Randy Cantrell

Extension Professor, Nebraska Rural Initiative

Randy Cantrell is a Center for Applied Rural Innovation (CARI) senior fellow and a development specialist with NU Rural Initiative. Dr. Cantrell received his B.A. in Anthropology and Economics from Michigan State University (1971), M.S. in Labor Studies from the New York State School of Industrial and Labor Relations (1973), and Ph.D. in Development Sociology from Cornell University (1976). He joined CARI's staff in October of 2001, following six years as Director of the University of Nebraska Southeast Research and Extension Center. Prior to coming to Nebraska, Dr. Cantrell had a 17-year career with Cooperative Extension at the University of Minnesota in various outreach and administrative roles, culminating in five years as Director of Outreach at the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs.

Dr. Cantrell grew up in the small Southern Michigan community of Jonesville, where his family operated a bakery on Main Street. His academic and teaching interests continue to reflect his commitment to small rural communities. As the Director of Minnesota's State Data Center in the early 1990's, he became interested in how communities and institutions adapt to demographic changes, and he has advised communities throughout the Midwest on the nature and impact of demographic trends. His research has focused on institutional change in rural areas, and his publications reflect that interest, with a special emphasis on the role of the rural church.