Mary J. Page Community-University Partnerships Fund

Mary's background

Mary J. Page (1934-2013) was a voice for rural Minnesota. As a commissioner for Renville County, Mayor of Olivia, Regent for the University of Minnesota, and in many other leadership roles in the community and in southwestern Minnesota and the state, she carried Greater Minnesota needs to important policy-making circles.

Mary provided foundational ideals that formed the citizen-driven aspects of the University of Minnesota Extension Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships (RSDP) and left a lasting imprint on the program. Mary helped create, and then served on, the founding board of the West Central Regional Sustainable Development Partnership from 1999-2007, and gave statewide leadership to the Partnerships until 2009.

Mary Page fund

The Mary J. Page Community-University Partnerships Fund continues Mary’s legacy by supporting University of Minnesota students working on community-based sustainability projects in Greater Minnesota. Members of the Page family founded this endowment and have pledged additional matching support for gifts to honor Mary's commitment to rural communities and RSDP. On May 21, 2014, RSDP, Extension and the Page family held a kickoff for the fund.

Greater Minnesota communities and organizations interested in applying to have a Mary Page fund student work on their community project should contact their RSDP regional Executive Director. 

Project examples

Since the spring of 2015, the Mary Page fund has connected student ideas and skills to community-driven projects across the state. These projects have helped communities realize their sustainability visions, and have shaped the educational experiences and career paths of students. Examples of projects and students supported by the fund include:

Supporting rural businesses and livestock producers

Project: Establishing Local Meat Processing Apprenticeships in Minnesota 
Students: Sabrina Porter, Maya Benedict, Rashid Mfinanga
Mary Page Community-University Partnership funded graduate student worked with community members and the MN Farmers Union to research strategies for overcoming barriers to access to local slaughter and meat processing facilities. One recommendation from the research was to develop a meat processing apprenticeship program, which was launched in 2022 and also supported by a Mary Page graduate student. 

Creating nature experiences for all

Project: Overcoming Accessibility Barriers in Nature Education
Students: Tessa Register, Myra McKee
Through two phases of research, two graduate students supported the Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge in meeting their goal of making curriculum and site facilities accessible to students and visitors with disabilities and providing training resources for volunteers.

Rural women rising: Building stronger bonds among rural women

Project: 100 Rural Women
Students: Delaine Anderson, Kate Stower, Jasmine Terry
The organization 100 Rural Women is on a mission to help rural women lead positive change throughout Minnesota through mentorship, networking and leadership training. A series of Mary Page-funded graduate students have supported these efforts through research, community outreach and program evaluation. Read about one woman's inspiring rise to leadership as a result of her involvement.