Rural Matters

In this episode, Michael chats with Dr. Melissa Sadorf, Executive Director of the Arizona Rural Schools Association; Dr. Steven Johnson, Superintendent of Fort Ransom School District in North Dakota and leader of Rural Educational Associates; and Taylor McCabe-Juhnke, Executive Director of Rural Schools Collaborative. Together, they first offer a warm tribute to Dr. Allen Pratt, who is retiring as Executive Director of the National Rural Education Association. Then, they dive into the most important developments in rural education in 2024 and wrap up with some insights on what could be at the forefront in 2025.

In this final episode of our MedCerts series, Michael chats with Jenny Story, Office Manager and Co-Owner at Story Family Medicine in Idaho, and Jennifer Kolb, Vice President of Partnerships and Workforce Development at MedCerts. Together, they discuss the unique community Story Family Medicine serves, the challenges it faced in finding new talent, why it partnered with MedCerts to deploy a phlebotomy certification course to help fill that role, how MedCerts partnership models help to bridge talent gaps in rural health, and much more.   This episode and the entire series are sponsored by MedCerts. For more information, visit partners.MedCerts.com.

In this episode, Michael chats with MacKenzie Nuckolls, RN CNOR, Assistant Director of Surgical Services at Union General Health System in Georgia, and Jennifer Kolb, Vice President of Partnerships and Workforce Development at MedCerts. Together, they discuss MacKenzie's role at Union General Health System, challenges the hospital faced as it tried to fill talent gaps, how the hospital's partnership with MedCerts help to meet those needs, and much more.   This episode and the entire series are sponsored by MedCerts. For more information, visit partners.MedCerts.com.

In this episode, Michael chats with Marion McFadden, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Together, they discuss how McFadden's office coordinated the response to recent natural disasters; the impact of HUD's housing supply work, including PRO Housing and the Section 108 Legacy Challenge; how HUD is working to provide financial assistance to rural communities facing homelessness difficulties; and HUD's holistic approach to improve economic prosperity in rural communications.

In this episode, Michael chats with Jennifer Kolb, Vice President of Partnerships and Workforce Development at MedCerts; Dana Janssen, Chief Product Officer at MedCerts; Rupi Hayer, Senior Manager for Chronic Disease Education in the Improving Health Outcomes Department at the American Medical Association (AMA); and Lauren Clemmons, Associate Professor of Family Medicine and Osteopathic Principles and Practice at the Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine. Together, they discuss MedCerts' employer partnership model, how the organization's programs benefit rural communities, the AMA's Blood Pressure Measurement initiative, why it's important to choose the right partner for online healthcare and IT training, why the two organizations partnered, the importance of blood pressure measurement training and education, and much more.   Explore the AMA's Student Blood Pressure Measurement Learning Series: edhub.ama-assn.org/ama-cvd-prevention-education/pages/student-bp-learning-series?bypassoutputcache=true   Learn more about the partnership between MedCerts and the AMA: www.ama-assn.org/press-center/press-releases/ama-medcerts-collaborate-improve-blood-pressure-measurement-skills   This episode and the entire series are sponsored by MedCerts. For more information, visit MedCerts.com.

In this episode, Michael chats with Chris Estes, Co-Executive Director of the Aspen Institute Community Strategies Group (Aspen CSG). Together, they discuss recent federal investment in rural areas, why private philanthropy and government need to rethink funding strategies, why rethinking measurement is important, the impact of investing in rural development hubs, and much more. For more information, visit aspencsg.org.

In this episode, Michael chats with Elizabeth “Libby” Jones, Program Director of the Global Health Advocacy Incubator's Overdose Prevention Initiative (OPI). Together, they discuss OPI's mission, what they're working on now, differences between rural and urban issues surrounding the opioid crisis and overdose epidemic, what's happening at the federal level to address these concerns in rural America, and much more. For more information, visit actionforoverdose.org.

In this episode, Michael chats with returning Rural Matters guest Luke Shaefer, Faculty Director of Poverty Solutions at the University of Michigan, Kohn Professor of Social Justice and Social Policy, professor of social work, and co-author of The Injustice of Place, which explores the legacy of poverty in disadvantaged rural communities across the U.S. Together, they discuss the impetus and research behind the book, what “disadvantage” truly means in the context of dozens of rural American communities, and much more. This episode is sponsored by Poverty Solutions at the University of Michigan. For more information, visit poverty.umich.edu.   Order Luke's book, The Injustice of Place, at bit.ly/3L2vKSw.  The views stated by podcast guests do not necessarily reflect those of our sponsors.

In the fourth and final installment of our 2023 series with Self-Help Enterprises, Michael chats with the following rural water, housing, and health experts: Tami McVay, Director of Emergency Services at Self-Help Enterprises; Meghan Tosney, Assistant Deputy Director at California's State Water Board's Division of Financial Assistance; Eddie Ocampo, Program Director with the Community Sustainability Department at Self-Help Enterprises; and Paul Gosselin, Deputy Director for Sustainable Groundwater Management at the California Department of Water Resources. Together, they discuss emergency services and response work in California during a period of drought, the nonprofit role in the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, helping families find viable solutions for safe and affordable drinking water, and much more.  This episode, and the entire series, is sponsored by Self-Help Enterprises. For more information, visit www.selfhelpenterprises.org.  The views stated by podcast guests do not necessarily reflect those of our sponsors.

In the fourth installment of our latest series with Ascendium, Michael chats with Dr. Mallory Dwinal-Palisch, Chancellor of Reach University and CEO of Craft Education System, and Mary Wurtz, Policy Analyst at The Council of State Governments Center of Innovation. Together, they discuss their work to bolster the rural public-sector workforce, the power of apprenticeships in advancing rural communities, and much more. This episode, and the entire series, is sponsored by Ascendium Education Group. For more information, visit www.ascendiumeducation.org and www.ascendiumphilanthropy.org. CSG Launches New Initiative to Expand Civic Sector Apprenticeship Programs in the States: www.csg.org/2022/10/04/csg-launches-new-initiative-to-expand-civic-sector-apprenticeship-programs-in-the-states  Expanding Rural Apprenticeship in Maine: csg-erc.org/rural-apprenticeship-in-maine  The views stated by podcast guests do not necessarily reflect those of our sponsors.

