IU’s Sustaining Hoosier Communities launches first alum year with expanded rural partnerships
Friday, September 26, 2025
Director of Student Engagement Colleen Rose leads the SHC Daviess County Celebration on August 28, 2025. Sarah Duis/Indiana University
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — The Indiana University Center for Rural Engagement’s Sustaining Hoosier Communities (SHC) initiative launched its first alum community year, giving past rural partner communities the opportunity to advance new projects and deepen existing relationships with IU.
This effort marks a new chapter for SHC, as the initiative moves from a single-year model of community engagement toward long-term, multi-year partnerships across Indiana for sustained impact.
To date, SHC has collaborated with counties including Lawrence, Orange, Greene, Washington, Dubois and Daviess. Each has benefited from a year of focused engagement. Through alum year partnerships, they will continue building momentum with new and evolving projects.
Launched as the Center for Rural Engagement’s flagship initiative, SHC partners rural Indiana communities with IU faculty, students and staff for the duration of an academic year to advance community-identified projects. Through these partnerships, communities enrich their health, prosperity and vitality while IU students engage in meaningful learning opportunities with real-world impact.
This innovative approach has earned IU national recognition. The university was recently selected as a regional winner of the 2025 W.K. Kellogg Foundation Community Engagement Scholarship Award for SHC’s impact. The award honors programs that “redesign learning, discovery and engagement missions to deepen partnerships and achieve broader impacts in their communities.”
Having IU as a partner makes new possibilities come alive for the region.
Jeff Quyle, president and CEO of Radius Indiana
“Sustaining Hoosier Communities works because it is truly a win-win for everyone involved,” said Colleen Rose, director of student engagement. “Rural Indiana communities benefit from working with energized and enthusiastic IU students and faculty who bring fresh eyes and expertise to advance community priorities. IU students benefit by learning from real challenges that face real communities, and experience how they can use their degree to serve the greater good.”
Through the 2025-26 academic year, IU faculty, staff and students are collaborating with rural communities on approximately 30 projects focused on areas including public recreation, business development, public health, arts and culture, historical preservation, cybersecurity, community resilience and land development.
The emerging Monon South Trail will be a focus of the alum year projects through a partnership with Radius Indiana. The completed 57-mile trail will connect eight local communities in Lawrence, Orange, Washington and Clark counties.
“One of Radius's primary goals with the trail is not just construction, but maximizing the economic development opportunity it offers small southern Indiana communities,” said Jeff Quyle, president and CEO of Radius Indiana. “Many of these towns have not seen much growth in recent years, and this trail represents a potential catalyst for business growth and prosperity.”
Through the SHC alum year initiative, teams from the Kelley School of Business and Paul H. O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs are leading efforts to unlock this potential. One initiative will study successful businesses that exist along other well-known rail trail systems, such as the Great Alleghany Passage, which attracts up to 1.4 million visitors annually. The other project will explore trail-adjacent housing development opportunities.
On the arts and culture side, students in the Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design will participate in plein air, or “open air,” painting sessions at various locations along the Monon South Trail to creatively document the evolution of the trail and surrounding communities over time.
“The Sustaining Hoosier Communities program really helps fill in gaps where we don’t have experience or abilities,” Quyle said. “Having IU as a partner makes new possibilities come alive for the region.”
In Orange County, new alum year projects are deepening the community’s relationship with IU. Dr. Brandy Terrell, chair of Southern Indiana Community Health Care’s Thrive Orange County initiative, helped facilitate community partnerships for the alum year, including a project that will address trauma and resilience for youth.
“The more we collaborate on one thing, the easier it is for the next,” Terrell said. “As a whole, these programs really start to make a difference—whether that’s improving a park so children can play, raising awareness about adverse childhood experiences, or focusing on food as medicine. The partnerships have been pretty amazing.”
Projects
Orange County Community Gardens in Paoli seeks to increase access for all visitors. Graduate students from the IU School of Public Health-Bloomington will design an ADA-compliant pathway to ensure that community members of all abilities can enjoy and participate in the garden.
