About the Center

The Center for Rural Policy and Development, based in St. Peter, Minn., is a non-partisan, not-for-profit policy research organization dedicated to benefiting Minnesota by providing its policy makers with an unbiased evaluation of issues from a rural perspective. To fulfill this mission, we work with academic and non-academic researchers from throughout the state to design and conduct our research projects.

The Center's board members come from all over the state, representing a variety of interests. Fifteen are appointed by the Governor and represent different aspects of rural Minnesota, while five are at large positions, nominated and voted on by the board members themselves (one position is currently open). The board works closely with staff to help guide the direction of the Center, to set research priorities and to help make the Center a presence in the rural policy community.

Dr. Jack Geller
President

Marnie Werner
Program manager

Larry K. Anderson
Coordinator of Outreach and Member Services

Daniel Reardon
Board chair
Otto Bremer Foundation
St. Paul

Cynthia Johnson
Minnesota Farmers Union
Fergus Falls
Robert Bunger
HBH Associates
Milaca

Colleen Landkamer
Blue Earth County Commissioner
Mankato

Rep. Tony Cornish
Minnesota House of Representatives
Good Thunder 		Kevin Kelleher
Houston County Commissioner
Houston  
Richard Davenport
Minnesota State University, Mankato
Mankato 		Sandy Layman
Iron Range Resources
Cohasset
Garfield Eckberg
Minnesota Farm Bureau
Nicollet

Lois Mack
Vice Chair
Waterville

Neil Eckles
Secretary/Treasurer
Blue Earth Valley Communications
Blue Earth

Allen Olson
Eden Prairie
Louis Hohlfeld
McKnight Foundation
Minneapolis

Sherry Ristau
Southwest Initiative Foundation
Hutchinson

James Hoolihan
Blandin Foundation
Grand Rapids

Sen. LeRoy Stumpf
Minnesota State Senate
Thief River Falls
   

 

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Center for Rural Policy and Development
600 S. Fifth St., Suite 211
St. Peter, Minn. 56082
(507) 934-7700
(877) RURALMN (toll free)
(507) 934-7704 (fax)
crpd@ruralmn.org

www.ruralmn.org