Marty Strange, Long-Time Policy Director At Rural Trust Resigns


Last Updated: January 27, 2012
 

This article appeared in the January 2012 Rural Policy Matters.

Marty Strange, who has headed the Rural School and Community Trust policy program for 15 years, has resigned to return to consulting on rural policy issues and campaigns.

Strange joined the Rural Trust as a member of the Board of Directors in 1995 and was asked to launch the policy program in 1997. He served as a part-time consultant in that assignment until 2000, when he joined the staff as full-time policy director. He will continue with the Trust as a lead consultant, heading the Formula Fairness Campaign and consulting on other policy issues.

Under Strange’s leadership, the Rural Trust policy program has focused on rural education organizing at local and state levels, with priority on rural areas that face the greatest economic and social challenges. For the past three years, however, he has also coordinated the Formula Fairness Campaign, a nationwide effort to reform the formula for distributing federal funds for the education of disadvantaged students.

"Marty's contributions to the Trust have been invaluable," says Doris Terry Williams, Executive Director of the Rural Trust. "We are pleased that we will be able to call about his expertise in his new role as we continue the Trust's important rural policy analysis and advocacy work."

Strange was a co-founder in 1973 of the Center for Rural Affairs, a rural advocacy organization that advocates for family farms and small business. His book, Family Farming: A New Economic Vision, is a leading defense of family farming.

“I’ve worked for rural America my entire career, and 38 years of it with just two organizations, both of which I joined in their infancy,” says Strange. “I want to use my experience in the best way possible, and I think that I can do that best by returning to consulting. I’ve had 15 good years with the Rural Trust, and I’m grateful for the great work this organization does.”

Read more from the January 2012 Rural Policy Matters.



Related Categories: Rural Policy Matters

Related Tags: RT Policy Department