Kyle Hess is the Regional Economic Innovation (REI) Coordinator at Michigan State University’s Center for Community and Economic Development (CCED). He holds a bachelor’s degree in international studies from Cedarville University and a master’s in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) from Michigan State University.

Native to the Great Lakes region, Kyle grew up in northwest Pennsylvania, attended university in central Ohio, and called West Michigan home for several years. It was there where he honed his craft in teaching non-native speakers of English. He relocated to South Korea, working as a corporate trainer for mid- and executive-level employees at Samsung. A few years later, he returned to Michigan, eventually settling in Lansing, where he earned his master’s degree and developed his own language consulting services.

Most recently, Kyle served as a program manager for a premier public diplomacy exchange program (Fulbright) hosted at MSU, where he developed the educational, professional, cultural, and social components for a cohort of international mid-career professionals focused on economic development and public policy.

Kyle has over 15 years of experience working with diverse populations in the adult education sphere, where he focused on experiential learning, student-centered pedagogy, and real-world curriculum design. Core to his professional values is making information accessible, pushing for open doors, and creating environments where collaboration can happen.

He is eager to bring his enthusiasm for fostering connections to REI. Kyle approaches his work with an eye for noticing gaps, a passion for continuous improvement, and a commitment to relationship building. He looks forward to adding value to the important role that the CCED plays in regions across Michigan as it underpins MSU’s land-grant commitment to inclusive economic development.

When he’s not working, Kyle enjoys rock climbing outdoors, playing show tunes on the piano, and completing DIY projects at home.