Culver-Stockton College Launches Center for Rural Opportunity to Advance Leadership in Rural Higher Education
Canton, Mo. — Culver-Stockton College is pleased to announce the launch of the Center for Rural Opportunity, a new institutional initiative designed to elevate and align the College’s leadership in rural-focused education, scholarship, and community engagement.
As a rural-located, rural-serving institution, Culver-Stockton College 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 Culver-Stockton College. “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 Culver-Stockton College’s expertise in rural higher education, providing a clear identity for external partners, funders, and collaborators.
Through the Center for Rural Opportunity, Culver-Stockton College 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 Culver-Stockton College, exemplifies the type of work the Center is designed to support and elevate.
Learn more about Culver-Stockton College at culver.edu and Tri-State Development at https://culver.edu/tsd/.
About Culver-Stockton College
Culver-Stockton College prepares students to be bold, think big, and create change through experiential learning, innovation, and community engagement. Founded in 1853 by members of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the liberal arts college is situated on 140 acres in Canton, Missouri, atop the Hill overlooking the Mississippi River and was the first institution of higher learning west of the river chartered specifically for coeducation. Today, more than 1,000 students from around the world
pursue academic excellence through 80 majors and minors, five graduate programs, 21 NAIA intercollegiate athletics teams, 35 student organizations, and a vibrant campus life.