Board of Directors

  • Angela Abbott, Purdue University
    Clinical Associate Dean and Professor, College of Health and Human Sciences and Director, Purdue Cooperative Extension Services
  • Elizabeth Dobis, USDA Economic Research Service
    Research Agricultural Economist
  • Mary Emery, University of Nebraska – Lincoln
    Rural Prosperity Nebraska Director & Professor Agricultural Leadership, Education & Communication
  • Lynette Flage, North Dakota State University
    Associate Director, NDSU Extension
  • Ron Turco, Purdue University
    Associate Dean & Director of Agriculture Research Graduate Education
  • Rodney Vance, USDA National Institute of Food & Agriculture
    National Program Leader

Advisory Committee

  • Rial Carver, Kansas State University
    Rural Grocery Store Initiative Program Leader, K-State Research and Extension
  • Himar Hernandez, Iowa State University
    Community and Economic Development Extension, Assistant Program Director, Community Development Specialist
  • Zach Kennedy, University of Illinois
    Extension State Specialist, Community and Economic Development
  • Thomas Krumel, North Dakota State University
    Assistant Professor, Department of Agribusiness and Applied Economics
  • Xinyi Qian, University of Minnesota
    Tourism Center Director & Extension State Specialist Tourism Center
  • Corinne Valdivia, University of Missouri
    Doane Professor, Agricultural & Applied Economics; Development, Resources & Sustainability

Program Leaders

  • 4-H:
    Tim Tanner, University of Missouri
    Senior Program Director, 4-H Center for Youth Development
  • Community Development:
    Dave Ivan, Michigan State University
    Director, Community, Food, and Environment Institute
  • FCS Program Leader Liaison:
    Tandalayo Kidd, Iowa State University
    Associate Dean and Director, College of Health and Human Sciences

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The NCRCRD advisory committee represents various backgrounds and expertise to provide input to the NCRCRD Board of Directors and staff and to ensure that NCRCRD meets the needs of the North Central Region. The NCRCRD advisory committee advises the NCRCRD staff in the development of priority goals and strategies for the Center. The committee provides a critical link with NCRCRD stakeholders that include rural communities, land grant university faculty and staff, and policy makers. The advisory committee reviews the proposed direction, initiatives, and activities of the Center and provides feedback to NCRCRD staff. The NCRCRD Board provides final approval of Center goals and strategies presented by the directors and recommended by the advisory committee. Advisory committee members serve a three-year term and responsibilities include:

  • Attending bi-annual meetings (in-person meeting expenses will be paid by the Center)
  • Providing advice and expertise that enhances the proposed NCR panel dataset
  • Suggesting potential focus areas for multistate working groups
  • Reviewing multistate working group proposals for recommendation to the Board
  • Reviewing small grant proposals for recommendation to the Board