News

The Western Rural Development Center (WRDC) is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2026-2027 funding programs supporting innovative research,…

In late August, WRDC traveled across the International Date Line to connect with our land-grant partner, Unibetsedåt Guåhan | University of Guam (UOG).

In mid-August, WRDC and Western Community Assessment Network (WeCAN) Director Dr. Lorie Higgins convened a strategic planning retreat in Boise, Idaho.

Western Rural Development Center (WRDC) staff traveled from Idaho to Alaska to visit the state’s two land-grant institutions, strengthen partnerships, and gain firsthand insight into the opportunities and challenges facing Alaska’s rural communities.

WRDC is pleased to announce four new faces joining us to support our research efforts. We welcome Post Doctoral research fellows Richard Acquah-Sarpong, Shengrong Hu, and Federico Ninivaggi; as well as visiting scholar Tatiane Almeida de Menezes.

The Western Region Household Survey Report presents index measures that synthesize multiple survey questions from the WR-Stat: Baseline Survey 2024, a comprehensive household survey conducted across the thirteen states in the Western United States , into meaningful indicators of household and community well-being.

WRDC researchers Nadeeka Weerasekara, Paul Lewin and Monica Fisher have published a new article on their study examining how family health influences the financial success of entrepreneurs.

Colleges increasingly emphasize internships, career counseling, and work-based learning as essential steps in preparing students for the transition from college to employment. A growing body of research shows that students who take part in these activities experience better hiring outcomes and stronger early-career earnings.

In early April, the Western Rural Development Center (WRDC) convened land-grant faculty, Extension professionals, and applied researchers for the WRDC Community Development Workshop in Honolulu, Hawai‘i.