Board of Directors

The Center's Board of Directors represent national rural health leaders who are proven experts in the field.
board members

The Center’s 11 board members — all national experts in the field of rural health who have had careers in academia, research, industry, government, private foundations, and consulting — bring a wide range of experience and knowledge to their work, as well as a deep commitment to the health and well-being of the country’s rural residents. Board members are tasked with setting the strategic direction of The Center’s work and helping to cultivate a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace culture.

Dennis Berens MA

CEO, Nebraska Times, LLC
Dennis Berens

Ray G. Christensen MD

Associate Dean for Rural Health, University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth Campus
Headshot of Ray G. Christensen

Kristin Juliar MA

Former Director, Montana Office of Rural Health
Headshot of Kristin Juliar

Geoff Kaufmann FACHE

Former Vice President for Business Planning and Management, American Red Cross
Headshot of Geoff Kaufmann

Alana Knudson PhD, EdM

Program Area Director and Co-Director, NORC Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis
Headshot of Alana Knudson

Mary Ellen Pratt MHA

CEO, St. James Parish Hospital
Headshot of Mary Ellen Pratt

Zora Radosevich

Director, Office of Rural Health and Primary Care, Minnesota Department of Health
Headshot of Zora Radosevich

Pat Schou RN, BSN, MS, FACHE

Executive Director, Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network
Headshot of Pat Schou

Shao-Chee Sim PhD, MPA

Vice President for Research, Innovation and Evaluation, Episcopal Health Foundation
Headshot of Shao-Chee Sim

Qiana Thomason

President/CEO, Health Forward Foundation
Headshot of Qiana Thomason

Jesse Tischer MHA, FACHE, NRP/FP-C

Senior Vice President & President, Regional Markets, Aspirus, Inc.
Jesse Tischer