In the third installment of our 2023 series with the Self-Help Enterprises, Michael chats with the following rural water, housing, and health experts: Jessi Snyder, Director of Community Development at Self-Help Enterprises; Olivia Gomez, Family Resource Community Liaison at Planada Elementary School District and board member of Self-Help Enterprises and the Planada Community Services District; Patrick Isherwood, Director of Asset Management at Self-Help Enterprises; and Graciela Soto, CEO of Altura Centers for Health. Together, they discuss the current community services needs in rural communities, needs around infrastructure, health care, and much more. This episode, and the entire series, are sponsored by Self-Help Enterprises. For more information, visit www.selfhelpenterprises.org.  The views stated by podcast guests do not necessarily reflect those of our sponsors.

In the second installment of our 2023 series with the Self-Help Enterprises, Michael chats with the following rural development experts: Betsy McGovern-Garcia, Director of Real Estate Development at Self-Help Enterprises; Jennifer Gomez, City Manager for the City of Farmersville, California; and Adrianne Hillman, Founder and CEO of Salt + Light Works. Together, they discuss rural housing and community development, rural housing services and partnerships, the connection between rural housing and transportation, and much more. This episode, and the entire series, is sponsored by Self-Help Enterprises. For more information, visit www.selfhelpenterprises.org.  The views stated by podcast guests do not necessarily reflect those of our sponsors.

In the third and final installment of our 2023 series with the Brookings Institution, Michael chats with Jeffrey West, Executive Director of Education to Employment Partners, where he works to bring people, information, and resources together to improve the quality of educational attainment and career development services in South Texas. Together, they discuss how one partnership, UpSkill Coastal Bend, is helping the region achieve better rural postsecondary and workforce outcomes, how data is working to drive decision-making and action in the region, and much more. Plus, we share a clip from the Brookings Institution's podcast, Reimagine Rural, hosted by Tony Pipa, Senior Fellow in the Center for Sustainable Development at Brookings. This episode, and the entire series, is sponsored by the Brookings Institution. For more information, visit www.brookings.edu. Reimagine Rural podcast: www.brookings.edu/reimaginerural The views stated by podcast guests do not necessarily reflect those of our sponsors.

In the second installment of our 2023 series with the Brookings Institution, Michael chats with Kate Hansen, Senior Policy Associate at the Center for Rural Affairs; Brett Melone, Chief Business Strategies Officer at California FarmLink; and farmers Dan Voss and Max Chavez (interpretation by Carmen Montes, Center for Rural Affairs). Together, they discuss farming initiatives and stewardship, the role of conservation in farming, small businesses in rural communities, and much more. Plus, we share a clip from the Brookings Institution's podcast, Reimagine Rural, hosted by Tony Pipa, Senior Fellow in the Center for Sustainable Development at Brookings. This episode, and the entire series, is sponsored by the Brookings Institution. For more information, visit www.brookings.edu. More information on the topics discussed today can be found at cfra.org/2023-farm-bill-platform.  The views stated by podcast guests do not necessarily reflect those of our sponsors.

Synopsis: In the third and final installment of our latest series with Ascendium, Michael chats with Emily Labandera, Director of Research at Excelencia in Education, and Cassandra Arroyo, Research Fellow at Excelencia in Education and doctoral student at the University of Michigan. Together, they discuss Excelencia's research and work to accelerate Latino student success in higher education, the challenges they have—and continue to—overcome, and much more. This episode, and the entire series, is sponsored by Ascendium Education Group. For more information, visit www.ascendiumeducation.org and www.ascendiumphilanthropy.org. To learn more about Excelencia in Education and its initiatives, visit: www.edexcelencia.org www.edexcelencia.org/research www.edexcelencia.org/research/publications/institutional-resilience-puerto-rico-first-look-efforts-puerto-rican-hsis The views stated by podcast guests do not necessarily reflect those of our sponsors.

In the first installment of our 2023 series with the Self-Hep Enterprises, Michael chats with the following rural development experts: Tom Collishaw, President and CEO of Self-Help Enterprises; Peter Carey, former CEO of Self-Help Enterprises and current Management Consultant; and Sergio Cuellar, Independent Consultant for nonprofit organizations. Together, they discuss self-help housing and homebuilding, rural community leadership and development in rural areas, the importance of farmworkers to rural initiatives, and much more. This episode, and the entire series, is sponsored by Self-Help Enterprises. For more information, visit www.selfhelpenterprises.org.  The views stated by podcast guests do not necessarily reflect those of our sponsors.

In the first installment of our 2023 series with the Brookings Institution, Michael chats with Mark Rembert, Director of Research & Knowledge and the Center on Rural Innovation (CORI). Together, they discuss common misconceptions about rural America, how data and research can combat those misconceptions and deepen the broader understanding of rural America, and much more. Plus, we share a clip from the Brookings Institution's podcast, Reimagine Rural, hosted by Tony Pipa, Senior Fellow in the Center for Sustainable Development at Brookings. This episode, and the entire series, is sponsored by the Brookings Institution. For more information, visit www.brookings.edu. CORI: www.ruralinnovation.us  CORI's Rural Aperture Project: www.ruralinnovation.us/resources/mapping-and-data-analytics/the-rural-aperture-project/  Brookings' Reimagine Rural podcast: www.brookings.edu/reimaginerural. The views stated by podcast guests do not necessarily reflect those of our sponsors.

In the second installment of our latest series with Ascendium, Michael chats with the following experts on the intersection of community college and rural economic growth: Dr. Greg Hodges, President of Patrick & Henry Community College; Josh Wyner, Founder and Executive Director of the College Excellence Program at the Aspen Institute; and Ben Barrett, Senior Program Manager with the College Excellence Program at the Aspen Institute. The group discusses how community colleges are advancing rural economic mobility, preparing students for job opportunities, revitalizing rural postsecondary enrollment, and much more. This episode, and the entire series, is sponsored by Ascendium Education Group. For more information, visit www.ascendiumeducation.org and www.ascendiumphilanthropy.org. The views stated by podcast guests do not necessarily reflect those of our sponsors.

In this episode, Michael chats with Cara James, President and CEO of Grantmakers in Health (GIH), an educational organization dedicated to helping funders achieve better health for all through better philanthropy. Together, they discuss GIH's work to support rural populations, combatting racial and socioeconomic disparities in rural health, philanthropy's role in closing workforce gaps in rural communities, and much more. This episode is sponsored by GIH. For more information, visit www.gih.org. The views stated by podcast guests do not necessarily reflect those of our sponsors.

