NEWS

A Life Changing Experience in South Africa

Griffin Chair Andrea LaFontaine completes leadership capstone project at wildlife college

Andrea LaFontaine, Central Michigan University’s Griffin Endowed Chair in American Government, traveled to South Africa in January to complete her fellowship capstone project for the Michigan State University Great Lakes Leadership Academy.

Based at the Southern African Wildlife College (SAWC) for an unforgettable 11 days, the immersive experience included game drives, bush walks, a Kruger National Park safari, and engaging lectures at the college.

LaFontaine and the other participants met with non-profit leaders committed to protecting and promoting the biodiversity of the world’s largest vegetated canyon: Blyde River Canyon (“green canyon”). They also toured a mango farm and met with the farm's chief operating officer to learn more about agricultural policy issues and the impact it has on the local community.

In addition to daily wildlife encounters, they explored diverse villages where they experienced local cultures and food, learning about community development initiatives and the importance of intentional, authentic community engagement.

Closeup image of Andrea LaFontaine with the Blyde River Canyon in South Africa behind her. — Andrea LaFontaine smiles for a picture with the Blyde River Canyon in South Africa behind her.

LaFontaine says the capstone project was a lifechanging experience.

“While I’ll be bringing back so many takeaways, the one that really stuck is that ecological, economical, and social sustainability MUST be balanced,” said LaFontaine. “If I could only pick one word to describe this transformative journey: Awe.”

The SAWC trains the rangers and K-9 units for parks and reserves that are the front-line defense against poachers. The award-winning documentary Rhino Man was filmed here.

LaFontaine earned two degrees at CMU: a bachelor's degree in political science in 2009 and a Master of Public Administration degree in 2011.

She is the seventh person to serve as CMU’s Griffin Chair. Appointed in 2021, her three-year term was extended through 2025. She also is the executive director of the Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance.

Established in 2000, the Griffin Endowed Chair honors two of CMU's esteemed graduates — former U.S. Congressman, U.S. Senator and Michigan Supreme Court Justice Robert P. Griffin (1923-2015) and Marjorie Anderson Griffin (1922-2017), who served as a faculty member in the Charles V. Park Library and on the Board of Governors for the Clarke Historical Library.