Clear answers about the Institute and its work.
Learn about the JR Institute’s mission, structure, research, leadership, partnerships, support, campus plans, careers, and relationship with Dennco Holding Company.
We distinguish active work from plans and long-term vision.
This page should be updated as the Institute completes formation, launches programs, opens facilities, and begins accepting formal support.
A practical guide for visitors, partners, and supporters.
The questions below explain both the Institute’s intended structure and the steps still required to make every part fully operational.
Where legal, financial, or operational systems are still being established, the answers avoid implying that formal status, programs, or services are active before they are complete.
About the Institute
What is the JR Institute?
The Janet Elizabeth Rieder-Henderson Institute is being developed as an independent research, education, preservation, and public-benefit institution. Its purpose is to support interdisciplinary work, preserve knowledge and memory, and help move useful ideas toward practical outcomes.
Why is the Institute named for Janet?
The Institute honors Janet Elizabeth Rieder-Henderson’s life, intellectual curiosity, educational influence, and commitment to knowledge. Her legacy provides the institution with a personal foundation and a permanent responsibility to preserve history while building for the future.
Is the Institute already operating?
The Institute is in development. Organizational formation, governance, research planning, website development, partnerships, financial systems, and campus planning may proceed in stages. Individual pages should be updated as specific functions become active.
Is the Institute a nonprofit organization?
The intended structure is a Michigan nonprofit corporation pursuing federal tax-exempt status. Until formation documents, required registrations, and tax-exempt recognition are complete, the website should not state that tax-deductible contributions are currently available.
Research & Programs
What subjects will the Institute study?
The research portfolio may include advanced technology, energy, resilient infrastructure, education, corrections environments, adaptive lighting, AI, computing, archives, family memory, public systems, and other interdisciplinary challenges. Visit the Research page for the current portfolio.
Does the Institute publish its work?
The Institute intends to publish reports, briefs, essays, technical papers, educational resources, archival material, and annual institutional reports. Available work will be listed on the Publications page.
Can someone propose a research project?
Yes. Researchers, universities, agencies, companies, schools, foundations, communities, and practitioners may propose a challenge or collaboration through the Contact page.
Governance
Who governs the Institute?
The Institute is intended to be governed by a Board of Trustees, which functions as the corporation’s legal board of directors. Executive leadership manages daily operations within authority established by the governing documents and board-approved policies.
Who are the initial leaders?
The organizing leadership currently includes Dustin Bayn as President, Zach Ryckman as Secretary, Caiti O’Meara as Treasurer, and Lori Henderson-Bayn as Trustee. Leadership information can be found on the Leadership & Governance page.
How will conflicts of interest be handled?
The Institute should adopt written conflict-of-interest, related-party transaction, gift acceptance, ethics, financial, whistleblower, records, and research-integrity policies. Directors or trustees with a conflict should disclose it and recuse themselves where required.
Partnerships & Support
Who can partner with the Institute?
Potential partners include universities, researchers, public agencies, companies, schools, communities, foundations, practitioners, and other mission-aligned organizations.
Can the Institute accept donations?
Formal donation processing should begin only after the Institute has appropriate legal status, banking, accounting, gift-acceptance policies, and secure payment systems. Until then, visitors may use the Support page to begin a conversation.
Can someone contribute property or equipment?
Potentially. Non-cash gifts require careful review of ownership, condition, restrictions, liabilities, maintenance costs, tax implications, fair value, and mission usefulness before acceptance.
What is the Institute’s relationship with Dennco?
Dennco Holding Company is a separate for-profit organization that may support commercial deployment, infrastructure, or implementation. The Institute and Dennco should maintain separate legal entities, finances, records, governance, and written agreements for any shared work.
Campus & Operations
Where will the Institute be located?
A permanent campus location has not yet been publicly finalized. The Institute is evaluating facilities capable of supporting research, offices, archives, data infrastructure, education, operations, and long-term growth.
Will the campus open all at once?
The preferred approach is phased development. Essential administration, communications, archives, data systems, maintenance, and selected research may begin before every long-term improvement is complete.
Will the campus be open to the public?
Some programs, events, lectures, archives, and educational areas may be publicly accessible, while laboratories, offices, infrastructure, records, and secure operational areas may require controlled access.
Careers & Participation
Is the Institute currently hiring?
Formal hiring should begin as approved, funded positions become available. Current openings can be published through Odoo Recruitment and linked from the Careers page.
Will there be internships or fellowships?
The Institute intends to develop internships, research fellowships, visiting appointments, volunteer opportunities, and project-based roles as programs and funding permit.
How can I stay informed?
Follow the News & Insights page, review Events, and use the Contact page for specific questions or participation inquiries.
The answers should change as the Institute develops.
Review this page whenever legal status, leadership, facilities, programs, donation systems, or hiring changes.
- Replace planned language when operations become active
- Add confirmed addresses, contact channels, and schedules
- Update board and officer information promptly
- Link formal policies and public documents when available
- Remove temporary notices once systems are complete
Contact the Institute for a direct response.
Send a research, partnership, support, archive, career, governance, media, or general inquiry.