Student Spotlight: Iris Sorrell turns research into action on food insecurity in Knox County
Driven by her passion for rural service, IU O’Neill student Iris Sorrell helped Knox County address food insecurity with research and collaboration.
Denny Spinner, executive director of the Indiana University Center for Rural Engagement (CRE), will retire at the end of August, with his last day on Aug. 29. Kyla Cox Deckard, CRE’s director of strategy and communications, has been named interim executive director effective Sept. 1.
Indiana University was selected as a regional winner of the 2025 W.K. Kellogg Foundation Community Engagement Scholarship Award for its Sustaining Hoosier Communities program and will compete for the Magrath Award.
Daviess County and IU Sustaining Hoosier Communities to celebrate year of partnership
The public is invited to attend a special event on Aug. 28 celebrating a year of collaboration between Daviess County and Sustaining Hoosier Communities that led to 27 community-identified projects.
Chelsea Simpkins draws on a community-first mindset to combine her passion for health access and community engagement to strengthen health communication efforts across rural Indiana.
Jim Walton Community Impact Award Recipient Announced at 2025 Rural Summit
Denny Spinner, Executive Director of Indiana University’s Center for Rural Engagement, is the Recipient of the 2025 Jim Walton Community Impact Award.
Community Resilience Liaison, Nick Smaligo, reflects on the 2025 IU Rural Conference, capturing how courage emerged as the quiet force uniting community leaders, artists, and organizers in a shared pursuit of resilience, love, and transformation.
O'Neill Online Week builds experience, connections for Online MPA students
O’Neill Online Week, an annual event hosted by O'Neill, lets students meet in person, apply their skills to real-world projects, and build lasting connections. This year, students collaborated with Indiana communities to develop strategies for nonprofit growth and trail system improvements.
City of Washington works to enhance bicycle, pedestrian safety through IU collaboration
A recent collaboration between the City of Washington and the IU Center for Rural Engagement’s Sustaining Hoosier Communities initiative brought renewed energy and fresh perspectives to making Washington safer. Graduate students from the Paul H. O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs worked with local leaders to explore practical solutions for boosting safety for local travelers, whether they’re on foot, behind the wheel, or pedaling.
Student Spotlight: ServeIT intern boosts rural businesses and communities
Esteban Becerra combines his passion for web design and community development to support small-town communities across rural Indiana.
Episode 8: Uncovering Black Heritage in Knox County and Beyond
Host Denny Spinner travels to Vincennes, Indiana, to speak with Eunice Trotter, director of the Indiana Landmarks Black Heritage Preservation Program, and local historian Tom Bartholomew. Together, they explore the deep and often overlooked history of Black communities in Knox County and across Indiana.
Student Spotlight: Rural Health Scholar champions public health in rural communities
A Rural Health Scholar with the Indiana University Center for Rural Engagement, Shreya brings that dedication to rural Indiana. In partnership with the IU School of Public Health-Bloomington, she supports local health initiatives through Community Health Needs Assessments (CHNAs) and Community Health Improvement Plans (CHIPs).
IU Bloomington faculty members selected for 2025 Rural Indiana Faculty Tour
Twenty-five faculty members from Indiana University Bloomington will embark on a three-day tour through the heart of rural southern Indiana to explore opportunities and deepen community-engaged research.
The goal of this partnership was twofold: educate the public about the harm invasive plants cause and engage students in active removal efforts to help restore ecological balance.
IU Center for Rural Engagement honors outstanding leaders for impact on rural communities
These awards celebrate remarkable work in student engagement, community partnership, faculty-engaged teaching, faculty community engagement, and faculty lifetime achievement.
IU students support veterans’ mental health through Creative Arts for Vets
A key factor in CAV's success is the dedicated team of passionate interns who play a vital role in helping veterans find peace and belonging.
Town of Washington history comes alive through Luddy School project
History comes to life in the southern Indiana town of Washington thanks to the work of students in Luddy Informatics Professor Katie Siek’s “Methods for Human Centered Computing” course.
