Education:

• Master of Public Policy, May 2007, University of Minnesota Humphrey Institute, Minneapolis, MN (Concentration in Community and Economic Development)
  
  
• Bachelor of Arts, December 2004, University of Minnesota, Morris
  Major: Political Science

Work Experience:

A native of St. Paul, MN, Neil's career interests turned to rural Minnesota during his college years at the University of Minnesota Morris. There, he was a research assistant for the Center for Small Towns, and co-authored papers about the intersection of rural Minnesota and the media, business and affordable health care. He has worked for Minnesota Rural Partners as a Rural Policy Intern. Most recently, he was the Economic Development Director for Region Five Development Commission. There, he was responsible for the design, implementation and evaluation of economic development programs and initiatives.