The Rural Impact

In the third episode of our Pathways and Policies to Ensure Rural Learners Succeed in Place. Why It's Essential for America's Future series, we begin our episode focused on "How Institutions and Industry Set Rural Learners Up for Success" with Joe E. Ross, President of Reach University, the nonprofit institution advancing fully job-embedded, apprenticeship-based higher education. He previously led a statewide education adv...

In this very special summer Rural Impact Extra Episode, Michelle interviews United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Administrator for the Food and Nutrition Service, Cindy Long. Long was appointed Administrator for the Food and Nutrition Service on September 13, 2021. Long most recently served as Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Acting Administrator, and has had extensive experience with FNS, including serving as De...

In the What’s Your Impact special episode supported by Wipfli, Michelle begins the episode with Alan Morgan, Chief Executive Officer of the National Rural Health Association (NRHA). This discussion, recorded just one day after the White House announced news about a dynamic partnership designed to provide support to combat cyber-attacks, focuses on how cybersecurity impacts health systems, as well as solutions. Alan shares ...

In the second episode in our Pathways and Policies to Ensure Rural Learners Succeed in Place and Why it’s Essential for America’s Future series, we begin our episode focused on “The Key to Opening Doors” with Kirstin Yeado, Senior Program Officer at Ascendium Education Group. In this role, Kirstin is responsible for strategic grantmaking to advance Ascendium’s Support Rural Postsecondary Education and Workforce Training fo...

In the first episode in our sixth series, Pathways and Policies to Ensure Rural Learners Succeed in Place and Why it’s Essential for America’s Future, we begin our episode The Rural Reason to Focus on Workforce Policy with Deputy Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training for the U.S. Department of Labor, Manny Lamarre. DAS Lamarre’s experience spans across workforce development policy, program, and research across th...

In the third episode in our fifth series, Coming to Terms with Housing and Homelessness in Rural Places, we begin our episode with Jess Huff, Reporter for The Texas Tribune. Jess joined the Tribune in 2023 and is based in Lufkin, Texas. She grew up in Utah and has also lived in Arizona and the Netherlands. Her latest adventure brought her to East Texas where she worked for The Lufkin Daily News, leading the publication to ...

In the extra episode in our fifth series "Coming to Terms with Housing and Homelessness,” Michelle talks with Marion Mollegen McFadden, The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development. In this role McFadden oversees the administration of federal financial assistance to assist communities in ending homelessness, creating, and preserv...

In the second episode in our fifth series "Coming to Terms with Housing and Homelessness,” Michelle talks with Elizabeth Carpenter-Song, Ph.D. Elizabeth is a medical and psychological anthropologist at Dartmouth College, and author of the book Families on the Edge: Experiences of Homelessness and Care in Rural New England. Her research strives to center the lived experiences of rural community members marginalized by pover...

In the first episode in our fifth series, Coming to Terms with Housing and Homelessness in Rural Places, we begin our episode with the Housing Assistance Council’s (HAC) Director of Public Policy, Jonathan Harwitz. Prior to joining HAC, Jonathan was Director of Housing Community Development and Insurance Policy for the House Financial Services Committee. He also served as Managing Director of Federal Policy and Government ...

In this Impact Extra Episode, Michelle introduces issues from our upcoming series focused on rural housing as well rural transportation issues with special guest Farah Ahmad, Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Deputy Under Secretary Ahmad works to advance policies and programs that create economic inclusion and opportunity in rural communities.

During this conversatio...

Guests:

• Alan Morgan, CEO, National Rural Health Association
• Susan Burton, Director National Grassroots Advocacy, National Association of Community Health Centers
• Brock Slabach, Chief Operations Officer, National Rural Health Association
• Carole Johnson, Administrator, HRSA

In part two of our first ever "Rural Impact on Location” episode, host Michelle Rathman, closes out the conversations she had with top leader...

In Part One of our very first "Rural Impact on Location” episode, host Michelle Rathman, traveled to Washington D.C. on a mission to get closer to connecting dots on matters of current health policy and legislative priorities focused on rural health.  

During her time at the National Rural Health Association Policy Institute and the National Association of...

In this What’s Your Impact Episode in our series "Arriving at Thriving,” Michelle talks with Kelly Arduino, MA, MBA. Kelly is the Healthcare Industry Leader and Partner at Wipfli LLP, a top 20 accounting and consulting firm. She has over 25 years of diverse healthcare experience which gives her a unique perspective on today’s challenges. Kelly was psychotherapist and an academic researcher in health outcomes and spent a nu...

In this extra episode in our series "Arriving at Thriving,” Michelle talks with Mercer County West Virgina Commissioner, Hon. Greg Puckett. Greg is continually focused on establishing evidence-based strategies and promising approaches to finding solutions on local, regional, state and national levels. A staunch advocate for community-based change, focusing on efforts predominant...

In the third episode in our fourth series "Arriving at Thriving,” Michelle talks with Tony Pipa, Senior Fellow in the Center for Sustainable Development at the Brookings Institution. Tony has three decades of executive leadership experience in the philanthropic and public sectors addressing poverty and advancing inclusive economic development in the U.S. and globally. He launched and leads the Reimagining Rural Policy init...

In the second episode in our fourth series "Arriving at Thriving,” Michelle talks with Dr. Bill Soules, member of the New Mexico State Senate and Chair of the Senate Education Committee. Soules earned his BA and MA in psychology and his interdisciplinary Ph.D. from New Mexico State University with a degree that spans education and psychology. Senator Soules is a champion for the data-driven and cross-sector prevention of a...

In the first episode in our fourth series "Arriving at Thriving,” Michelle talks with Co-Authors of 100% Community – Ensuring 10 Vital Services for Surviving and Thriving and the Co-Founders of Anna, Age Eight Institute, Dr. Katherine Ortega Courtney and Dominic Cappello. Katherine and Dominic are social innovators who are solving our most costly public health, education, and sa...

In this extra episode Michelle reflects on the inaugural season. She highlights the many subjects covered in 2023 including rural health, our nation’s struggling rural hospitals, maternal and infant mortality challenges, Medicaid unwinding, food security, rural education, and the opioid epidemic.

During this special episode, Michelle shares The Rural Impact’s goal to engage in conversations that enlighten, inform and hopef...

In this Rural Impact Extra Episodes series, "Women Who Impact," Michelle highlights inspirational leaders making extraordinary impacts in rural health in recognition of National Rural Health Day (NRHD).

In the final episode, Michelle meets with Alana Knudson, Director of the NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis. With over 25 years of experience leading health services, research projects, and evaluating programs, Ala...