DAFVM Spotlight Employee: Rachel Welborn
Rachel Welborn
Texas native Rachel Welborn is committed to the well-being of people and communities in the rural South.
As program manager for the Southern Rural Development Center, Rachel works with her colleagues across the region on various multistate projects.
“The Southern Rural Development Center’s mission is to build capacity and collaboration among the 13-state region’s land-grant universities on issues around rural development,” Rachel said.
After earning a degree in elementary education in 1982, she taught first grade and then took a position as parent educator within the school system. In 1995, she received her master’s in family studies from Abilene Christian University.
Rachel worked as a county educator in Jones County and as a Community Health Coordinator for the state prior to taking this regional position.
She said she enjoys fostering civic engagement.
“This past year has raised awareness of the importance of helping individuals and communities work through challenges of difficult issues in ways that are both respectful and productive,” she said.
The nation’s increased focus on rural America shines light on the importance of SRDC’s mission to serve the rural South, she said.
“The majority of our food, energy, and water comes from rural areas,” Rachel said. “So protecting, building and sustaining rural America is a priority that affects us all.”
Another one of Rachel’s passions is her faith.
“I enjoy spending time with my church family, especially working with college students that share my faith in God and His Son,” Rachel said. “These young adults inspire and challenge me to live my faith in fresh, authentic ways.”
In addition to church activities, Rachel has a small photography business, Come and See Photography, which allows her a creative outlet.
Rachel and her husband have been married for 33 years and have two sons.
“We’ve enjoyed watching our sons grow into strong men,” Rachel said. “They have both married phenomenal women, and we are experiencing the joys of being grandparents with two little ones in our family.”
Editor's note: The Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine Spotlight Employee profiles are provided by the Office of Agricultural Communications at Mississippi State. For more information, please click here.
