2006-07 Progress Report and 2007-08 Plan of Work The Sustainable Rural Communities Initiative is building a new and unique model of University engagement with rural communities in teaching, research and outreach. The Initiative provides core support for a statewide, multi-disciplinary Rural Studies Program involving seven colleges and the Extension Service.
Building OSU’s Capacity Faculty. The Initiative is supporting three tenure-track faculty: Hannah Gosnell (PhD University of Colorado) who began tenure track teaching-research assistant professor position in the Department of Geosciences in Spring 2006; Monica Fisher (PhD Purdue University) who began tenure track teaching-research assistant professor position in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics in Summer 2006; and Roger Hammer (PhD University of Wisconsin) who began tenure track teaching-research assistant professor position in the Department of Sociology in Fall 2006.
OSU Extension Service supported hiring two fixed-term faculty for the Initiative: Bruce Sorte (MAIS, Oregon State University) began as Extension Community Economist in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics in Fall 2004; and Lena Etuk (MS, University of Wisconsin) who began as Community Demographer in the Extension Family & Community Development Program in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences in Summer 2006.
In late 2006 Bruce Sorte resigned to take a position at University of Minnesota. The Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics has initiated a priority staffing request to refill this position.