana's local governmental units to deliver essential services efficiently and to provide training, technical assistance, and research to local officials" (MCA 20-25-237).
Dan Clark
Director
Dan Clark joined the Local Government Center in April 2008. He has been serving Montana since 1997. Prior to joining the MSU Local Government Center, he served as the Statewide Director for the Montana Horizons program from 2006 to 2008. Previously, Dan worked as a Montana State University Extension faculty member in Teton County from 1997 to 2006. During this time, he served as Mayor of Choteau, Montana for four years. He earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Arizona in Agricultural Education and taught high school agriculture for three years before joining Extension.
Ashley Kent
Associate Director
Ashley joined the Montana State University Extension Local Government Center (LGC) in 2014 and now serves as the Associate Director. She manages LGC operations and delivers professional development for local government officials across Montana, covering topics such as open meeting and citizen participation laws, meeting management, conflict resolution, leadership development, and strategic planning. Ashley holds an MBA from the University of Montana and a bachelor’s degree in business management and entrepreneurship from Montana State University, and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP). Before joining the LGC, Ashley worked in other departments at MSU including Human Resources and Institutional Equity. She also served as the governance leader for a regional healthcare non-profit organization during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lydia Maunz
Associate Specialist
Lydia joined the Local Government Center in April 2022. She currentlymanages the various education and accreditation programs and is the driving force behind curriculum development for the team. Lydia earned her bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Montana State University in 2012. She went on to spend seven years at the University of Iowa earning her master’s degree and Ph.D. in 19thCentury British Literature, while also teaching, tutoring, researching, and writing. Before joining the Local Government Center team, Lydia worked as a rural mail carrier.
Christine Hodges
MGLA Program Lead
Christine Hodges joined the Local Government Center in March 2025, where she evaluates the Montana Grown Leadership Academy (MGLA) programs and facilitates instruction for both the Foundation Series and Deep Dive courses. An educator at heart, Christine earned a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Montana (2010) and a Master of Arts in Literacy K–12 from Benedictine University (2015). She is currently pursuing a PhD in Leadership Studies at Gonzaga University. Before joining the Center, she served as the Curriculum & Communications Specialist for Montana 4-H and spent ten years teaching, leading teams, and developing curriculum at schools across North and South America.
Schuyler Germann
Program Manager
Schuyler joined the Local Government Center in December 2023, where she leads the planning and execution of the Center’s annual conferences and events, oversees communications strategy, and supports internal team operations. She brings a strong background in program management, cross-functional coordination, and stakeholder engagement, helping ensure initiatives are delivered efficiently and with impact. Prior to joining the Center, Schuyler held roles in event management, marketing, and account management across both public and private sectors. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Modern Languages with an emphasis in French from Northern Arizona University.
Kate Wade
Program Coordinator
Kate joined the Local Government Center (LGC) in April 2025, bringing her expertise in public policy and health education. She holds a master’s degree in international studies with certificates in global health affairs and public policy analysis. Kate is a former Peace Corps education volunteer with experience in implementing cross-sectoral programs. Before LGC, Kate worked with Colorado Mountain College and Star Tutors, providing academic support and developing effective curricula. As Online Education Coordinator at MGMA, she managed hybrid conferences and webinars, enhancing online and face-to-face experiences.