Marietta College Students Present Economic Development Strategies at Symposium Sponsored by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC)

Students from 15 Appalachian Colleges & Universities, including Marietta College, complete community research program with capstone presentations on economic development strategies

by Gi Smith

Marietta, OH (12/10/2024) — On December 6-7, 2024, Marietta College students participated in the 24th annual Appalachian Collegiate Research Initiative (ACRI) Symposium, a capstone conference sponsored by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC). Marietta students presented their research findings on "Assessing Rural Healthcare Workforce Needs."
"Marietta College students will collaborate with Ely Chapman Educational Foundation to assess the region's healthcare workforce needs over the next decade and determine what academic programs might be needed to support educating that workforce," said Dr. Alexandra Perry, Dean of the McDonough Center for Leadership and Business and advisor to Marietta's student contingent. "Students will also explore how the College might collaborate with community partners to help build the capacity of organizations to address the health and wellness needs of the local region. In addition, students will assist the Foundation as it provides wellness checks for school-aged children, pop-up clinics for vaccines, and other health screenings, collecting data on the effectiveness of the clinics."
Maria Cipro '25, Kianna O'Brien '27, McKenna Barks '27, Jenna Levans '26, and Abby May '25 attended the symposium, along with Dr. Perry and Chris Scheppner, Director of Admission.
ACRI students first enrolled in Marietta's Leadership Practicum, a for-credit academic course where Leadership and MC Student Government Association students develop and lead their own applied research projects addressing a community or economic challenge specific to their region and in alignment with ARC's investment priorities. As a capstone, students present their work to other student delegations from participating ACRI institutions, ARC leadership, and community leaders in a formal peer-to-peer conference setting hosted by ARC and the Consortium of Appalachian Colleges and Universities.
Since 2001, more than 3,000 college and graduate students from 34 colleges and universities across Appalachia have participated in ACRI. The program has helped Appalachian educational institutions identify and address a wide range of community challenges, including downtown revitalization, outdoor recreation development, education, food insecurity, access to healthcare, and more. Many ACRI alumni have gone on to careers in economic and community development across the region, applying what they learned with their ACRI experience to strengthen communities and economies throughout Appalachia.
ARC has released a notice of solicitation for applications (NOSA) seeking college and university applicants for ACRI in 2025. Applications are due April 11, 2025.
"By encouraging Appalachia's college students to present their solutions to the region's challenges, ACRI sets the groundwork for the next generation of Appalachian leadership and prosperity," said ARC Federal Co-Chair Gayle Manchin. "I applaud this year's participants for their hard work, willingness to collaborate, and passion for helping improve the quality of life for their neighbors across Appalachia's 13 states. I hope this inspires other forward-thinking students to follow their lead by participating in ACRI next year."

To learn more about Marietta College's projects, and stay updated on applications on ACRI next year, visit https://www.arc.gov/academies-and-institutes/acri/

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About the Appalachian Regional Commission
The Appalachian Regional Commission is an economic development agency of the federal government and 13 state governments focusing on 423 counties across the Appalachian Region, including 32 counties in Ohio. ARC's mission is to innovate, partner, and invest to build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in Appalachia to help the Region achieve socioeconomic parity with the nation.

2024 ACRI Participating Schools
State Institution
Kentucky Morehead State University, Morehead, KY
New York Alfred State College, Alfred, NY
North Carolina Appalachian State University, Boone, NC
Ohio Marietta College, Marietta, OH
Ohio University, Athens, OH
Pennsylvania Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana, PA
Seton Hill University, Greensburg, PA
Westminster College, New Wilmington, PA
Tennessee East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN
University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
Virginia Emory & Henry University, Emory, VA
Radford University, Radford, VA
Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA
West Virginia Marshall University, Huntington, WV
University of Charleston, Charleston, WV

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