Board of Directors
Laverne Barrett, Vice President, was elected to the board in 2009. He lives near Ceresco, Nebraska, and has worked at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln since 1980. Vern teaches leadership courses at UNL and assists communities and organizations with leadership issues.
Becky Gould, Secreatry, joined the board in 2010. Becky is the Executive Director of the Nebraska Appleseed Center for Law in the Public Interest, a nonpartisan, nonprofit public interest law firm that advocates for equal justice and full opportunity for all Nebraskans. She is a native Nebraskan and grew up on a small farm just outside of Valparaiso. Becky has practiced poverty law in Nebraska since 2001 and serves on the Boards of the Nebraska Creative Association of Problem Solvers, ISoft Data Systems, Inc., and is an active member of the Valparaiso Women’s Club.
Chuck Karpf, Treasurer, was elected to the board in 2007. Chuck is the Loan Fund Manager/Entrepreneurship Coordinator for Panhandle Area Development District. He has been involved in rural development and entrepreneurship for most of his career.
Joe Blankenau is a political science professor at Wayne State College in rural Northeast Nebraska. Joe is conducting research on the unique rural aspects of health care finance reform. He was elected to the board in 2008.
Adriana Dungan was elected to the board in 2010. She lives in South Sioux City, Nebraska and is a former employee of the Center for Rural Affairs, serving as REAP Hispanic Business Center Director from May 2005 to May 2010. Adriana has worked as a teacher, accountant, editor and graphic designer, and holds degrees in the fields of Accounting, Music and Graphic Design.
Lowell Fey, now retired to Nebraska City and elected to the board in 2004, has a background of research in several scientific fields. He has a farm in the county and an interest in developing local food systems.
Melissa Florell, a registered nurse, was elected to the board in 2011. She and her family live and work on a farm near Kearney, Nebraska. Melissa is a passionate health care advocate who has spoken frequently about the importance of health care reform. She has witnessed first hand the shortage of primary care providers in rural areas.
David Hansen, Past President, was elected to the board in 1978. Having served rural and suburban Nebraska churches as a full-time Methodist minister for many years, David returned to farm in Custer County, where he was born. He has since retired from the ministry.
Rhea Landholm was elected to the board in 2009. Originally from Lyons, Rhea now lives in Rapid City, South Dakota. She is bringing her rural roots to a position that helps organize a small community feel for historic downtown Rapid.
Keith Mahaney was elected to the board in 1992. Keith is a Thurston County farmer who practices sustainable farming. He and his family have been long-time Center supporters and are active in Extension, church, Picotte Center, and other community activities.
Clark Nichols, Past President, was elected to the board in 1979. Clark practiced law in the Panhandle, where much of his work involved natural resources, particularly water. His family has farmed at Minatare since 1888. Clark now lives in Texas.
Paul Olson, Past President, was elected to the board in 1979. Paul was an English professor at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. He is a former director of the Center for Great Plains Studies and is involved in rural cultural affairs. Paul was the driving force behind creation of the School at the Center, which engaged rural schools and students in understanding and reinvigorating their communities.
Cy Pinkelman was elected to the board in 2006. Cy farms near Hartington, Nebraska. A graduate of the Nebraska LEAD program, he is active in his church in various liturgical roles and on the pastoral council, the Northeast Nebraska RC&D Council (Resource, Conservation & Development) and does what he can to help the area youth. He is active in Cedar County Farm Bureau, the Nebraska Farmer’s Union, Organization for Competitive Markets, and Independent Cattlemen of Nebraska.
Kevin Raun was elected to the board in 2012. He farms near Minden, Nebraska.
Maryanne Rouse, Past President, was elected to the board in 1986. Maryanne has worked to gain urban support for issues that link urban and rural concerns. She was formerly on the staff of Catholic Charities and the New Community Development Corporation in Omaha and is currently with Creighton University.
Kayla Schneulle was elected to the board in 2010. Kayla got her master's degree in Agricultural Leadership Education at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and works for the Nebraska Rural Initiative. She lives with husband Joey in Diller, NE, and volunteers as a Nebraska Volleyball Academy Volleyball Coach and a Big Brothers Big Sisters Mentor. Kayla grew up on a cow-calf operation south of Valentine, and would eventually like to start her own business to live and work in rural Nebraska.
