We are delighted to announce and welcome two new members to the Legacy Land Conservancy Board of Trustees.
The Legacy Board elected Jennifer Fike and Brandan Freeman at the June 17, 2026 meeting. They will each serve a three-year term, which officially began on July 1, 2026. Jennifer was previously a trustee from 2011-2015.
Jennifer and Brandan are two outstanding community members from the Washtenaw County area whose experience in nonprofit financial development and outdoor recreation community building will be great assets in supporting Legacy’s land protection efforts.
“As Legacy looks toward the future, we’re focused on widening our tent with a greater breadth of experiences, knowledge and expertise,” Legacy Board of Trustees President Karen Ufer said. “Jennifer and Brandan bring an exciting set of skills and passion to our growing board.”
These appointments come at a significant time for Legacy as we continue to focus on mitigating the effects of climate change and embracing a commitment to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in order to protect, preserve, and steward land for all people, and create exceptional qualities of place for our communities.
Welcome, Jennifer and Brandan!
Jennifer Fike
Jennifer Fike has spent most of her career in the nonprofit sector. She is the Finance Director at Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities. Prior to that, she was the Operations Manager at the National Wildlife Federations Great Lakes Regional Center. Additionally, she has served as the Finance Manager with the Huron River Watershed Council and as Executive Director of the Food System Economic Partnership which was formed to create economic development opportunities for food and farming businesses interested in growing food for local markets. She was instrumental in the formation of the Tilian Farm Development Center, a farm incubator in Ann Arbor Township working to grow the next generation of farmers. She served a term on the Michigan Commission of Agriculture and Rural Development – appointed by Governor Granholm.
Jennifer served as a volunteer member of the City of Ann Arbor Greenbelt Advisory Commission evaluating farmland and open space under consideration for permanent protection. She has served on the boards of Washtenaw Literacy, Southeast Michigan Land Conservancy, and Rotary Club of Ann Arbor. She graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Business Administration. She is an avid runner and marathoner and enjoys birding, hiking, and cooking local food.
Brandon Freeman
Brandan is a speaker and Outdoor Recreation DEI Consultant from Ypsilanti whose work sits at the intersection of American history, Civil Rights, and outdoor recreation. Drawing on deep study of U.S. legal history, conservation policy, and social movements, Brandan examines how systemic exclusion has shaped who feels welcome on the trail, in national parks, and across outdoor institutions today.
Through Shades of the Outdoors, a BIPOC Outdoor Enthusiasts Community he founded, Brandan partners with nonprofits, community members, and outdoor organizations to facilitate events that encourage BIPOC to reengage with the outdoors.
He also is an Innovation Specialist at NSF in Ann Arbor focusing on special projects. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Texas and a Master of Business Administration from Eastern Michigan University.
In addition to his professional experience, Brandan is a committed backpacker and hiker who recently visited every property in the Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission and loves talking about hikes!
Brandan has also served as a member of Legacy’s JEDAI (justice, equity, diversity, accessibility, and inclusion) Council for the past two years.
The Legacy Board of Trustees currently has 13 members. Click here to see the full list and bios. If you are interested in serving on the board or a committee, please contact Diana Kern at [email protected].