Purpose:
The Rural Solution Hub leverages assets and expertise across the Auburn University campus to develop impactful, sustainable solutions that address the complex challenges facing rural communities in Alabama and beyond. This collaborative effort is designed to strengthen community resilience, expand opportunities, and support long-term prosperity through research, innovation, and strategic partnerships.
AU’s Transformative Rural Initiatives:
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AU’s Rural Studio® enhances the health and well-being of rural communities through innovative housing solutions and essential systems that support sustainable living. Contact: Rusty Smith
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AU Rural Health Initiative (AURHI) increases rural healthcare access through community-led model integrating telehealth with in-person services. Contact: Hollie Cost
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Hunger Solutions Institute (HSI) promotes development, adoption, and advancement of innovative best practices to address food and nutrition security. Contact: Alicia Powers
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Center for Educational Outreach and Engagement (CEOE) transforms underserved K-12 communities through educational programs. Contact: Anna-Margaret Goldman
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Government and Economic Development Institute (GEDI) provides training to state leaders to increase access to critical funding. Contact: Jeremy Arthur
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Alabama Cooperative Extension System delivers programming to address nutrition, food safety, farming, parenting and other areas in all 67 Alabama counties. Contact: Eve Brantley
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Rural Partnership Institute developing and implementing new technologies to enhance the economic prosperity of rural Alabama. Contact: Oladiran Fasina
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Rural Medicine Program pre-med program addressing the primary care physician shortage. Contact: Maggie Han
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AU-SHIP Medicare Outreach Program helps seniors in rural areas navigate Medicare advantage and part D plans. Contact: Salisa Westrick
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GEAR UP Achieve provides college and career readiness support to students across the states in under-resourced communities with heavy representation in rural areas. Contact: Keith Burrell
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Rural Teaching Fellows is focusing on addressing the rural teacher shortage through a residency support model. Contact: Anna-Margaret Goldman
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Alabama Heirs Property Alliance provides guidance to Alabama landowners in need of direction when it comes to their land, lineage, and legacy. Contact: Ryan Thomson
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AU Solves enables AU researchers to work with community partners to solve real-world problems across various disciplines and sectors that reside within the sustainability footprint. Contacts: Karen McNeal and Chandana Mitra
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Alabama City Year Masters of Community Planning students and faculty partner with local communities and work on planning projects to provide hands-on student learning experiences in classes such as urban economics, urban design, sustainable transportation planning, historic preservation planning, and the synthesis (capstone) studio. Students learn to help diverse communities create and implement plans that improve and protect their quality-of-life, culture, resource base, built environment, natural environment, and economic vitality. Contacts: Binita Mahato and Jay Mittal
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COACH serves the citizens of Alabama and the region as a recognized leader in advocacy, education, outreach, and research related to opioids, substances of abuse, and substance use disorders. COACH has reached tens of thousands of Alabamians—including healthcare professionals, civic leaders, K–12 students, and community members—through impactful, evidence-based initiatives. Contacts: Dr. Haley Phillippe
Contact Hollie Cost for questions or to join the Rural Solutions Hub, (334) 740-2897 hollie.cost@auburn.edu