In this fifth and final episode of our series on the future of investing in rural prosperity, produced in collaboration with the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis and the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, Michael chats with the following experts on achieving rural prosperity in America: Tony Pipa, Senior Fellow at the Center for Sustainable Development at the Brookings Institution; Ines Polonius, CEO of Communities Unlimited, Inc.; and Jen Giovannitti, President and Trustee of the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation. Together, they discuss how federal policy affects and could further support rural communities, why taking a holistic approach to rural development is key to realizing prosperity, how philanthropy and purposeful rural investment can drive rural economic growth, and much more. This episode, and the entire five-part series, is sponsored by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis and the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. For more information, visit www.stlouisfed.org. The views stated by podcast guests do not necessarily reflect those of our sponsors.

In the first episode of our new series with Ascendium, Michael chats with the following experts on working toward stronger educational and workforce outcomes in rural communities: Kirstin Yeado, Program Officer at Ascendium; Jeffrey West, Executive Director of Education to Employment Partners; Dakota Pawlicki, Director of Talent Hubs at CivicLab; Justin Burch, National Director of Workforce and Small Business at Rural Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC); and Will Coppage, Executive Director of the Washington County Economic Alliance. The group discusses goals surrounding achieving better postsecondary opportunities and outcomes, how they're utilizing meaningful partnerships and working toward those objectives, creating pathways to educational and professional success, and much more. This episode, and the entire series, is sponsored by Ascendium. For more information, visit www.ascendiumeducation.org. To learn more about Ascendium's research projects that address gaps in evidence for rural learner postsecondary education and workforce success, visit www.ascendiumphilanthropy.org/our-grantmaking/building-evidence-to-increase-rural-learner-success. For more information on the initiatives mentioned by our guests in this episode, please visit the following links: www.rurallearningsystems.org www.upskillcoastalbend.org wceams.com/jobs www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6A816bIruI The views stated by podcast guests do not necessarily reflect those of our sponsors.

In this fourth episode of our five-part series on the future of investing in rural prosperity, produced in collaboration with the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis and the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, Michael chats with the following experts on achieving rural prosperity in America: Chrystel Cornelius, President and CEO of the Oweesta Corporation; Nikki Foster, Program Officer at the Northwest Area Foundation; Jonelle Yearout, Executive Director of the Nimiipuu Community Development Fund; and Stacia Morfin, Owner of Nez Perce Tourism and Traditional Gift Shop. Together, they discuss efforts in advancing rural and, specifically, Native prosperity, increased investment in Native community growth, the value of partnerships in working toward rural and Native prosperity, and much more. This episode, and the entire five-part series, is sponsored by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis and the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. For more information, visit www.stlouisfed.org. This episode's guests can be reached at their respective email addresses, as follows: Chrystel Cornelius: chrystel@oweesta.org Nikki Foster: nfoster@nwaf.org Jonelle Yearout: jonelle@nimiipuufund.org Stacia Morfin: nezpercetourism@gmail.com Congratulations to Chrystel Cornelius for being honored as a Heinz Award winner in the Economy category! Each year, the Heinz Awards recognize individuals making contributions to the arts, the economy, and the environment. Cornelius is one of this year's six awardees and is being recognized “for her work to return wealth and financial independence to Native lands and people, addressing centuries of disenfranchisement that have led to profound socioeconomic disparities for Native communities.” To read more about Cornelius' accomplishment, visit www.heinzawards.org/pages/chrystel-cornelius. The views stated by podcast guests do not necessarily reflect those of our sponsors.

In this episode, Michael chats with Mike Lowers, Senior Customer Success Manager, Central U.S., and Kristin Martinez, Clinical Director, SLP and OT, both of Presence, a digital therapy provider founded in 2009. They discuss school-based teletherapy and how new initiatives and approaches to teletherapy are fostering greater engagement, efficiency, and well-being across the rural school landscape. This episode is sponsored by Presence, presencelearning.com.

In this third episode of our five-part series on the future of investing in rural prosperity, produced in collaboration with the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis and the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, Michael chats with the following experts on achieving rural prosperity in America: Kaying Hang, Senior Vice President of Programs and Partnerships at the Sierra Health Foundation and The Center at Sierra Health Foundation; Tom Collishaw, CEO of Self-Help Enterprises; Jesus Martinez, Director of the Central Valley Immigrant Integration Collaborative; and Susana De Anda, Co-founder and Executive Director of the Community Water Center. They discuss overcoming challenges in rural affordable housing and infrastructure, building collaborative partnerships, philanthropic efforts, serving immigrants, legislative issues, and much more. This episode, and the entire five-part series, is sponsored by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis and the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. For more information, visit www.stlouisfed.org. The views stated by podcast guests do not necessarily reflect those of our sponsors.

In this second installment of our five-part series on the future of investing in rural prosperity, produced in collaboration with the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis and the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, Michael chats with the following experts on investing rural prosperity in America: Noel Poyo, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Community Economic Development at the Treasury Department; Christiana McFarland, Director of the Center for Innovation Strategy and Policy (CISP) at SRI International; and Daniel Paul Davis, Vice President and Community Affairs Officer at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. They discuss inclusive development in various types of rural communities, regional collaboration and economic connectivity, advancing shared prosperity in rural America, and much more. This episode, and the entire five-part series, is sponsored by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis and the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. For more information, visit www.stlouisfed.org. The views stated by podcast guests do not necessarily reflect those of our sponsors.

In this first episode of a new five-part series on the future of investing in rural prosperity, produced in collaboration with the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis and the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, Michael chats with the following experts on achieving rural prosperity in America: Linda Lobao, Professor Emeritus in Rural Sociology and Distinguished Professor in Food, Agriculture, and Environment Sciences at The Ohio State University; Daniel Lichter, Ferris Family Professor Emeritus of Life Course Studies in the Cornell Brooks School of Public Policy at Cornell University; and Jose Enrique Garcilazo, Head of Regional and Rural Unit at the Center for Entrepreneurships, SMEs, Regions, and Cities at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. They discuss the role of local governments in achieving rural prosperity, how new immigrant groups may provide a demographic and economic lifeline to depopulating rural areas, the changing racial and ethnic composition of rural America, and the reception of local people and the business community to changing rural demographics. This episode, and the entire five-part series, is sponsored by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis and the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. For more information, visit www.stlouisfed.org.  Visit bit.ly/3tIelpx to read Lichter's article, “Opportunity and Place: Latino Children and America's Future,” published in The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science. The views expressed by the podcast guests do not necessarily reflect the views of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, or the Federal Reserve System.

