2024 Rural Scholars | Oklahoma State University

The Rural Scholars program is designed to positively impact rural communities and Oklahoma State University undergraduate and graduate students. The Rural Scholars program will mobilize students at OSU to conduct research on leading issues and grand challenges impacting rural communities in Oklahoma and beyond.

Nine OSU students are serving rural Oklahoma communities in the summer of 2024. Learn more about them and their work below.

Mamata Pandey

Graduate student in Biosystems Engineering, studying water-related concerns in agricultural communities in southwest Oklahoma

Sara Howard

Junior in Agricultural Communications studying how weather variability and climate is addressed in educational settings

Samantha Starcher

Junior in Environmental Science studying surface water quality in southwest Oklahoma

Olivia Coody

Freshman in Math studying sustainable rural healthcare services

Molly Moody

Senior in Agribusiness and Agricultural Communications studying perceptions relating to citizen journalism and local news access

Mariela Kundak

Junior in Rangeland Management studying perspectives of Oklahoma women in agriculture

Joel Sahmaunt

Sophomore in Psychology studying how to improve the lives of rural Oklahomans through increasing protective factors by learning strategies of resilience from the American Indian culture

Erik Inman

Senior in Industrial Engineering and Management studying non-emergency medical service accessibility

Emily Sells

Junior in Animal Science studying how to improve the lives of rural Oklahomans through increasing protective factors by learning strategies of resilience from the American Indian culture