Hero Story

Erin Buitendorp is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the State of Michigan, and National Certified Counselor focused on providing outreach, community and citizen engagement, and organization/project management. Buitendorp specializes in project logistics and organization, directing, facilitating, and coaching academic and career trajectories, skilled at meeting student retention and engaging citizenry. In addition, she focused on internal and external relationship building with community partners, students, faculty, and the general public, recruitment and informational activities, and motivating/advising students and participants. She has an extensive customer service history, i.e., Walt Disney Company, the City of Lansing, and multiple higher education institutions in student support services. In addition, Buitendorp has a substantial fine and performing arts background with 10+ years as a multi-media artist (drawing, painting) and a theater judge for a local alternative independent newspaper. She is a strong supporter of the arts and all creative pursuits.

Currently, she works for the City of Lansing Public Service Department. She has worked for the city for seven years, and her most recent role is in the Public Service Department now for three years. She dedicates her time to implementing new programs to educate and assist the Lansing community, such as the 311 natural crisis line, vacancy filling, and grant application. She deserves this award because she is selfless in her actions and makes all of her coworkers feel emotionally safe while getting the job done.