About the Program
Sciences, Design, and Liberal Arts and Sciences who joined to create this index because of our interest in promoting a higher quality of living. We believe Iowa has much to offer in creating a higher quality of life, which is supported by Iowa's high ranking (#5) in Morgan and Morgan's 2008 Most Livable State rankings.
The combined expertise of the RRCI research team represents a broad spectrum of areas such as: rural development, entrepreneurship, retail and hospitality marketing, destination marketing, cultural tourism, education, housing, life quality, health and wellbeing, economics, and statistics. Team members and their specific areas of expertise are shown below:
Ann Marie Fiore: Experiential marketing of retail businesses.
Steve Garasky: Economics data analysis and housing issues and trends.
Jessica Hurst: Rural retailing, family-owned businesses, tourism based retailing.
Miyoung Jeong: Experiential marketing of hospitality businesses, tourism marketing.
Sara Kadolph: Analysis and promotion of rural community cultural centers (i.e. museums) and events.
Elena Karpova: Creativity, cross-cultural communication, analysis of community cultural offerings.
Sara Marcketti: Entrepreneurship and community/business development, experiential retailing, rural retailing, and family business.
Linda Niehm: Entrepreneurship and community/business development, experiential retailing, rural retailing, and family business.
Haemoon Oh: Development of RRCI index and format, statistical analysis, hospitality marketing.
Dan Russell: Development of RRCI index and format, statistical analysis, quality of life indicators.
Chris Seeger: Landscape architecture and environmental analysis.
Dave Swenson: Occupational, economic, and industrial analysis of rural communities.
Greg Welk: Physical activity promotion, community health, analysis of recreational venues.