Community Partner
Orange County Community Gardens
IU Instructor
Becca Lassell, IU School of Public Health-Bloomington
Project Course
SPH-R 550 Designing Accessible Space for Healthy Places
In 2008, with the support of Bill and Gayle Cook and Pritchett Brothers Construction, the historic Beck's Mill was returned to restored and operational condition to the directors of the Friends of Beck’s Mill, Inc. Beck’s Mill is a historic grist mill operated by volunteers and dedicated to offering the public a working grist mill as an accurate recreation of pioneer life in Washington County.
Students from the IU School of Public Health-Bloomington and The Media School will work with Friends of Beck’s Mill to enhance visitor engagement through new programming and media. The project will support the mill’s mission and improve its educational impact.
Community Partner
Friends of Beck's Mill, Inc.
IU Instructors
Brian Forist, IU School of Public Health-Bloomington
Susanne Schwibs, The Media School
Project Courses
SPH-R 391 Independent Study, Readings in Recreation, Park and Tourism Studies
MSCH-T 583 Introduction to Documentary Practice
As the Monon South Trail continues to develop, there is a need to document its transformation and community impact. Students from the Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design will conduct plein air painting sessions along the trail as part of an annual effort to capture the evolution of the trail and trail communities over time.
Community Partner
Radius Indiana
IU Instructors
Caleb Weintraub, Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design
Amanda Smith, Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design
Project Courses
SOAD-S 230 Painting 1
SOAD-S 330 Painting: The Landscape (Painting 2)
SOAD-S 430 Painting: The Landscape (Painting 3)
SOAD-S 530 Graduate Topics in Painting (Painting the Landscape)
Communities along the Monon South Trail are seeking ways to boost local economies by tapping into the trail’s potential to attract visitors and support small businesses.
Students from the Kelley School of Business and the Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs will assess opportunities for small business development and offer recommendations to help trail communities leverage the trail for economic growth.
Community Partner
Radius Indiana
IU Instructors
Chris Cook, Kelley School of Business
Keith Dayton, Kelley School of Business
Doug McCoy, Kelley School of Business
Mitchell Berg, Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs
Scott Burgins, Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs
IU Partners and Project Courses
IU Center for Real Estate Studies
BUS-A 569 Field Consulting
SPCN-V 551 SPEA Connect Week
SPEA-L 563 Planning and Community Development
The Sustain Art & Music Festival is designed to raise awareness for social, economic, and environmental sustainability. The non-profit organization seeks support to identify funding to support Hoosier musicians.
In an effort to strengthen the festival’s impact and success, students from the IU School of Public Health-Bloomington will identify grant opportunities, and students from the Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs will assess event management practices.
Community Partner
Sustain Art & Music Festival
IU Instructors
Laura Littlepage, Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs
Celina Thomas, IU School of Public Health-Bloomington
IU Project Courses
SPEA-V 481 Grant Writing
SPH-T 323 Festival and Event Management
Organizations in the Uplands region seek an assessment of their strengths and areas for improvement concerning cybersecurity risk and management.
To improve digital resilience across the region, student teams from the IU Cybersecurity Clinic will assess risks, provide recommendations, and host community sessions on safe practices.
Community Partners
Bedford Chamber of Commerce
Community Foundation Partnership of Lawrence and Martin Counties
Lawrence County Economic Growth Council
Washington County Community Foundation
Washington County Family YMCA
IU Partner
IU Cybersecurity Clinic
North Lawrence Community Schools are exploring ways to maximize the effectiveness of public funding.
Graduate accounting students from the Kelley School of Business will explore innovative funding frameworks to help the district increase the impact of its resources and support student success.
Community Partner
North Lawrence Community Schools
IU Instructor
Chris Cook, Kelley School of Business
Project Course
BUS-A 569 Field Consulting
The City of Jasper owns a 10.75-acre property at the corner of St. Charles and Truman Roads that includes a grass field, tree cover, and a section bisected by a 500-year floodplain and stormwater shed. These topographical challenges have made traditional development difficult and maintenance costly.
Students from the Kelley School of Business will explore innovative land use strategies and offer recommendations to help the city reduce maintenance and unlock new development potential.
Community Partner
City of Jasper
IU Instructor
Chris Cook, Kelley School of Business
Project Course
BUS-A 569 Field Consulting
Organizations across the Indiana Uplands are pursuing initiatives to enhance recovery housing, downtown revitalization, public art, and overall quality of place.
