BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Twenty-five faculty members from Indiana University Bloomington have been selected to participate in the Rural Indiana Faculty Tour from August 12 to 14, hosted by the Indiana University Center for Rural Engagement with support from the IU Office of the Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor.
In alignment with the IUB 2030 strategic plan, this three-day tour through the heart of rural southern Indiana offers faculty the unique opportunity to connect with local leaders, explore rural communities and deepen community-engaged research, teaching and service.
Through meaningful time and shared experiences, faculty strengthen relationships and ensure their teaching and research remain connected to the needs and priorities of our state.
Rahul Shrivastav, IU Bloomington provost and executive vice chancellor
“This is a wonderful opportunity for our faculty to immerse themselves in the local communities that IU is proud to be part of,” said Rahul Shrivastav, IU Bloomington provost and executive vice chancellor. “Through meaningful time and shared experiences, faculty strengthen relationships and ensure their teaching and research remain connected to the needs and priorities of our state.”
The selected cohort reflects Indiana University's expansive academic breadth, with faculty representing a multitude of schools, departments and areas of scholarly focus. United by a shared interest in rural engagement, applicants expressed a strong desire to strengthen existing partnerships, pursue community-based research and better understand the challenges and opportunities facing rural Indiana.
“The faculty tour demonstrates IU's commitment to building and expanding strong rural partnerships,” said Center for Rural Engagement executive director Denny Spinner. “We are delighted to highlight the meaningful work happening in Indiana’s rural communities and create pathways for collaboration between faculty, students and rural residents.”
The tour begins on August 12 with visits to Bedford, Salem, Paoli and French Lick. Participants will explore Heritage Park and the newly developed Monon South Trail, and engage in discussions focused on trauma-informed care, food as medicine and rural placemaking. The day concludes with conversations about rural housing and workforce development with Cook Group representatives and an overnight stay at the historic French Lick Resort.
On August 13, the group will travel to Fischer Farms, Ferdinand, Huntingburg and Jasper. Highlights include a tour of Huntingburg’s Market Street Park, a conversation with ALASI—a community center dedicated to supporting multicultural engagement—and a dinner with local mayors at the Parklands of Jasper.
The final day, August 14, starts with breakfast at the Jasper River Center and includes stops in Washington, Westgate, Bloomfield and Spencer to learn about transformative community projects.
The selected faculty members are:
- Dana Anderson, Ruth A. Jones Professor of Rhetoric; Director, Professional Writing Program; Associate Professor, College of Arts and Sciences Department of English
- Andrea Astill, Clinical Assistant Professor, Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs
- Funmilola Ayeni, Assistant Professor, School of Public Health-Bloomington Department of Environmental and Occupational Health
- Patricia Basile, Assistant Professor, College of Arts and Sciences Department of Geography
- Sharon Berry, Assistant Professor, College of Arts and Sciences Department of Philosophy Grace Brasel, Clinical Assistant Professor, School of Optometry
- Kimberly Carballo, Director, Jacobs Virtual Academy and Senior Lecturer in Music (Chamber and Collaborative Music), Jacobs School of Music
- Natasha Chaku, Assistant Professor, College of Arts and Sciences Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences
- Michelle Del Rio, Assistant Professor, School of Public Health-Bloomington Department of Environmental and Occupational Health
- André Franco, Assistant Professor, Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs
- M. Gabriela Puscama, Assistant Professor, Spanish and Portuguese, College of Arts and Sciences Department of Spanish and Portuguese
- Luke Gessler, Assistant Professor, College of Arts and Sciences Department of Linguistics
- John Holden, Associate Professor, Kelley School of Business Department of Business Law and Ethics
- Phoebe Jean-Pierre, Assistant Professor, Kelley School of Business Department of Business Law and Ethics
- Alyssa Lederer, Associate Professor, School of Public Health-Bloomington Department of Applied Health Science
- Lisa D. Lenoir, Assistant Professor, The Media School
- Zhiying Li, Assistant Professor, Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs
- Melissa Pangelinan, Associate Professor, School of Public Health-Bloomington Department of Kinesiology and Director of All IN for Health, Indiana Clinical and Translational Science Institute
- Oscar Patrón, Assistant Professor, School of Education Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies
- Bryant Paul, Associate Professor, The Media School
- Heather Sloan, Outreach and Public Services Archivist, Assistant Librarian, Indiana University Libraries Archives of Traditional Music
- Wanling Su, Assistant Professor, Kelley School of Business Department of Business Law and Ethics
- Christina T. Collins, Assistant Professor, College of Arts and Sciences Department of Anthropology
- Kedir Turi, Assistant Professor, School of Public Health-Bloomington Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
- Xuan Ye, Academic Coordinator, Chinese Flagship Program, Hamilton Lugar School Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures
Media contact:
Kyla Cox Deckard
IU Center for Rural Engagement
(812) 855-4992 office
(812) 219-9993 cell
knblanke@iu.edu