Carol Schooley was elected to the board in 2007. Carol is an artist and educator in Grand Island, Nebraska. She worked tirelessly through Mid-Nebraska PRIDE to protect rural residents and the rural environment from corporate hog operations. Carol has participated in Center activities through membership in North Star Neighbors Cooperative.
Paul Swanson, Past President, was elected to the board in 1995. Paul is a retired Extension Educator who specialized in sustainable agriculture and direct and cooperative marketing. He is now also an organic farmer.
Karen Tikalsky, Past President, was elected to the board in 1986. Karen works with the developmental disabilities division of Health and Human Services in Knox County, Nebraska. She and husband Jim participated in the Center’s Small Farm Resources Project and are members of the Small Farms Cooperative, a group of farmers that are selling their natural livestock at premium prices. Karen is active in the Nebraska Association of Public Employees.
Ed Toribio, owner of Home Energy Alternatives, was elected to the board in 2011. Ed's business offers sales and installation services for solar electric systems and small-scale wind turbines. He is a proponent and advocate for expansion of renewable energy in Nebraska.
Bob Warrick, Director Emeritus, was elected to the board in 1976. Bob is a strong conservationist and a retired diversified farmer who now resides in Oceanside, California. He is cochair of the Agriculture Committee of the National Sierra Club.
Don Reeves, Director Emeritus, a farmer from Central City, returned to Nebraska after working for Bread for the World in Washington DC. Don is a board member and former interim director of the American Friends Service Committee. He and his wife relocated to Oberlin, Ohio in 2009. Don was elected to the Center board in 1997.
Advisory Board
Center for Rural Affairs Advisory Board members are recruited for their special backgrounds and insight into our program areas. They meet quarterly with the Board of Directors and Center staff. Members include:
Rural Enterprise Assistance Program
- Connie Harvey, Hastings, Nebraska
Rural Opportunities and Stewardship Program
- Kevin Fulton, Litchfield, Nebraska
- Charlotte Narjes, Lincoln, Nebraska
- Caleb Pollard, Ord, Nebraska
- Pamela Thomsen, Tekamah, Nebraska
Rural Research and Analysis Program
- Kevin Anderson and Kara Geenwood, Lyons, Nebraska
- Jill Hayes, Fremont, Nebraska
- Dianne Travers-Gustafson, Mead, Nebraska
Rural Policy Program, Rural Organizing and Outreach Program
- Dennis Demmel, Ogallala, Nebraska
- Mark Epp, Henderson, Nebraska
- Aubrey Krug, Lincoln, Nebraska
- Mel Luetchens, Murdock, Nebraska
- Steve McConnell, Lincoln, Nebraska
- Aaron Price, New York City, New York
- Charles Shapiro, Concord, Nebraska
Board Structure & Organization
Our board of directors consists of between 12 and 24 members that govern the Center. There are currently 19 active members of the board serving staggered three-year terms. The board determines policy and overall direction of the organization at quarterly meetings.
An executive committee consisting of the president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, and three members elected by the board meets in conjunction with regular board meetings. In addition, the board establishes oversight committees to counsel staff on the implementation of the Center’s various programs.
About one-half of the board is farmers or ranchers. Others are small town business and working people including a small number of urban members with a strong interest in rural improvement. The board is self-selecting, and has made it a policy to provide the organization with a broad leadership base. Accordingly, it has recruited men and women from all regions of the state and people with diverse occupational backgrounds and personal perspectives.
The board has been conscious of the need to provide both continuity and new insight, and thus the by-laws require at least one new director be added annually. Director Emeritus status was established in 1990. We have two Emeritus directors at present.
The board plays an active role in the development of Center programs. Each board member serves on one of four program advisory committees that provide quarterly oversight of program activities and guide the annual planning process. Directors also serve on at least one of the institutional committees that include Resource Development and Communications, Budget and Finance, Board Development and Nominations, and Grievance.