In the final installment of our six-part series on continuing rural postsecondary education and workforce development, produced in collaboration with and supported by the Ascendium Education Group, Michael chats with two education leaders who are doing some amazing work with rural colleges: Jeb Puryear, the Suzanne and Dave Peterson Endowed Professor of Gifted Education at the University of Montana and a former secondary science teacher and program coordinator who primarily studies creativity, talent development mechanisms, and programmatic inequities in educational settings; and Jonathan Plucker, the Julian C. Stanley Professor of Talent Development at Johns Hopkins University and a former elementary school science teacher who studies education policy, creativity, and advanced learning in both K–12 and higher education settings. Puryear and Plucker discuss place-based education and how it relates to rural education. They dive into the importance of data, the student shift from rural to urban settings, and how rural education programs can help to improve outcomes. Plus, they outline several examples of successful programs (e.g. Appalachian Studies at Appalachian State and The Nebraska Writing Project at the University of Nebraska). This episode, and the entire six-part series, is sponsored by the Ascendium Education Group, whose philanthropy aims to remove systemic barriers faced by certain learners, specifically first-generation students, incarcerated adults, veterans, students of color, and rural community members. For more information, visit ascendiumphilanthropy.org.

In this sixth and final installment of our excellent series, Living in Rural America —2022 and Beyond, produced in collaboration with and supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Michelle discusses the future of rural with three outstanding guests: Dee Davis, Founder and President of the Center for Rural Strategies; David Lipsetz, President and CEO of the Housing Assistance Council (HAC); and Valerie Lefler. Founder and Executive Director of Feonix — Mobility Rising. Davis discusses the best options for small towns facing economic challenges, the political divide between urban and rural communities and its effect on democratic institutions, and the impact of divergent media in the rural space. Lipsetz talks about the impact of housing issues on health, wealth, and education in rural communities, and how his organization is helping rural communities take advantage of opportunities in this space. Lefler discusses transportation barriers faced by rural communities, the connection between rural healthcare and mobility challenges, and how Feonix is working to provide solutions in these areas. This episode and the entire six-part series is sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation., the nation's largest philanthropy dedicated solely to health. For more information on RWJF, visit rwjf.org or on Twitter @rwjf.

In Part V of our six-part series on continuing rural postsecondary education and workforce development, produced in collaboration with and supported by the Ascendium Education Group. Michelle chats with three education leaders who are doing some amazing work with rural colleges: Cindy Lopez,  Executive Director of Network Engagement at Achieving the Dream, who oversees designated ATD Network services, such as multiyear transformation initiatives for unique groups of colleges that includes minority-serving institutions and regional groups, as well as ATD's Building Rural Resiliency for the Future of Work project; Meredith Hatch, Director of Network Relations at Achieving the Dream, who provides leadership to identify and scale promising practices for use across the ATD Network of 300+colleges as well as serving as program manager for Building Resiliency in Rural Communities for the Future of Work project; and Monica Clark, deputy director for the Belk Center for Community College Leadership and Research. Lopez and Hatch discuss how ATD helps colleges build digital skills capacity and supports for low-income rural community college students to enter and have success in earning credentials that prepare them for high-quality jobs, and the importance of equity in college transformation. Clark describes the mission of her organization, the importance of data, the lessons learned from the Rural College Leaders program, and how the Belk Center is building on work that is already happening in North Carolina and nationally to support rural institutions. This episode and the entire six-part series is sponsored by the Ascendium Education Group, whose philanthropy aims to remove systemic barriers faced by certain learners, specifically first-generation students, incarcerated adults, veterans, students of color, and rural community members. For more information, visit ascendiumphilanthropy.org

Synopsis: In Part V of our six-part series, Living in Rural America, produced in collaboration with and supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Michelle discusses Rural Economic & Cultural Success Stories: Lesson Learned from Thriving Communities, with Dr. Katherine Ortega Courtney and Dominic Capello, the two authors of the landmark book, 100% Community, Ensuring 10 Vital Services for Surviving and Thriving and Matt Probst, medical director of El Centro Family Health and a driving force behind the 100% San Miguel (New Mexico) County Initiative. Probst discusses how he is helping to lead an effort to combat the current wildfires in New Mexico, the worst in state history. He also details the five activities that all communities should maintain to survive and the five necessary activities to thrive in any community. The panel also talks about the history of 100 Percent Community, which started before the pandemic; how their organization addresses a variety of rural issues; what makes their organization unique; and its processes for enabling success in communities. This episode and the entire six-part series is sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the nation's largest philanthropy dedicated solely to health. For more information on the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, visit rjwf.org

In this episode, the fourth in our six-part series, Living in Rural America, produced in collaboration with and supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Michelle chats with Mil Duncan, Professor Emerita in Sociology at the University of New Hampshire and Senior Fellow at the Meridian Institute. Her work focuses on opportunity and social change in rural communities. Duncan was the founding director of the Carsey Institute at UNH and is the author of Worlds Apart: Poverty and Politics in Rural America. Duncan discusses her research about equity and opportunity in rural America, the historical roots of deep poverty in rural places, and the role of politics as a potential equity change agent. This episode and the entire six-part series is sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the nation's largest philanthropy dedicated solely to health. For more information on the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, visit rjwf.org

In this fourth installment of the fabulous series we're doing in collaboration with and supported by the Ascendium Education Group, Michelle interviews three professionals with hands-on experience collaborating with employers to help rural learners: Dani Douglas, a Research and Policy Associate at the Center on Rural Innovation; Dr. John Fitzsimmons, President of The Foundation for Maine's Community Colleges; and Joshua Howe, Deputy Executive Director for Workforce Training and Remote Working for the Maine Community College System. Douglas discusses why rural places should care about having tech jobs and businesses in their communities and success stories in rural areas. Fitzsimmons talks about the role of the Maine Advisory Council on remote work and the importance of certification in this space. Howe provides an overview of the Remote Work for Maine program, and the kinds of jobs for which workers are being trained. This episode and the entire six-part series is sponsored by the Ascendium Education Group, whose philanthropy aims to remove systemic barriers faced by certain learners, specifically first-generation students, incarcerated adults, veterans, students of color, and rural community members. For more information, visit ascendiumphilanthropy.org   

