Budde is a leader in academic innovation and workforce development. At UMCI, she focuses on developing interdisciplinary degree programs and flexible professional development opportunities that support workforce growth and industry engagement in Detroit. Her work connects higher education with the needs of local industries, contributing to economic development.
With more than 14 years of experience in higher education, Budde has played a key role in expanding access to learning. At the U-M Center for Academic Innovation, she led the development and operations of more than 200 non-credit learning experiences, reaching more than 10 million learners worldwide.
Her work emphasizes accessibility, innovative instructional technologies, and meeting the needs of diverse learners. Additionally, Budde has led educational partnerships with higher education institutions, government agencies, and major industry partners such as Siemens and Disney, bringing together public and private stakeholders to drive innovation in learning.
Budde holds a Bachelor of Arts in film and video production from the University of Michigan and is pursuing an MBA with a focus on innovation, entrepreneurship, and global challenges at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.