As a rural-located, rural-serving institution, 91ֱ�� has built a strong portfolio of programs and partnerships addressing rural challenges and opportunities. By leading in rural higher education, Culver-Stockton prepares students with skills and perspectives relevant in any community, region, or professional environment. The Center for Rural Opportunity formalizes that work by serving as an umbrella structure for key rural-focused initiatives, including Tri-State Development, while preserving academic ownership within the College’s divisions and classrooms.

“The Center for Rural Opportunity reflects who we are and how we lead,” said Dr. Lauren Schellenberger, President of 91ֱ��. “It brings focus and visibility to important programs like Tri-State Development while positioning the College to expand its impact through coordinated strategy and national engagement.”

Programs, curriculum, and academic leadership will remain within the academic divisions. The Center for Rural Opportunity functions as the institutional platform that defines and communicates 91ֱ��’s expertise in rural higher education, providing a clear identity for external partners, funders, and collaborators.

Through the Center for Rural Opportunity, 91ֱ�� will:

• Serve as an umbrella for signature rural-focused programs, including Tri-State Development
• Align rural initiatives across academic, co-curricular, and applied learning environments
• Expand high-impact student experiences focused on leadership and rural challenges
• Strengthen regional and national partnerships
• Increase competitiveness for state, federal, and private funding opportunities

Tri-State Development, a multi-county regional economic and community development initiative administered by 91ֱ��, exemplifies the type of work the Center is designed to support and elevate.

Learn more about Tri-State Development at /tsd/.

Leslie Sieck, Vice President for Economic and Workforce Development at 91ֱ�� and Executive Director of Tri-State Development, said the pilot program aims to connect students with communities and community leaders within the region.  Through direct participation in Tri-State Development task forces and meetings, students will work alongside leaders who are making important decisions and steering vital conversations in economic development focused decision-making.

“Interns in the program will also compile research and present their findings in a variety of ways, including through blogs, infographics, and whitepapers,” she said. “They will have the opportunity to take what they learn and create content for social media and engage their peers and community members in advocacy for what they discover and for what becomes important to them.”

About Tri-State Development

Tri-State Development at 91ֱ�� is a collaborative effort formed in April 2022 to support the region by cultivating collaborative relationships, promoting interdisciplinary problem-solving, fostering the expansion of academic-organization-industry initiatives, and developing an environment for collective impact to address the current and emerging political, economic, and social challenges in the region. Through a $1 million donation from philanthropist Thomas A. Oakley, the initiative reaches 36 counties throughout northeast Missouri, southeast Iowa, and western Illinois.

The new organizational structure will include an annual meeting held in each of the three states sequentially, and will rebuild the task forces for transportation, the Mississippi River, education, agriculture, tourism, workforce development, connectivity, housing, and other vital areas in order to grow the economies of the entire region. The original and continued intent of the Tri-State Development Summit is to speak with one voice to 3 Governors, 6 United States Senators, 5 United States Representatives and all the State and local elected officials in Illinois, Iowa and Missouri.

The Summit was first established in 1996, following the 1993 major flood on the Mississippi River that resulted in the bridge at Hannibal being closed for 76 days and the bridge in Quincy for 72 days. “These closures,” explains Oakley, “demonstrated the dependence of the region on the River. As a result, the Tri-State Development Summit was originated as a collaborative vision over 25 years ago by a group of regional leaders. The mission of the Summit was to ensure that our entire region work together to address the issues that would allow the entire, approximate 100-mile circle of the tri-state region to grow and thrive economically.”

Oakley adds, “Unfortunately, in recent years, because of lack of funding and the loss of many of the original Summit leadership group, much of the efforts the task forces has declined, with the exception of a Summit meeting held every two years, which in its self has accomplished a good deal.”

“What’s unique about this new partnership,” adds Palmer, “is that there will be a cohesive, daily focus with all sectors coming together to drive positive change. Leadership from higher education institutions will join with economic development organizations, along with a select group of advisors, and specialist in various key areas, that are seeking economic growth in our region. We will be working together to create a pipeline for workforce development initiatives and long-term economic enhancements. Our community and industry leaders will outline task force priorities that will create new opportunities for each of us to contribute. This is an exciting time for us to work together to make significant strides for our shared, collaborative benefit.”

The transformational gift to establish the Tri-State Development Summit at 91ֱ�� will provide for a full-time Executive Director who will serve as the key management leader responsible for overseeing the administration, programs, and strategic plan of the Summit.

“The impact of this gift by Mr. Oakley cannot be overstated,” said Palmer. “What we are creating here is a unique partnership that brings together experts across disciplines and multiple state and county lines in order to make a real, collective impact that will benefit not one of us, but all of us; building a level of distinction for our region that we believe will unlock opportunities for this generation and the next as we tap into the investments of education, community and economic development, infrastructure, policy research and so much more all while addressing the important issues facing our area.”

The Tri-State Development Summit at 91ֱ�� is currently conducting a search for an individual to serve as the Executive Director. To learn more about this opportunity, please contact Leslie Payne, Vice President for Advancement and Marketing, 91ֱ�� at LPayne@culver.edu.