Students from the Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs will identify and prepare grant applications for a range of community-based projects in order to support expanded services and community well-being. Additional grant-seeking efforts with other regional partners will be developed throughout the year.
Community Partners
Dove Recovery House
Framing Ferdinand
City of Salem
IU Instructors
Megan Durlauf, Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs
Bridget Anderson, Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs
Project Course
SPEA-V 481 Grant Writing
Greene County is expanding efforts to improve access to nutritious food and promote community health.
In an effort to expand access to healthy food and nutrition education, students from the Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs will identify and prepare grant applications for the Greene County Food as Medicine program and other food security initiatives.
The IU Center for Rural Engagement’s Food as Medicine Rural Scholar will assist with the Food as Medicine program, conduct research into program processes and expansion opportunities, and assist with distribution events and cooking classes.
Community Partner
Greene County Health Department
IU Instructor
Laura Littlepage, Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs
IU Partner and Project Courses
The IU Center for Rural Engagement Rural Scholars Program
SPEA-V 481 Grant Writing
Over 100 years ago, renowned sculptor Ira A. Correll donated a life-sized sculpture of Abraham Lincoln to Odon's city park.
To honor Correll’s work and enrich the park’s cultural significance, the town will partner with art history students from the IU College of Arts + Sciences to apply for a historical marker from the Indiana Historical Bureau.
Community Partners
Town of Odon
IU Instructor
Melody Deusner, IU College of Arts + Sciences
Project Course
ARTH-A 446 American Art 1865-1945
Team Peace, a nonprofit in Orange County, is seeking support to expand its trauma-responsive programming for schools and families.
To help strengthen the organization’s capacity to serve youth and promote resilience in the community, IU Sociology students will organize and analyze post-assessment data, create a new board member handbook, and develop an annual report template.
Community Partner
Team Peace
IU Instructor
Veronica Medina, IU Southeast School of Social Sciences
Project Course
SOC-S 380 Introduction to Methods of Social Research I (IUSE)
Daviess County seeks to better understand factors affecting residents’ quality of life.
Students from the Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies will analyze open-access data in order to identify and better understand key quality-of-life indicators.
Community Partner
Daviess County Economic Development Corporation
IU Instructor
Inna Kouper, Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies
Project Course
SGIS-S 300 Data and Development Tools and Techniques (Global Issues)
The North Daviess Community Growth Alliance serves to connect local businesses and the community. Students from the IU Serve IT Clinic are developing a new website design, creating a plan to sustain the site, and writing guides for members to manage the site.
A six-acre lot near Crane Naval Base presents opportunities for economic development.
Students from the Kelley School of Business will evaluate possibilities for business, retail, and other real estate uses and compile their recommendations.
Community Partner
Daviess County Economic Development Corporation
IU Partner
IU Center for Real Estate Studies
John Milton Hay was a diplomat and noted statesman, serving as a private secretary to Abraham Lincoln and as the Secretary of State under Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and William McKinley. The John Hay Center wants to increase public awareness about the Washington County Historical Society and the center.
Students from the Kelley School of Business will develop marketing strategies and content to assist the center in reaching new audiences and strengthening community engagement.
Community Partner
John Hay Center
IU Instructor
Jennifer Riley Simone, Kelley School of Business
Project Course
BUS-M 470 Content Marketing Practicum
Paoli and Orange County stakeholders are working to revitalize their downtown and strengthen long-term community development.
Students from the Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs studying local economic development will assist in identifying opportunities and providing strategic recommendations.
Community Partner
Possibilities in Paoli
IU Instructor
Mitch Berg, Paul H. O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs
Project Course
SPEA-L 622 Local Economic Development
Community leaders in Washington County are working to launch Wisdom Works, an intergenerational initiative that will include housing, a trades training center, and a senior center.
Master of Public Affairs capstone students from the Paul H. O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs will develop strategies and offer recommendations to help bring the initiative to life.
Community Partner
Washington County Community Foundation
IU Instructor
Laura Littlepage, Paul H. O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs
Project Course
SPCN-V 600 Capstone in Public and Environmental Affairs
Media contact: Jeni Waters IU Center for Rural Engagement (812) 855-9521 office watersje@iu.edu
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.
Center for Rural Engagement resources and social media channels
