MARIETTA, OHIO — Washington State College of Ohio (WSCO) is proud to announce that Dr. Jona Rinard, Dean of Technology and Transfer, has successfully completed the Appalachian Leadership Institute (ALI), a prestigious nine-month economic development training program conducted by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC).
Dr. Rinard was one of 40 distinguished fellows selected from hundreds of applicants across the 13 states of the Appalachian region. The competitive nature of this fellowship highlights the exceptional quality of those chosen, many of whom apply multiple times before being accepted. Selected after a single application, Dr. Rinard recently celebrated her successful completion of the program in Washington, D.C.
“Being a part of the Appalachian Leadership Institute has taught me how to leverage our region’s resources in a way that will have a positive impact on our community,” said Dr. Rinard. “During my time in training with ALI, I had the opportunity to learn what other community leaders were doing to leverage partnership opportunities, funding resources, and program development that highlights the best that Appalachia has to offer while also building up their own communities.”
The Appalachian Leadership Institute is designed to equip leaders with the skills and knowledge necessary to spearhead economic development in their communities. During her fellowship, Dr. Rinard visited various community colleges and engaged with prominent public figures across the Appalachian region, including in Kentucky, Mississippi, and Georgia. The program’s esteemed faculty covered a range of topics from tourism and revitalization to makerspace innovations. This comprehensive training expanded Dr. Rinard’s expertise in workforce development—knowledge she is eager to apply to her work at WSCO.
Dr. Rinard is passionate about using what she learned at ALI to strengthen WSCO’s workforce development initiatives and forge stronger partnerships within the community. As Dean of Technology and Transfer, she oversees general education transfer courses as well as programs in Education Transfer, Criminal Justice, the Peace Officer Basic Academy, Social Services, Business, Engineering, Auto/Diesel, and Advanced Manufacturing and Industrial Technology (AMIT). Dr. Rinard’s leadership extends to collaborating with advisory committees for each of these pathways, and she is committed to integrating the insights gained from ALI into these areas to better serve WSCO’s students and the broader community.
“WSCO is thrilled to see Dr. Rinard bring these new skills and perspectives to her role,” said Dr. Sarah Parker, VP of Academic Affairs and Interim President of WSCO. “Her dedication to leveraging her ALI experience for the benefit of our students and community showcases her commitment to advancing our pathways and workforce development opportunities.”
As a graduate of the Appalachian Leadership Institute, Dr. Rinard now joins the ALI Alumni Network, which includes over 200 leaders committed to fostering ongoing learning and exchanging ideas across Appalachia. This network empowers alumni to collaborate and address the unique challenges and opportunities within the region.
With WSCO’s commitment to prioritizing education and workforce needs of our community, Dr. Rinard’s contributions will play a pivotal role in advancing the college’s mission and strengthening the community’s economic development.
