Virtual Mini-Convening: The Role of Education and Philanthropy in Appalachia's Economic Transition
On June 14th from 12:00-1:00pm ET, AFN members gathered virtually for a conversation around the role of education in Appalachia’s economic transition with Dr. Andrew Koricich and Adam Ray of Appalachian State University. This session was recorded, and you can watch it and access additional resources below.
Education systems in Appalachia will play a critical role in this transition, and educational institutions have the potential to act as anchor institutions as communities work toward their aspirations.
To date, education has not been a focal point within AFN Groups, but it is a crucial conversation that cross-cuts many sectors and issue areas. Likewise, rural education is underrepresented within national education philanthropy networks. This “mini-convening” is to stimulate a conversation among AFN members about what the role of this Network may play in elevating the conversation around how education systems can support community-led economic transformation and how philanthropy can help support such efforts.
Dr. Andrew Koricich, along with Adam Ray, of Appalachian State University presented an overview of ways that educational initiatives are helping shape regional transformation. Participants then engaged in a facilitated conversation about this topic and discussed what the next steps in this conversation may be.
Speaker Bios:
Dr. Andrew Koricich is an Associate Professor in the Higher Education program and the Executive Director of the Alliance for Research on Regional Colleges. Influenced by his experiences growing up in a rural, Pennsylvania town, Dr. Koricich’s research interests focus primarily on postsecondary education issues facing rural communities, with a particular emphasis on rural and rural-serving postsecondary institutions and the communities they serve. Across these research strands, he employs large, quantitative data sets from governmental sources, and his work has been published numerous journal articles, book chapters, and research reports.
Adam Ray is a doctoral student enrolled in the Educational Leadership (Higher Education concentration) program at Appalachian State University. His research interests include regional colleges/universities, rural student populations, and first-generation students. Additionally, he has professional work experience in Undergraduate Admissions and currently serves as the Associate Director of Employer Engagement in the Center for Career and Professional Development at Western Carolina University.