STEPHENVILLE, Texas — Tarleton State University’s College of Health Sciences and College of Agriculture and Natural Resources are teaming up to establish the Center for Rural Resilience.
The initiative was approved at the November 2024 Texas A&M System Board of Regents meeting.
With the nation’s largest rural population and an unparalleled number of farms and ranches, Texas stands as a cornerstone of American agriculture. The well-being of agricultural and rural communities in Texas is vital to the prosperity of these counties and the state as a whole. However, these areas face unique challenges and pressures, from a shortage of healthcare providers to the dangers and stresses of farm, ranch and rural life.
In order to address these needs, this new center will primarily focus on enhancing well-being in rural and agricultural communities, with an initial emphasis on mental health as a catalyst for positive change at both the individual and community levels.
“As the university prioritizes the healthcare needs of rural and agricultural communities, it made sense for both colleges to collaborate in establishing a Center for Rural Resilience,” said Dr. Ramona Parker, Associate Vice President and Executive Dean for the College of Health Sciences. “This center will bring groups together to identify gaps and seek solutions for enhancing community resilience. I am excited about the future of this collaboration and the great opportunities that learners, faculty, and the community will gain from engaging with, learning from, and understanding each other.”
The initial goals of the center include rural leadership development through training and education, creating a pipeline for professionals to serve rural communities starting as early as high school, and developing community-based partnerships to serve as a regional hub to support current and future healthcare and agricultural entities.
A unique aspect of this center is the partnership between the two academic colleges, which will encourage collaboration among faculty members to enhance student learning, promote faculty research and create distinctive student opportunities.
“The Center for Rural Resilience will leverage resources from both the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and the College of Health Sciences to assist rural communities in addressing complex health and agricultural issues,” explained Dr. Barry Lambert, Dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. “I am incredibly proud of this partnership and look forward to seeing how this center will benefit rural Texans in the future.”
For more information about the center, please contact Dr. Jean Lonie Dudley at jlonie@tarleton.edu.
A founding member of The Texas A&M System, Tarleton State University is breaking records — in enrollment, research, scholarship, athletics, philanthropy and engagement — while transforming the lives of approximately 18,000 students in Stephenville, Fort Worth, Waco, Bryan and online. For 125 years, Tarleton State has been committed to accessible higher education opportunities for all while helping students grow academically, socially and professionally through programs that emphasize real world learning and address regional, state and national needs.