Stephanie Rustem joined The Oleson Foundation as its Executive Director in spring 2024. She grew up in the greater Lansing area and received a B.A. in Elementary Education and an M.S. in Community, Agriculture, Recreation, and Resource Studies from Michigan State University. She moved to the Grand Traverse region in October 2017. Since moving to the region, she has committed her time to working and volunteering with several local nonprofit organizations including Discovery Center & Pier, Inland Seas Education Association, Goodwill Northern Michigan, and the Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities among others.

Stephanie is an outdoor enthusiast and developed her love for the outdoors at a young age while picking wild blackberries in her parents’ backyard, fishing Michigan’s inland and Great Lakes, and camping in northern Michigan. She still enjoys her childhood hobbies of hiking, fishing, and camping with her husband, Lee.

Stephanie feels incredibly honored and privileged to work with the Oleson Family to help them continue their work of supporting the Northwest Michigan region.