| I was born and raised in Michigan�s Upper Peninsula (aka God�s Country). Though much time was spent in my hometown of Newberry or elsewhere in the eastern end of the UP doing things like hunting, fishing and camping, my family also regularly traveled to the metropolitan Detroit area where their family was. My father grew up in Dearborn and my mother on Grosse Isle, an island in the lower Detroit River so a majority of our family was located there. I graduated from Newberry High School�s class of 1992 and started college at Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste. Marie. I attended school there for a little more than 3 years before taking a break. While on �recess� I worked full time for about 2 years. The last 6 months of my stint at Bay Mills Resort and Casino in Brimley, I had moved back with my parents in Newberry and was commuting to work. Toward the end of this period I began working on a plan to resume my education. I applied and was accepted to Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant, and moved to mid-Michigan in April of 1997. I lost a few credits in my transfer, and because I had been pursuing 4 different majors at LSSU, I transferred in finding that I would have about 3 years left until receiving a Bachelor of Science in Political Science. It could have been accelerated somewhat with a little more advising, but I was working a full-time 30-40 hours per week at the Italian Oven Restaurant. Incorporating 12-15 credit hours with a full time job proved to be demanding, but nonetheless I found adequate time for family and building friendships. I graduated from CMU in May of 2000 and was excited to have a job interview lined up for the day before my graduation. I was traveling to the Lansing airport to pick up my friend William from Miami for the graduation festivities, and as chance would have it, I was able to line up the interview at the airport. A little more than a month later I began working as a Regional Field Director for Michigan�s Proposal 1 campaign. Though only an election cycle position, it carried me through the end of 2000, and most importantly gave me a great deal of experience with education reform issues in Michigan. This exciting endeavor was the basis for my current position in Midland. After the close of the campaign cycle I moved back to Mt. Pleasant and wore several different hats. I tried management, real estate, and of course I put on my old waiter hat and began back at the Italian Oven on nights and weekends while doing real estate during the day. In the middle of summer I received an email from an old campaign contact informing me of a position I may be interested in pursuing. After a couple months of phone tag and a couple interviews, I was hired as the Coordinator for the Education Reform Leadership Project with a public policy research and educational institute in Midland. I began full time on October 1, 2001. It�s truly exciting to be involved with the institute. It�s an exciting and dynamic environment that I�m pleased to be a part of. |
| Nathan O. Crosslin |