Meet Racquel Thiesen, ALP Ambassador

ALP Ambassador Spotlight: Racquel Thiesen, Kansas Leadership Center

At the Association of Leadership Programs (ALP), we are proud to highlight the incredible leaders who contribute to the growth and success of Community Leadership Programs nationwide. 

We’re excited to feature Racquel Thiesen, Partner Developer at the Kansas Leadership Center, in this month’s Ambassador Spotlight. Racquel’s journey in community leadership is a powerful testament to growth, civic engagement, and lifelong learning.

A Career Rooted in Community Impact
Racquel’s leadership journey began immediately after graduation, driven by a desire to make a positive impact in her community. Over the years, she observed that while leadership development programs often remained the same, community challenges had become more complex. This gap led her to embrace the Kansas Leadership Center’s innovative, skills-based leadership model, a shift that redefined her approach and reinforced her belief in the power of civically engaged citizens to tackle tough issues.

Today, Racquel is passionate about helping community leadership programs nationwide foster citizens with the mindset, skills, tools, and confidence to navigate systemic barriers and make meaningful progress.

A Legacy of Leadership at Home
One of Racquel’s proudest leadership achievements is deeply personal: serving as an elected official for 12 years while raising her five daughters. “There were trade-offs,” Racquel admits, but she treasures the example she set for her girls. “The upside, and the piece I’m most proud of, is the foundation that was laid for my daughters to see their place and worth and value in community leadership. Leadership is an activity, not a position or title—and they’re exercising a heck of a lot of leadership!”

Commitment to ALP and the Field
As an ALP Ambassador, Racquel is dedicated to nurturing and expanding the national ecosystem of community leadership development. Her involvement with ALP provides her with the opportunity to connect with practitioners across the country, exchanging ideas and best practices that broaden her perspective and enhance her work.
“Involvement with ALP affords me the opportunity to network with community leadership practitioners around the country,” Racquel shares. “Leadership development is bigger than Kansas.”

Guided by a Personal Mantra
Racquel is inspired by the quote: “It’s never too late to become who you might have been.”It’s a guiding belief that fuels her passion for helping others discover and embrace their full leadership potential.

Beyond Leadership: A Taste for the Culinary Arts
Outside of her work, Racquel enjoys cooking and experiencing different foods. In another life, she would have loved to attend culinary school and been a private chef who traveled the world. In this love for food, just as in leadership, Racquel finds joy in exploration, creativity, and connection.

Connect with Racquel
We’re proud to celebrate Racquel’s journey and her impactful contributions to ALP and community leadership programs across the nation.
LinkedIn: Racquel Thiesen
Kansas Leadership Center: Website

Thank you, Racquel, for your passion, dedication, and unwavering belief in the power of leadership to change lives! Your impact is felt far and wide, and we’re proud to have you as part of the ALP community!