From the Desk: Collaborations aid mental health efforts in rural communities
John Keesler, associate professor at the Indiana University School of Social Work, reflects on how his partnerships with the IU Center for Rural Engagement have strengthened his focus on addressing mental health challenges in rural Indiana.
2025 IU Rural Conference to foster collaboration and innovation in rural Indiana
The conference will provide a platform for community leaders, Indiana University researchers, students and professionals from diverse fields to connect and collaborate on the opportunities and challenges facing rural Indiana.
HRSA grant expands telehealth resources to support mental well-being of rural Hoosiers
Through federal funding and a key partnership with Memorial Hospital and Health Care Center (MHHCC), faculty in the Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington (SPH-B) Department of Applied Health Science are making mental health resources more readily available to a growing number of residents in rural southern Indiana.
Health Fairs Beyond the Numbers: Focusing on Meaningful Resident and Student Impact
Practicum student, Gabriela Diaz, reflects on the meaningful community health impact made through the Greene County Wellness Fair.
Rural organizations selected to partner with IU on creative placemaking initiative
Sixteen rural Indiana organizations will partner with Indiana University this year for the next round of the Rural Placemaking Studio, an initiative that links IU faculty and students with rural Indiana residents to enrich their communities through innovative public art and design.
Alumni Spotlight: Eric Ashby champions the arts in rural communities across Indiana
Discover how Eric Ashby, director of programs for the Indiana Arts Commission, is transforming rural communities through creativity and meaningful connections.
Episode 7: Bridging the Mental Health Gap in Rural Indiana
Host Denny Spinner sits down with Jodi Routson, director of Behavioral Health Services at Memorial Hospital and Health Care Center; Jon Agley, associate professor at the IU School of Public Health; and Amy Todd, registered nurse and program management specialist at IU, to explore a groundbreaking partnership addressing mental health needs in rural Indiana.
Opinion: Don't fight the tide—The church as the rural resource hub
Executive director Denny Spinner notes that churches serve a critical role in rural communities and should be recognized as an important partner in connecting communities with needed resources.
Sara Marshall, a rural placemaking intern, channels her passion for storytelling to preserve the cherished histories of Indiana’s rural communities, ensuring the stories of yesterday live on through today's creative placemaking initiatives.
Stories in Place: How History Shapes Rural Placemaking
Every place has a story worth sharing. As a place-based storyteller, I admit I may be a bit biased, but working with the 2024 Rural Placemaking Studio cohort reinforced how unique each community truly is.
New Greene County Food as Medicine program combats chronic illness and food insecurity
This free, 18-week program combines healthy eating with disease prevention, offering a holistic approach to health and wellness.
Episode 6: Navigating New Horizons as a Rural Student at IU Bloomington
Host Denny Spinner sits down with Colleen Rose, the director of student engagement at the IU Center for Rural Engagement, and two Indiana University Bloomington students, Dayanara Alvarado and Noah Bootcheck, to explore their journeys from small-town Indiana to the bustling campus of IU Bloomington.
Town of Elnora envisions new possibilities with IU design program
What began as a simple proposal to beautify their town hall with greenspace soon grew into 30 different architectural designs across the map of Elnora.
IU to support mental well-being in collaboration with Lilly Endowment and rural congregations
A grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. through its Ministry in Rural Areas and Small Towns Initiative will support IU and other university partners in creating a suite of mental well-being resources that address needs expressed by rural congregations and their communities.
Increasing access to care through community health outreach
IU students are bridging healthcare gaps in rural communities through free health clinics, providing essential screenings and health coaching to underserved populations.
Students from the IU Kelley School of Business are using their academic skills to help shape the future of rural Indiana businesses.
Episode 5: Revitalizing Martin County through Creative Placemaking
Host Denny Spinner sits down with Jessica Potts, executive director of the Martin County Alliance for Economic Growth; Jon Racek, program director and teaching professor for comprehensive design at the IU Eskenazi School for Art, Architecture + Design; and Nicole Vasconi, quality of place liaison for the IU Center for Rural Engagement to discuss the transformative impact of the Rural Placemaking Studio on Martin County, Indiana.
