WASHINGTON, D.C. (LOOTPRESS) – The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) celebrated the graduation of 40 fellows from its Appalachian Leadership Institute (ALI) in a ceremony held in Washington, D.C.
The graduates, from 13 states across Appalachia, were joined by their families, ARC staff, and regional leaders.
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“My heartfelt congratulations to the Appalachian Leadership Institute Class of 2024! The hard work and dedication that they have put into the program over the last nine months will not only lead to personal and professional development for themselves but also forward momentum for their communities,” said ARC Federal Co-Chair Gayle Manchin.
“I have no doubt that this year’s fellows will utilize the skills learned during their time at ALI to help bolster the economic vitality of the entire Appalachian region.”
Over the past nine months, the fellows participated in a series of sessions held in six Appalachian communities.
These sessions included skill-building seminars, peer-to-peer learning, case study analysis, and site visits to see ARC investments in action.
The program’s curriculum is designed to equip participants with the knowledge, ideas, and network needed to create positive change in their communities and strengthen the region’s economic opportunity.
Graduates of the program will continue to serve their communities in various sectors, including civil service, healthcare, and tourism.
They also gain access to the Appalachian Leadership Institute Alumni Network, a group of over 200 leaders who facilitate continued learning and idea exchange across the region.
The Appalachian Leadership Institute is a comprehensive regional leadership training program developed by the Appalachian Regional Commission in partnership with the University of Tennessee, Knoxville; The Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy; Tuskegee University; and Collective Impact.
The Appalachian Regional Commission is an economic development entity of the federal government and 13 state governments, focusing on 423 counties across the Appalachian Region.
West Virginia Graduates:
Summer Hartley: A leader in population health, known for her role in developing West Virginia’s first nationally recognized public health institute, the WVU Health Affairs Institute.
Jennifer Justice: Executive Director of the McDowell County Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB), Secretary of the McDowell County Chamber of Commerce, and board member of the Friends of the Tug Fork River.
Jennifer Light: Program Director of Industrial Technologies at Allegany College of Maryland’s Western Maryland Works Training Center and Makerspace.
Kalyn Obiozor-Dorey: Joined the West Virginia Community Development Hub full-time in 2022 after serving as The Hub’s Racial Equity Fellow through Generation West Virginia’s Impact Fellowship program in August 2021.
Jona Rinard: Dean of Transfer and Public Services at Washington State Community College in Marietta, OH.