In this final installment of our fabulous four-part series, Designing Postsecondary Alternatives for Rural Learners, produced in collaboration with and underwritten by PelotonU, Michelle chats with four terrific guests who provide additional perspectives on the rural learning experience: Rocío Rangel, Director of the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) at Eastern Washington University; Drew Garretson, Senior Director of Digital Experience at Ceres Solutions Cooperative; Francis Vigil, Tribal Education Specialist for the National Indian Education Association; and Sarah Saxton-Frump, Co-Founder and COO of PelotonU. Rangel discusses whether the current k-12 education system serves migrant farmworker students and the gaps in existing higher education programs in serving these learners. Garretson talks about the major employment challenges associated with rural communities, touching on talent retention strategies; agriculture technology; and creating a successful collaborative and entrepreneurial ecosystem in rural communities. Vigil discusses the impact of rurality on Native American learners and the possible pitfalls of virtual learning. Saxton-Frump talks about how PelotonU is designed to be flexible and supportive, and their hope that this model might help rural learners achieve their college goals This episode and the entire four-part series is sponsored by PelotonU, whose innovative and regionally accredited degree options flip the script on rural education and enable you to fit college around your life rather than fitting your life around college. Try it for six weeks absolutely risk-free and no money down. Visit PelotonU.org to get started.

In our second bonus brief episode of 2022, Michelle is joined by former New Orleans Mayor, and current Biden Administration Senior Advisor and Infrastructure Coordinator Mitch Landrieu to discuss how the President's $1.2 billion Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will help rebuild rural America.  Mitch and Michelle begin their discussion by commenting on the poor conditions of America's rural infrastructure, and how President Biden is keeping his promise to rural Americans to help rebuild. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill has money allotted to assist rural communities with clean drinking water, fixing roads and bridges, increasing broadband internet access, modern wastewater systems, EV charging stations, and affordable electricity. “You want to design systems that are designed to make people healthy and happy, and bring them together… The President wants to make sure that everybody in rural America knows, not only that he sees them, but that he made a promise to invest in rural America and he is delivering on that promise,' said Landrieu. Mitch also discussed the Biden Administration's Rural Toolkit, which lets people know what programs there are, how much is in them, how to get them, and how to access them. You can find the Rural Toolkit at Build.gov/rural. Lastly, Michelle and Mitch discussed the Biden's Administration's focus on fixing transportation in rural America by repairing 15,000 rural bridges, considering public transportation needs, and focusing on high-speed rails connecting communities.   If you want to listen to our last Bonus Brief with Biden Administration Deputy Secretary Don Graves, click here!

In Part III of our superb series, Designing Postsecondary Alternatives for Rural Learners, produced in collaboration with and underwritten by one of our most exciting new partners, PelotonU. Michelle chats with three terrific guests about pathways for collaboration with rural communities: Laura Wise, Program Director for the Michigan State University College Advising Corps (MSUCAC), which supports college access for low-income, first-generation, and under-represented students; Regan Kelly from TNTP, who oversees academic work and leads teams of experts to support literacy instruction in districts across the state of Tennessee; and Maria Luna-Torres, Project Director at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, where she manages the implementation of AgriLife's Rural Student Success demonstration project. Wise discusses the mission of her organization, the challenges she observes when college advisors enter rural communities to support students, and best practices for organizations to follow to more effectively engage with their communities. Kelly talks about the lessons she has learned from her work in Tennessee and tips for success in partnering with rural communities. Luna-Torres touches on lessons learned from her experience as Director of the Rural Student Success Initiative, and how she approaches outreach in a state as large as Texas. This episode, and the entire four-part series, is sponsored by PelotonU, whose innovative and regionally accredited degree options flip the script on higher education and allow learners to fit college around their lives rather than fitting their lives around college. Learners can try it for six weeks risk-free with no money down. Visit PelotonU.org to get started.

In the third installment of our superb six-part series produced in collaboration with and supported by the Ascendium  Education Group, Michelle chats with Leslie Daugherty, Senior Education Designer at the Education Design Lab; Kathy Temple-Miller, Dean of Student Success at Washington State Community College in Ohio; Dr. Dana Cotton, an instructor and Interim Chair of the English, Communications, and Humanities Department at the College of Eastern Idaho; and Joe Davis, a workforce professional with more than 13 years working in rural communities in the Finger Lakes Region in New York. Daugherty speaks to the Education Design Lab's five community college partners and the four principles of the Lab's Human-Centered Design Process. Temple-Miller talks about how community colleges can be trusted hubs within their communities and the obstacles rural learners face that need to be overcome, including flexible schedules for adult learners and evening child care options. Davis discusses his role as the Employment and Training Programs Supervisor in Yates County and how he came to partner with Finger Lakes Community College on the BRIDGES project. Cotton talks about how the College of Eastern Idaho serves a large geographic area and how it reached out to communities outside of the Idaho Falls region in the pilot phase. This episode and the entire six-part series is sponsored by the Ascendium Education Group, whose philanthropy aims to remove systemic barriers faced by certain learners, specifically first-generation students, incarcerated adults, veterans, students of color, and rural community members. For more information, visit ascendiumphilanthropy.org   

In Part II of our fabulous four-part series we're producing in collaboration with and supported by PelotonU, called Designing Postsecondary Alternatives for Rural Learners, Michelle discusses decisions rural learners have to make to pursue their educational goals and why and how rural learners choose whether to stay in their communities or leave to pursue education opportunities elsewhere, with three excellent guests: Dr. Marion Terenzio, president of the SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill; James Decker, who is serving his second term as mayor of his hometown, Stamford, Texas; and Miriam Hoffman, who is studying agribusiness economics at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Terenzio says it's important to understand that the community helps shape a university's agenda with its learners. Her university's initiative, based on a Thriving College, Thriving Community mindset, helps create regional economic development. The Institute for Rural Vitality at SUNY Cobleskill, with its five Centers, including its important Ag Innovation Center, is having a positive impact on this economic development, which complements the university's community partnership goals and its superb applied learning capabilities. Decker discusses why he decided to return to his community after college and how leaders can encourage rural residents to return to their communities and help deal with rural community “brain drain.” Hoffman discusses how her college peers perceive her hometown and how it influenced her perception of the value of returning to a rural setting. This episode and the entire four-part series is sponsored by PelotonU, whose innovative and regionally accredited degree options flip the script on higher education and allow learners to fit college around their lives rather than fitting their lives around college. Learners can try it for six weeks risk-free with no money down. Visit PelotonU.org to get started. 

