Linda Hoke, Director
Council on the Southern Community

Policy expertise: Leadership development, citizen engagement, government accountability, performance measurement and growth management.

Linda Hoke directs the Council on the Southern Community, and also manages Southern Growth's alliance with the Southern Consortium of University Public Service Organizations (SCUPSO). Linda served as editor and contributing author for SCUPSO's Choices for a Growing South project, as well as the Results-Oriented Government curriculum, which is now used throughout the South to train government leaders in performance measurement concepts.

In the area of leadership development, Linda played a major role in the production of Southern Growth's South LINK 2000 manual, a model leadership development program for rural Southern communities. She is currently coordinating efforts to implement a new grassroots leadership development program for the South, as well as creating materials to engage citizens in economic development issues in their communities.

Prior to joining Southern Growth Policies Board, Linda was a consultant for economic development policy and practice with organizations such as the N.C. Rural Center and North Carolina's Division of Community Assistance. Linda holds a master's degree in regional planning from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a bachelor's degree in urban studies and political science from Northwestern University.

Contact Linda Hoke at lhoke@southern.org.