Elaine Bush attended Michigan State University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in 1973 and a Master of Arts in 1976. She majored in Special Education for the Emotionally Disturbed with a minor in Fine Arts. Bush joined MSU Extension in 1987, first serving as the Benzie County 4-H program assistant until 1989 when she became the Manistee County 4-H agent. In 1994, Bush assumed the role of Manistee County MSU Extension Director until the position of county director was eliminated in July 2010 as part of the university-wide restructuring process.
Currently, Bush is the Extension Educator for Manistee County and a member of the Greening Michigan Institute (GMI). She is active in the GMI workgroup, Government and Public Policy. Her primary responsibilities include acting as project director for the MSU Extension Firewise program, serving as the EDEN (Extension Disaster Education Network) point of contact for MSU, and assisting with tribal leadership development through Extension’s Building Strong Sovereign Nations program.
She is a member of Michigan’s Alpha Psi chapter of Epsilon Sigma Phi, and the Manistee branch of AAUW (American Association of University Women).
Prior to her Extension career, Bush taught Special Education classes in Jenison, Michigan, and Superior, Wisconsin. She also did substitute teaching in northwest Michigan and prepared income taxes for H&R Block.
In her spare time, Bush plays second violin with the Benzie Area Symphony Orchestra as well as sitting on the orchestra board and serving as their treasurer. She enjoys many outdoor activities including downhill skiing, ice fishing, kayaking, golf, bicycling, and hiking.
Contact Information:
Elaine Bush
Extension Educator,
Michigan State University Extension
email: bushe@msu.edu