In this first of our four-part series, Designing Postsecondary Alternatives for Rural Learners, produced in collaboration with and supported by PelotonU, Michelle chats with three terrific guests about the latest trends and statistics pertaining to rural learners and rural education, best practices for engaging student support, and actual rural learner experiences: Dr. Van Davis, chief strategy officer with WCET (WICHE Cooperative for Educational Technologies); Matt Newlin, who has 15 years' experience creating equitable pathways for low-income, first-generation students and is currently on the leadership team of the NACAC Rural & Small Town Special Interest Group, and host of the Rural College Student Experience podcast; and Cyndi Gonzalez, a recent rural graduate, who has faced challenges involving paying for community college and lack of accessibility to internet services. Davis describes the importance of geography in shaping higher education opportunity in the United States, the role played by rural-serving institutions, the vexing problem of “higher education deserts,” how online higher education affects rural learners, and the importance of equity in the rural space. Newlin talks about what institutions are missing about the rural student experience in college, such as isolation, and provides several examples of institutions doing a good job of supporting rural students, and the strengths that rural students bring to campus and their peers; Gonzales discusses both her positive and negative experiences as a rural learner, and why she chose PelotonU. This episode and the entire series is sponsored by PelotonU, whose innovative and regionally accredited degree options flip the script on higher education and allow learners to fit college around their lives rather than fitting their lives around college. Learners can try it for six weeks risk-free with no money down. Visit PelotonU.org to get started.   

In Part III of this series, Life in Rural America — 2022 and Beyond — produced in collaboration with and underwritten by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Michelle chats with Ge Bai, Professor of Accounting at the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School and Professor of Health Policy & Management at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health; Keith Mueller, Gerhard Hartman Professor in Health Management and Policy, University of Iowa and Director of the Rural Policy Research Institute and its Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis; and Sally Buck, CEO of the National Rural Health Resource Center. Ge discusses the recent financial challenges and most important issues facing rural hospitals today, such as low occupancy rate. Mueller talks about how rural hospitals can retain the brand of the “blue H” while no longer being dependent on the volumes of inpatient care for their identity. He notes that certain hospitals have been able to achieve “turnarounds” through a variety of measures, including developing a mix of services, collaborating with other institutions in the community and, for new CEOs, totally immersing themselves in the community and meeting their population's health needs. Buck points out the attributes and best practices that make certain CAHs more financially viable than others, the burnout and turnover conundrum, and how federal programs can improve the financial and quality performance of hospitals in rural communities. This episode and the entire six-part series is sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the nation's largest philanthropy dedicated solely to health. For more information, visit rwjf.org or @rwjf on Twitter.

In Part II of our superb six-part series produced in collaboration with and underwritten by the Ascendium Education Group, Michelle chats with three academic researchers who are responsible for the new groundbreaking report published by the Alliance for Research on Regional Colleges, (ARRC) called Introducing Our Nation's Rural Serving Postsecondary Institutions: Dr. Andrew Koricich, an associate professor of higher education at Appalachian State University and ARRC's executive director; Dr. Cecilia Orphan, an associate professor in the Higher Education Department at the University of Denver, and ARRC's director of partnerships; and Dr. Alisa Hicklin Fryar, professor of political science at the University of Oklahoma and ARRC's director of data. The discussion focused on the importance of having a metric for identifying Rural-Serving Institutions (RSIs); the impact of the pandemic on RSIs; the debunking of certain stereotypes surrounding rural areas and race; the undeniable impact of rural colleges; the rise of RSIs in serving communities facing demographic and economic challenges; and rural workforce development. To learn more about ARRC, this incredible project, or view their collection of resources, you can visit regionalcolleges.org or follow them on Twitter (@ARRC_Research) and LinkedIn. This episode and the entire six-part series is sponsored by the Ascendium Education Group. www.ascendiumphilanthropy.org   

Synopsis: Michelle chats with Danielle McGeary, Vice President of HTM for the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) and Maggie Berkey, CBET, Senior Biomedical Equipment Technician (BMET) for CommonSpirit Health at the Good Samaritan campus in Nebraska, about AAMI's innovative BMET Apprenticeship Program. McGeary and Berkey developed this program in collaboration with AAMI's healthcare technology management community and the U.S. Department of Labor. The two-years program is a hybrid of on-the-job training and education (two college courses). Rural hospitals should consider taking advantage of this landmark initiative not only to help meet their short-term needs without having to retrain existing staff but also to deal with the issue of the long-term aging of the BMET workforce. The minimum eligibility requirements for entry into this nationally registered apprenticeship program, which is about six months old, are either a high school diploma or GED. An entry-level BMET begins at $25 per hour but eventually can make a six-figure yearly income. For more information about hosting or applying for the BMET Apprenticeship Program, visit https://www.aami.org/htm/bmet-apprenticeship.

In Part II of this six-part series — Living in Rural America, 2022 and Beyond —   produced in collaboration with and supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Michelle chats with three experts on how rural America is dealing with the pandemic and other significant issues. Dr. Don Albrecht, Director of the Western Rural Development Center (WRDC), who has published research on the impact of COVID-19 on rural areas; Patrick Woodie, President of the NC Rural Center; and Karen Jackson, President of Apogee Strategic Partners, LLC, a Virginia firm specializing in developing and implementing technology and innovation strategies and programs. Albrecht discusses: why most rural economies have been stagnant or declining for decades, what thriving rural communities look like, and why per capita COVID-19 deaths in rural America are higher than in urban areas. Woodie details how rural business has fared in North Carolina and the importance of access and funding broadband in rural areas. Jackson describes how there has been influx of rural remote workers during the pandemic (a “silver lining” echoed by the other two guests), as well as how rural areas can position themselves at this time to capitalize on post-COVID opportunities. This episode, and the entire six-part series, is sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the nation's largest philanthropy dedicated solely to health. Find out more about the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation at rwjf.org or on Twitter, @rwjf.          

