Keep up with the latest news
From Screens to Strategy: O’Neill Online students tackle Indiana projects
O’Neill Online MPA students gather in Bloomington for immersive projects, applying classroom skills to real-world challenges in rural Indiana communities.
Bringing International Placemaking Week insights home to rural Indiana
In this Field Notes, Nicole Vasconi, Quality of Place Liaison at the IU Center for Rural Engagement, reflects on lessons from International Placemaking Week in Detroit and what they can offer rural... Read more about Bringing International Placemaking Week insights home to rural Indiana
From parking lots to parks: How rural Indiana is reshaping community spaces
The Rural Placemaking Studio, a collaboration between IU’s ServeDesign Center, Center for Rural Engagement, and Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design, is in its third year and has worked wit... Read more about From parking lots to parks: How rural Indiana is reshaping community spaces
Hub Highlight: SS4A, AARP grants fund pedestrian safety projects in Montgomery, Ind.
The Town of Montgomery is advancing safer walking routes and long-term transportation planning with nearly $270,000 in grant funding, secured with grant development assistance from the Indiana Resilie... Read more about Hub Highlight: SS4A, AARP grants fund pedestrian safety projects in Montgomery, Ind.
Rural Placemaking Studio receives READI 2.0 grant to expand public design work in rural Indiana
The $158,413 READI 2.0 Arts & Culture grant will support the purchase of an industrial printer and project materials, as well as additional faculty support for student fabrication.
New Montgomery Main Street Park shaped by community vision, IU collaboration
Through a partnership between Montgomery residents and leaders and Indiana University, a shared vision for downtown Montgomery became Main Street Park—a welcoming community space designed to brin... Read more about New Montgomery Main Street Park shaped by community vision, IU collaboration
Faculty from across IU Bloomington selected for 2026 Rural Indiana Faculty Tour
Twenty-five IU Bloomington faculty will join a three-day Rural Indiana Faculty Tour in August 2026 to connect with communities, learn local priorities, and explore opportunities for collaborative,... Read more about Faculty from across IU Bloomington selected for 2026 Rural Indiana Faculty Tour
IU partnership helps preserve Black Hoosier stories across rural Indiana
Through a partnership with the Indiana Landmarks Black Heritage Preservation Program, the IU Center for Rural Engagement is supporting efforts to collect oral histories and document historically si... Read more about IU partnership helps preserve Black Hoosier stories across rural Indiana
IU Center for Rural Engagement honors five awardees for contributions to rural Indiana
The awards recognize excellence in student engagement, community partnership, faculty-engaged teaching, faculty-community engagement, and collaborative partnership.
Odon reconnects with legacy of hometown sculptor through IU partnership
An IU art history course partnered with the Town of Odon through Sustaining Hoosier Communities to uncover the history of Odon’s Abraham Lincoln statue—reconnecting descendants, revealing lost... Read more about Odon reconnects with legacy of hometown sculptor through IU partnership
Barry Swigart’s non-traditional journey to Beck’s Mill
What began as a volunteer opportunity at Beck’s Mill developed into a passion for outdoor interpretation for IU student Barry Swigart.
IU Cybersecurity Clinic helps rural organizations strengthen digital security
The clinic partnered with rural organizations through a fall 2025 Sustaining Hoosier Communities course project focused on strengthening digital resilience in the Indiana Uplands region.
2026 IU Rural Conference to explore issues and opportunities shaping rural Indiana
The conference will connect leaders, residents, and IU partners to share ideas, explore opportunities, and examine key issues shaping rural Indiana.
Bridging History and Community in Odon, Indiana
In this Field Notes, Brenna Coleman, an arts administration student, reflects on how an IU course researching Odon, Indiana’s Abraham Lincoln statue connected research with community history.
Student employees support and strengthen rural Indiana initiatives
Student employees play a vital role in center’s mission, applying their skills year-round to build partnerships and support rural Indiana communities.
Kyla Cox Deckard named executive director of Center for Rural Engagement
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 priorit... Read more about Kyla Cox Deckard named executive director of Center for Rural Engagement
Episode 11: Connecting Southern Indiana Through the Monon South Trail
Host Denny Spinner talks with Jeff Quyle of Radius Indiana and IU’s Layne Elliott and Kristy Anderson to explore how the Monon South Trail is reshaping southern Indiana by connecting small towns, st... Read more about Episode 11: Connecting Southern Indiana Through the Monon South Trail
O’Neill School grad student puts public affairs into practice across rural Indiana
Through roles at the Center for Rural Engagement, Molly Marcuson is engaging in research, planning, and development efforts that support rural communities across southern Indiana.
The State of Inquiry | Rural Indiana: What We Grow
Explore how land, food systems, and rural values shape decision-making across Indiana’s agricultural communities.
The State of Inquiry | Rural Indiana: The Local News Landscape
A conversation about how rural residents engage with local news, why trust is shifting, and what it means for civic life and the future of journalism.