Episode 9: Strengthening Rural Communities Through University Partnerships

In this episode of Our Indiana: Stories from Rural Hoosiers, host Denny Spinner travels to Washington, Indiana, to explore the impact of Sustaining Hoosier Communities (SHC) partnerships in Daviess County, Indiana.

Guests Cindy Barber, county extension director at Purdue Extension Daviess County, and Scott Burgins, clinical assistant professor at IU’s O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, share how SHC has helped local leaders and university students work together on real-world projects that address community needs. From planning infrastructure improvements to preserving local history, the partnership has sparked new energy, built trust, and created lasting impact.

Tune in to hear how rural communities are leveraging academic resources to turn ideas into action, how students are gaining hands-on experience in civic engagement, and how cross-university collaboration is helping Indiana’s small towns thrive.

For a transcript of this episode, visit go.iu.edu/ourindiana.