In the first installment of our six-part series produced in collaboration with and underwritten by the Ascendium Education Group, Michelle chats with Kirstin Yeado, a program officer at Ascendium responsible for strategic grantmaking in support of Ascendium's Rural Education and Workforce Training program.: Shanell Watson, a program officer with the Woodward Hines Education Foundation, a foundation that has focused on increasing postsecondary access and completion for Mississippi residents since 1995.; Denise Callahan, the Director of Postsecondary Success at The Ford Family Foundation in Oregon; and Allison Pennington, Programs & Strategy Associate for Greater Texas Foundation, a private foundation focused on helping more Texans complete postsecondary credentials. In this first part of our 2022 series — a continuation of our terrific series produced with Ascendium last year — Yeado discusses how her organization seeks to remove obstacles faced by learners from low-income backgrounds, investing in high-quality, actionable research, and implementing evidence-based strategic initiatives for learners. Watson discusses essential tools that funders need to successfully build relationships with partners to implement programs in rural communities and how her organization learns strategies for success through its Get2College programming and grantmaking efforts, such as the Global Teaching Project. Callahan discusses why The Ford Family Foundation focuses almost exclusively on rural communities, why success in education beyond high school is such an important part of the foundation's work, and the findings from its 2021 report, “Supporting Rural Students in Oregon in High School and Beyond: A Study of College Enrollment, Persistence, Transfer, and Completion Outcomes.” Pennington discusses why Greater Texas Foundation intentionally funds rural communities and highlights examples of successful rural postsecondary education collaboratives in Texas, including Rural College Promise and West Texas Rural Resilience and Opportunity on the High Plains. This episode and the entire six-part series is supported by the Ascendium Education Group. www.ascendiumphilanthropy.org     

Michelle chats about the incredibly important topic of heart health in Rural America with Dr. Jessica Barnes, co-founder and CEO of 20Lighter, LLC, an award-winning cardiometabolic health program targeting inflammation and visceral fat, the holy grail of cardiovascular and metabolic disease; and Irion “Chip” Pursell, M.P.H., R.N., B.S.N., the director of cardiology research at UAMS in Little Rock, Arkansas, and the Principal Investigator of the UAMS Lincoln Project. Pursell describes how the workings of this unique initiative, which is based on a strategy for community engagement and an ultimate goal of improving cardiovascular health in highly underserved areas of the Arkansas Delta. Local engagement is crucial to increase wellness measures and target obesity in a region where economic and health disparities have life-altering consequences for residents, explains Pursell. Dr. Barnes discusses the role 20Lighter plays in the UAMS Lincoln Project, including focusing on proactive engagement of at-risk patients. Her program addresses a medical condition associated with a variety of ailments, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and COVID-19. The UAMS Lincoln Project is in progress, with results expected later this year.  Want to learn more about 20Lighter and the UAMS Lincoln Project? Visit 20Lighter.com/ArkansasDelta and UAMS Lincoln Project.   

In Part I of our six-part series, Living in Rural America — 2022 and Beyond, produced in collaboration with and supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Michelle discusses myths and realities of the rural experience today with four experts in this space: John Pender, a senior economist in the Rural Economy Branch of the USDA Economic Research Service; Mark Partridge, Swank Chair of Rural-Urban Policy at Ohio State University; Kai Schafft, professor of  Education and Rural Sociology at Penn State University where he directs the Center on Rural Education and Communities; and Brock Slabach, Chief Operating Officer at the National Rural Health Association. Pender discusses how rural residents and the rural economy are faring during the pandemic compared to metro areas and access to broadband and advanced telecommunication connectivity. Partridge talks about growth patterns, economic policy, federal funding, and technological developments affecting rural areas. Schafft focuses on the rural sociology and the Rural Sociological Society, rural schools and communities, mental health needs, and burnout among superintendent and teachers. Slabach also discusses how the pandemic has dramatically impacted rural health care workforces, population health, and incentives for improving rural health. This episode and the entire six-part series is supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. For more information, visit rwj.org  

In the first Rural Matters Bonus Brief of 2022, Michelle and Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves come together again to discuss how rural America is struggling to keep up with inflation and supply chain issues. They begin their conversation discussing how the pandemic has affected global supply chains. “...for the last two years, we have been in this global pandemic. That has had a major impact on the supply chain, not just in this country, but the entire world. And when we shut down in 2020 for the pandemic, it just takes a lot of time to get the economy back online again,” said Graves. Graves covers over the actions that the Biden-Harris Administration have taken to reduce prices, eliminate bottlenecks in the supply chain, and ease access to products and services for consumers. He also speaks on President Biden's Action Plan for America's Ports and Waterways, as well as the Administration's decision to release 50 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to lower prices for Americans. Lastly, Michelle and the Deputy Secretary touch on capacity building, and how President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is seeking to improve U.S. infrastructure for the long-term. “It's our ports, it's our airports, it's our highways, it's our railways, our bridges. Making sure that all across the country the infrastructure that we see, especially in rural areas that has continued to crumble, that we are making the investments that we need... for the long run. That is going to position us to be the most productive country in the globe,” said Graves. If you would like to listen to Michelle and Deputy Secretary Don Graves' previous conversation on the American Rescue Plan, click here.

In Part VIII, the final segment of this fabulous series we're producing in collaboration with and supported by the Ascendium Education Group, Michelle chats with Nicholas Hillman, professor in the School of Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Hillman's research examines how finance, policy, and geography shape educational opportunities in the United States. Hillman discusses the goals of his current research effort; the definition of “rural”; how his research team used “commuting zones,” rather than “counties” or “metropolitan areas” to locate rural places; how the team found large enrollment declines among rural “broad-access” colleges but how the opposite was true for selective research universities. This episode and the entire series on rural higher education and workforce development is sponsored by Ascendium Education Group, a nonprofit organization committed to helping learners from low-income backgrounds reach their educational and career goals. For more information, visit ascendiumphilanthropy.org. Mapping Rural Colleges Links: Main page: https://mappingruralcolleges.wisc.edu/ Report: https://mappingruralcolleges.wisc.edu/documents/sstar_mapping_rural_colleges_2021.pdf Mapping tool: https://mappingruralcolleges.wisc.edu/map

