Kyla Cox Deckard, who has served as interim executive director of the Indiana University Center for Rural Engagement (CRE) since September 2025, has been named executive director, effective April 1.
“As CRE’s interim director, Kyla has demonstrated thoughtful, strategic leadership and deep commitment to rural Indiana,” said John Ciorciari, IU Bloomington interim provost and executive vice chancellor. “We are thrilled that she will continue to guide the center’s important work as its executive director.”
In her new role, Cox Deckard will lead the next phase of CRE’s work, strengthening partnerships across the state and expanding initiatives that connect university expertise with community priorities. The center will continue to serve as a bridge between IU Bloomington and rural communities, advancing collaborative approaches to health, resilience, economic development, education, and the arts.
“I’m honored to continue this work alongside our partners across Indiana,” said Cox Deckard. “The Center for Rural Engagement reflects IU’s deep commitment to collaboration and to strengthening communities. I’m enthusiastic to build on that foundation and expand opportunities for students, faculty, and communities to work together in meaningful ways.”
Cox Deckard, who has lifelong ties to Indiana, has been integral to the CRE since its founding in 2018, leading strategy, communications, and key initiatives that connect Indiana University with rural communities across the state. She has overseen programs including the IU Ministry and Mental Well-being in Rural Areas and Small Towns project and the IU Rural Conference, while also demonstrating a deep commitment to Indiana through her service on local nonprofit boards and her teaching in leadership and public policy at the College of Arts and Sciences. Her contributions to civic engagement and regional development have been recognized with honors including the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce’s 10 Under 40 Award and Women Excel Bloomington.
The IU Center for Rural Engagement improves the lives of Hoosiers through collaborative initiatives that discover and deploy scalable and flexible solutions to common challenges facing rural communities. Working in full-spectrum community innovation through research, community-engaged teaching and student service, the center builds vision, harnesses assets and cultivates sustainable leadership structures within the communities with which it engages to ensure long-term success.