Media Contact
Katelyn Ideus
Director of Communications & PR
Rural Futures Institute at the University of Nebraska
kideus@nebraska.edu
o: 402-472-2930
c: 402-659-5886
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Lincoln, Nebraska – March 6, 2017 – Innovation is most likely to occur where disciplines intersect and
when a diverse and inclusive group of stakeholders is working hard on an issue or
opportunity. The Rural Futures Institute (RFI) at the University of Nebraska has employed
this fundamental principle to launch a distinctive fellows program dedicated to research,
teaching and application with and in rural communities in Nebraska and beyond.
“Rural communities and their leaders face a complex, interwoven universe of factors
that cannot be neatly split apart for observation and lone actions,” said RFI Executive
Director Chuck Schroeder. “RFI Fellows already understand this and have been working
diligently throughout their careers to create solutions and opportunities for rural
people and places.
“By bringing various disciplines of researchers together with community leaders in
this purposeful way, we not only intend to help rural residents thrive, but to also
give rural America a significant and consistent voice, and position it as vital to
the future our country.”
Fifteen faculty researchers from NU and other institutions as well as 10 community
practitioners from across Nebraska have assembled to think strategically about opportunities
in rural business, health care, education, technology and more. Dr. Kyle Ryan, associate
professor at Peru State College, is part of the inaugural class.
“Every time I interact with RFI I come away feeling more energized and more positive
about what’s happening in the rural environment,” Ryan said. “Being named a Rural
Futures Fellow is truly an honor.”
Through their work, RFI Fellows will connect with partners from across the NU system,
scholars from other academic institutions and experts in the public and private sectors
to strengthen their capacity for research and application. They will foster student
experiences in concert with communities, strengthening the community-by-community
presence of RFI throughout Nebraska, the Great Plains and the world.
Ryan's research interests include:
- Rural pediatric obesity prevention and intervention
- Rural community mobilization
- Implementing high-impact practices into higher education through mentoring
More of Ryan's interview with RFI can be found at https://youtu.be/HIi9PvIQABk and
A strong advocate and forerunner in the practice of service-learning and public scholarship,
Ryan has been the recipient of the 2016 Excellence in Community-Based Teaching and
Scholarship from Nebraska Campus Compact, the 2015 Teaching Excellence Award from
Peru State College, a Year Nine Great Plains Public Health Leadership Institute Scholar,
the 2013 Outstanding Community and Campus Collaboration Award from Heartland Campus
Compact, and the 2012 Professional Health Educator Award from the Nebraska Alliance
for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. Dr. Ryan is also a proud member
of the Kimmel Foundation Board of Directors and active in Nebraska City Rotary.
2017 RFI Faculty Fellows
RFI Faculty Fellows are professors and researchers who have contributed significantly
to rural communities and people through research, teaching and outreach and intend
to continue to strengthen the statewide, national and international knowledge resource
of rural.
- Todd Bartee, Professor, University of Nebraska at Kearney, Kinesiology and Sports Sciences
- Robert Blair, Professor, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Public Administration, Public Affairs, and Community Service
- Cheryl Burkhart-Kriesel, Extension Professor, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Panhandle Research and Extension Center
- Randy Cantrell, Rural Sociologist, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
- Jim Cavaye, Professor, Institute for Resilient Regions, University of Queensland, Australia
- Bree Dority, Associate Professor, University of Nebraska at Kearney, Economics
- Gregory Karst, Executive Associate Dean, University of Nebraska Medical Center, College of Allied Health Professionals
- Peter Longo, Professor, University of Nebraska at Kearney, Political Science
- Bradley Lubben, Extension Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Agricultural Economics
- Athena Ramos, Community Health Program Manager/Instructor, University of Nebraska Medical Center, College of Public Health, Center for Reducing Health Disparities
- Kyle Ryan, Associate Professor, Peru State College, Exercise Science
- Jessica Shoemaker, Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, College of Law
- Eric Thompson, Associate Professor, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, College of Business Administration, Economics
- Kim Wilson, Professor, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, College of Architecture
- Amanda Witte, Project Manager, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families and Schools
2017 RFI Community Innovation Fellows
RFI Community Innovation Fellows are community leaders, alumni and professionals from
both the private and non-profit sectors working to advance rural people and places.
This group represents rural places that have creatively partnered with RFI to inform
outreach and programming efforts while connecting research and resources directly
to communities and leaders. They are innovators in their industries and the communities
they represent.
- Tiffany Crouse, Director, Hastings Downtown Center Association, Hastings, Neb.
- Marty Fattig, CEO, Nemaha County Hospital, Auburn, Neb.
- Melissa Garcia, Community Affairs Manager, Black Hills Energy, Broken Bow, Neb.
- Rachel Herpel, Assistant Director, Robert B. Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Neb.
- Don Macke, Co-Founder, Center for Rural Entrepreneurship, Lincoln, Neb.
- Greg Ptacek, Director, Economic Development, City of Neligh, Neligh, Neb.
- Reshell Ray, Assistant Director of Student Involvement, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Neb.
- Robert Stowell, J.D., Stowell & Geweke, P.C., L.L.O., Ord, Neb.
- Milan Wall, Co-Director, Heartland Center for Leadership Development, Lincoln, Neb.
- Jeff Yost, President and CEO, Nebraska Community Foundation, Lincoln, Neb.
Extended details and video introductions of each of the fellows are available at ruralfutures.nebraska.edu/fellows.
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The Rural Futures Institute at the University of Nebraska (NU) leverages the talents
and research-based expertise from across the NU system on behalf of rural communities
in Nebraska, the U.S. and around the world. Through a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship,
the Rural Futures Institute encourages bold and futuristic approaches to address rural
issues and opportunities. It works collaboratively with education, business, community,
non-profit, government and foundation partners to empower rural communities and their
leaders.
ruralfutures.nebraska.edu
Jason Hogue with Peru State College contributed to this release.