Alan Jaros
Director of the Bowers School Farm and the Johnson Nature Center
Alan is the Director of the Bowers School Farm and the Johnson Nature Center, leading the expansion of the educational facility since 2016. His work is emphasized by building strategy and leading teams to connect youths, adults, and communities to food and agriculture through outdoor learning environments. His area of expertise is in farm-based education, outdoor education, and youth development. Alan serves on several community associations and professional societies including the Preservation Bloomfield and the Friends of Bowers Farm Board of Directors. In 2020, Alan was recognized as “Oakland County Executive's Elite 40 Under 40, recognizing dynamic leaders under the age of 40 who are making a difference in Oakland County and beyond He is also a past President for the Detroit Association for Talent Development.
Previous work experience includes serving as the founding Education Director for Michigan State University Tollgate Farm and Education Center, and also as a member of the community food systems statewide work team. During his time at MSU, Alan was awarded the John A. Hannah Partnership Award in 2018, the Meritorious Service award for program excellence in 2014, and the MAE4-HYS Curriculum Design of Excellence Team Award in 2013. He holds an MS in Management from Walsh College and a BS in Human Resource Development from the College of Education at Oakland University, and a certificate in Small-Business Counseling from the MSU Product Center and Facilitative Leadership from Michigan State University.
Alan enjoys creating initiatives that bring meaning and authenticity to the educational experiences at the farm along with creating opportunities to bring community together.