Shari Merten | she/her
shari.merten@macd.org

Shari Merten is a community-minded leader who believes everyone deserves to feel welcome and supported in the places they live, work, and explore. She is passionate about inclusion, accessibility, and creating connections that strengthen local communities.

She has coordinated hundreds of programs in partnership with local artists, schools, and nonprofits: first at the Everson Museum of Art in Syracuse, New York, and later with the Arts Council of Greater Lansing, where she helped distribute grants and support the region’s creative sector.

Shari now brings her collaboration and outreach experience to conservation work, helping residents engage with the land, resources, and ecosystems that make Eaton County thrive. Outside of work, Shari and her partner foster kittens and dogs and enjoy exploring Lansing’s natural landscapes together.