Former IU student and Sustaining Hoosier Communities project participant, Sarah Murphy, is working to help Spring Mill State Park visitors reconnect with nature and her community.
Rural communities can apply to become the next IU Sustaining Hoosier Communities partner
The Indiana University Center for Rural Engagement is now accepting applications for the next Sustaining Hoosier Communities (SHC) partnership, which will run through 2026-27.
IU graduate student Brittany Eckler is helping preserve letters to Santa—some nearly 100 years old—as a Rural Archives Scholar through the IU Center for Rural Engagement's Rural Scholars Program, an initiative that matches IU students with high-priority projects in rural communities.
Rural Scholars Program partners IU students with vital projects in rural communities
Launched in the fall of 2024, the Rural Scholars Program identifies high-priority projects in rural communities and matches them with students driven to make a lasting impact in the Hoosier state.
Rural communities invited to apply for Indiana University's 2025 Rural Placemaking Studio
The Rural Placemaking Studio is a partnership between the IU ServeDesign Center at the Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design and the IU Center for Rural Engagement. The initiative fosters the development of vibrant, accessible public places that are maintainable throughout residents' lifetimes and sustainable for future generations.
Episode 4: Trauma-informed care strengthens community resilience in Orange County
Brandy Terrell of Southern Indiana Community Health Care and John Keesler from the IU School of Social Work joined host Denny Spinner to discuss the evolution of developing trauma-informed care programming in Orange County, Indiana.
Greene County Wellness Fair to offer free health screenings, wellness resources Nov. 9
On Saturday, November 9, attendees ages 18 and up can receive free on-site health and wellness services. Versiti Blood Center of Indiana will host a mobile blood drive, and free childcare will be offered.
Arts for Youth Book offers creative approach to mental wellness for rural Indiana teens
A new therapeutic art workbook is helping rural teens creatively navigate the challenges of adolescence.
Opinion: Galvanizing economic growth in rural Indiana
Rural leaders need a coherent and consistent strategy focused on building housing, retaining college graduates, and improving quality of place.
Daviess County, IU launches Sustaining Hoosier Communities initiative with 20 new projects
The community has launched several initiatives through SHC this fall, including placemaking design and installations in Elnora, Montgomery, and Washington, Black heritage oral history recordings, business development strategies for the I-69 corridor and a cross-dock and transload facility, planning for increased childcare options, and new recreational opportunities.
Episode 3: Spencer Pride fosters quality of place through rural LGBTQ+ outreach
Jacob Balash, Judi Epp, and Elisabeth Solchik of Spencer Pride join host Denny Spinner to discuss how the LGBTQ+ not-for-profit supports rural quality of place through its annual Spencer Pride Festival, commUnity center, cultural programming, and local beautification efforts in Spencer, Indiana.
IU senior Quinn Scott spent his final summer as an undergraduate helping rural Hoosier communities reimagine their public spaces.
Community health improvement planning in Africa
Rural engagement goes global with Dr. Priscilla Barnes and her team at the Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington.
Episode 2: Building recovery networks in Daviess County
In this episode of Our Indiana: Stories from Rural Hoosiers, Jimmy Hay of REAL Recovery and Priscilla Barnes of the IU School of Public Health join host Denny Spinner for a hopeful conversation on the community impact of the Daviess Advances Recovery Access Consortium partnership with the Indiana University Center for Rural Engagement.
Rural smokers found success in quitting with IU cessation programs
Through I-HOPE, IU collaborated with rural Indiana healthcare providers to provide free smoking cessation programs throughout southern Indiana.
Last summer, Priscilla Barnes, associate professor in the Department of Applied Health Science—with help from her former doctoral student Josephine Mwangi—spent 13 days in Kenya building relationships with Kenyatta and Kabarak Universities.