Ivy+ Rural Symposium

Office of Culture and Community presents

A sunset view of Dunster House on the bridge with Weeks Bridge in the foreground.

The Harvard College Office of Culture & Community (C&C) and the Harvard Undergraduate Rural League (HURL) invites you to join us at our inaugural Ivy+ Intercollegiate Rurality Symposium on October 9-10 in Cambridge, MA. The symposium aims to convene rural identified & rural curious undergraduates from Ivy+ institutions alongside scholars and practitioners whose work examines rural educational attainment and college-going patterns; rural economies and labor markets; and rural health, wellbeing, and social infrastructure.

Agenda

Time	Session
Friday, October 9
5-7PM	Registration & Reception Smith Campus Center, 10th floor
Saturday, October 10
8:45-9:15AM	Welcome by Conference Host Hilles, 59 Shepard St, Cambridge, MA Dr. Alta Mauro, Associate Dean of Student for Culture & Community; Dr. Andi Wright, Allston Burr Resident Dean of Eliot House & Lecturer in Anthropology, Faculty Chair
9:30-10:05AM	Framing: An overview of Rurality Hilles, 59 Shepard St, Cambridge, MA Introduction by co-Presidents of Harvard Undergraduate Rural League
10:10-11:10AM	Conference Session I Health & Public Health Hilles, 59 Shepard St, Cambridge, MA Dr. Keon L. Gilbert, Brookings Institute Senior Fellow; Associate Professor, St. Louis University; Dr. Matthew Tobey, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School & Director of Rural Medicine Programs, Massachusetts General Hospital
11:15AM-12:15PM	Conference Session II Rural Education Hilles, 59 Shepard St, Cambridge, MA Dr. Kristie LeBeau, Visiting Assistant Professor, Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration, University of Deleware; Maddie Register '28, Harvard College Sophomore
12:15-1:20PM	Lunch Hilles, 59 Shepard St, Cambridge, MA Lunch will be provided to all conference attendees.
1:30-2:15PM	Conference Session III Rural Economics Hilles, 59 Shepard St, Cambridge, MA Dr. Sky Marietta, Assistant Professor, University of the Cumberlands
2:15-2:30PM	Break
2:30-3:45PM	Conference Session IV Student Track: In Community with HURL co-founders Hilles, 59 Shepard St, Cambridge, MA Justin Black '27, Co-President of Harvard Undergraduate Rural League (HURL), Harvard College; Kevin Scanlan '27, Co-President of Harvard Undergraduate Rural League (HURL), Harvard College Professional Development Track: Admissions & Financial Aid Hilles, 59 Shepard St, Cambridge, MA Joy St. John, Director of Admissions, Harvard College Admissions; Ian McLean, Assistant Director for Recruitment, Harvard College Admissions
3:45-4:05PM	Closing Remarks Hilles, 59 Shepard St, Cambridge, MA Dr. Alta Mauro, Associate Dean of Student for Culture & Community; Dr. Andi Wright, Allston Burr Resident Dean of Eliot House & Lecturer in Anthropology, Faculty Chair; Thomas Dunne, Dean of Students at Harvard College
4:05-5:30PM	Reception

Symposium Speakers

Alta Mauro

Associate Dean of Culture & Community, Harvard College

Thomas Dunne

Dean of Students, Harvard College

Andrea Wright

Allston Burr Resident Dean of Eliot House & Lecturer in Anthropology, Faculty Chair

Justin Black '27

Co-President, Harvard Undergraduate Rural League (HURL)

Kevin Scanlan '27

Co-President, Harvard Undergraduate Rural League (HURL)

Keon L. Gilbert

Brookings Institute Senior Fellow; Associate Professor, St. Louis University

Matthew Lawrence Tobey, M.D.

Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Director of Rural Medicine Programs, Massachusetts General Hospital

Kristie LeBeau

Visiting Assistant Professor, Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration, University of Deleware

Maddilyn Register '28

Harvard College Sophomore, Office of Culture and Community (C&C) Student Worker

Sky Marietta

Assistant Professor, University of the Cumberlands

Joy St. John

Director of Admissions, Harvard College

Ian McLean

Assistant Director for Recruitment, Harvard College Admissions

Register for the Symposium

Interested in attending the symposium? Register using the link below.

ABOUT

Office of Culture & Community

The Office of Culture & Community recognizes the wide spectrum of life experiences present within our community and seeks to build bridges across the multitude of perspectives. We facilitate the forging of connections that will ultimately create deeper and more meaningful understanding across the myriad of individuals who belong to Harvard’s network.

Visit the C&C website

A group photo of the Office of Culture and Community staff at the 2026 First Day of Classes (FDOC) event.

Ivy+ Rural Symposium