In the final part of our four-part series on rural funding, produced in collaboration with and supported by Thomas USAF, Michelle chats with Thomas Kimsey, President and CEO of Thomas USAF Group, who manages more than $100 Million annually in loan production. Michelle also welcomes Dr. Karama Neal, who is the USDA Administrator for the Rural Business-Cooperative Service. Prior to her time at the USDA, Dr. Neal served as president of Southern Bancorp Community Partners, a nonprofit community development loan fund and financial development organization promoting economic mobility in rural Arkansas and Mississippi. She spent twelve years at Southern and led their small business, consumer and other development lending, consumer and savings focused public policy work, and a variety of financial development services to help low and moderate wealth families and communities build wealth. Finally, Michelle chats with Jacqueline Ponti-Lazaruk, who leads the USDA's Rural Development Innovation Center as the Chief Innovation Officer. She has nearly 13 years of leadership experience at USDA Rural Development, leading the Telecommunications and Water Programs for more than 11 years, and leading critical agency-wide efforts to streamline programs and increase the agency's impact in rural areas. Michelle, Thomas and Dr. Neal chat about promoting competition and strengthening America's food supply chain, discuss details on the new $800 million allocated to provide economic relief to biofuel producers and renewable fuel markets effected by the pandemic, and how rural lenders work with rural borrowers, and how they interface with USDA Rural Development. During Michelle's chat with Jacki Ponti-Lazaruk, they discuss some of the challenges that USDA's Rural Development Innovation Center face, the opportunities that have risen out of the pandemic, as well as the future outlook for the program in 2022, and 2023. If you would like more information on the various programs discussed on the podcast, please visit the links below: Biofuel Producer Program: https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/energy-programs/biofuel-producer-program Food Supply Chain Guaranteed Loan Program: https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2021/12/09/usda-launches-loan-guarantee-program-create-more-market Face Shield Story: https://www.rd.usda.gov/newsroom/success-stories/rural-development-project-uses-3d-printing-fight-against-covid-19-spread This episode and the entire four-part series are sponsored by the Thomas USAF Group. With 40 years of experience working in the government guaranteed loan space, Thomas USAF Group is uniquely positioned to offer exceptional services to meet your business needs. For more information, visit www.thomasusaf.com.

In this special episode of Rural Matters, Michelle chats with Brian Alexander, author of the powerful best-selling book, “The Hospital: Life, Death, and Dollars in a Small American Town.”  During the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) annual meeting on October 13, 2021, Michelle and Brian were featured speakers for a session they called, “Candid Conversations.”  During this episode, Michelle talks with Brian about his book as told through the lens of a small town hospital in Bryan, Ohio.  The critically-acclaimed book covers how an individual's race, social/economic standing, and zip code can affect or determine their health and whether or not they can access vital health care services. "The Hospital shows how fragile our country's health care was even before the pandemic, and how that fragility affects staff and administration as well as patients."―The Washington Post Continuing the conversation, Michelle and Brian discuss his take on NOSORH's National Rural Health Day theme of the 4 R's: Resiliency, Relationships, Readiness, and Resolve.  They also discuss Brian's views on the challenges that rural communities and health care face in the future and field questions from listeners. “Nobody would make this (health care) system 100 years ago. If you start with that… there may be room to say, let's blow it up. But we need to be honest about what disruptions that would cause. It is 19% of the American economy… the disruption would be enormous. If we are willing to do that, we can have a much better system, but I think that we can start with the commonality that nobody likes it.” - Brian Alexander. Stay tuned for more Candid Conversations in 2022.  To follow Michelle and today's guest, you can find them @MRBImpact and @BrianRAlexander on Twitter.  You can also read about NOSORH's 2021 Community Stars here.

In Part VII of our landmark series on rural higher education and workforce development, produced in collaboration with the Ascendium Education Group, Michelle explores a key issue for rural communities — building transfer and career pathways for rural learners with two experts in the field: Dr. Erica Orians and Dr. Lia Wetzstein. Orians is Executive Director of the Michigan Center for Student Success at the Michigan Community College Association. In her role, Orians supports Michigan's 28 community colleges in their efforts to improve equitable student outcomes while emphasizing the linkages between policy, practice, and research including rural colleges that serve vibrant communities across the state.  The MCCA has helped lead several statewide transfer initiatives in Michigan including the Michigan Transfer Agreement, the Michigan Transfer Network, and the MiTransfer Pathways. Dr. Wetzstein is the Director of Community College Research Initiatives (CCRI) at the University of Washington. She engages in education equity research on postsecondary education reform, vertical transfer, STEM education, and community college outcomes. She leads CCRI's equity agenda to enhance degree attainment and living wage careers for low-income learners and minoritized students. The discussion involves important issues in transferring between colleges; lessons learned from the pandemic; a STEM transfer partnership project; and improving rural student transfer success in the rural space. This episode and the entire eight-part series is sponsored by the Ascendium Education Group. For more information, visit ascendiumphilanthropy.org.

In Part VI of this landmark series produced in collaboration with and supported by the Ascendium Education Group, Michelle discusses the challenges and opportunities involved in postsecondary partnerships in rural America with three recognized experts in the field: Dr. Sheila Martin, Vice President for Economic Development and Community Engagement at the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities; Dakota Pawlicki, the Director of Talent Hubs at CivicLab;  and  Dr, Gretchen Schmidt, a Senior Fellow with the National Center for Inquiry and Improvement and a  national leader in higher education transformation. Martin works with university leaders and policy stakeholders to improve university practices related to economic and community engagement. She describes the unique opportunities for building human capital in rural communities and the exciting activities being undertaken by Cooperative Extension at many universities. Pawlicki serves a network of almost 100 local and regional cross-sector partnerships focused on postsecondary attainment and also hosts Lumina Foundation's podcast, Today's Students, Tomorrow's Talent.  He describes why Talent Hubs are an exemplary cross-sector partnerships and CivicLab's recent launch of a new capacity-building initiative to support rural partnerships. NCII has worked alongside a group of community college leaders in the last year to highlight issues facing rural institutions post-COVID, notes Schmidt, adding how rural colleges, working in collaboration with local communities, can develop and integrate higher education, with financial resources and social services to enable students and residents to thrive and not just survive. This episode and the entire series is sponsored by the Ascendium Education Group. For more information, visit ascendiumphilanthropy.org.