Christopher Sell is a career educator, project manager, fundraiser, and business developer. At his core, he’s passionate about creating things to solve problems and connecting people to opportunity. As a two-time college graduate with over six years of work experience in higher education, he’s equally committed to leveraging relationships with industry, alumni, and college students to retain and attract talent in the state and contribute to Michigan’s revitalization.
In his current role at Michigan State University, Chris serves as the Director of Alumni and Entrepreneur Engagement, where he leads efforts to build advocacy and support for the entrepreneurship ecosystem and student entrepreneurs at the University. Previously, Chris worked in career services roles at two different universities. In the past, he applied his passion for workforce development and Michigan’s economic renaissance in several professional organizations, including Michigan’s Employer Educator Partnership (MEEP) and the Michigan Career Educator & Employer Alliance (MCEEA), for which he recently completed his 3-year term as President.
Chris is very involved in the local community as a #lovelansing enthusiast. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Impression 5 Science Center – the premier science center for children and families in the region – and is an active member of the Friends of the Lansing River Trail non-profit organization. Additionally, Chris is founder and lead architect of Lansing 5:01, a new initiative aimed at creating summer programming to illustrate the emerging quality of life aspects of greater Lansing to college interns in the region.
A graduate of Western Michigan University (BA) and Michigan State University (MA), Chris has maintained a strong desire for continuous learning and leadership development. He is a graduate of the 2012 WMU Academic Leadership Academy, and a recent graduate of the inaugural 2015-16 Leadership Lansing program coordinated by the regional chamber of commerce. He also serves on the External Advisory Board of Directors for the WMU School of Communication.
Chris lives in Lansing with his wife, daughter, and black Labrador named Izzo, who they adopted from the Capital Area Humane Society. Outside of work, you can find Chris watching MSU sports or exploring the great outdoors in Pure Michigan on camping trips, backpacking expeditions, and endurance running races.