Kathy Spencer, MLS, MS

Kathleen M. Spencer is an information specialist for the Rural Assistance Center at the Center for Rural Health at the University of North Dakota (UND) School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Grand Forks.

The Rural Assistance Center (RAC) was established in 2002 as a rural health and human services “information portal” to help rural communities and other rural stakeholders access the full range of available programs, funding, and research that can enable them to provide quality health and human services to rural residents. Spencer provides direct contact with clients assisting them in finding resources to support rural health and human services. She collects, develops and maintains information content for the RAC web site, provides customized searches of databases for grant opportunities and research information, and presents and exhibits at conferences.

Prior to Spencer’s employment at the Center for Rural Health, she was the geology librarian and manager for 14 years in the UND School of Engineering and Mines. She provided reference assistance to both students and faculty and materials for class and lab assignments. She developed policies and procedures for the library, hired and supervised students, conducted tours, assisted in collection development, maintained the collection of books, periodicals and maps, and attended and presented at conferences. In 2002, she was awarded the Outstanding Support Staff Award from the UND Chester Fritz Library.

Spencer served four years as a city council member in the rural community where she lives, Oslo, Minn. She was appointed to the UND President’s steering committee in the creation of the University Staff Senate. She also served three years on the UND Staff Senate where she was a charter member and chair of the Public Relations Committee.

Kathleen has a Master of Library Science degree from Southern Connecticut State University and a Master of Science degree from UND in geography and a minor in geology. She also has a Bachelor of Science degree (cum laude) in geography and library science from UND.

Established in 1980, the Center for Rural Health is one of the nation's most experienced rural health organizations. It has developed a full complement of programs to assist researchers, educators, policymakers, health care providers and, most importantly, rural residents to address changing rural environments by identifying and researching rural health issues, analyzing health policy, strengthening local capabilities, developing community-based alternatives, and advocating for rural concerns.

Contact Information:

Tel:	(701) 777-6029
Email:	kspencer@medicine.nodak.edu
Web site:	http://ruralhealth.und.edu

Projects

• Rural Assistance Center -- The Rural Assistance Center (RAC) is a national rural health and human services information portal.

Publications

• No Better Time for Leadership, Spencer, K., Spring 2009
  Includes a brief discussion on the importance of leadership in rural communities as well as a description of the various resources found on RAC's Leadership Information Guide.
• The Rural Assistance Center: Free Resources at Your Fingertips, Madler, A., Gabriel, H., McEllistrem-Evenson, A., & Spencer, K., The Good Stuff: Official Magazine of the North Dakota Library Association, 39 (2)26-27. 2009
  
• Customized Assistance: Information Tailored to Meet Your Needs, Spencer, K., Spring 2008
  
• Highlights of the MPLA Leadership Institute 2007, Spencer, K. & West, L., The Good Stuff: Official Magazine of the North Dakota Library Association, 38 (1). 6. 2008
  

Presentations

• Discover the Rural Assistance Center for Resources to Support Your CAA
  Presented by Spencer, K. on Sep 3, 2009 at the 45th Community Action Partnership Annual Convention, Philadelphia, PA.
  
• Grassroot Strategies for a Strong Rural Health Workforce
  Presented by Spencer, K., Sande, K., & Size, T. on May 1, 2009 at the NRHA's 32nd Annual Conference, Miami Beach, FL.
  
• Successful Strategies: The Leadership Approach
  Presented by Spencer, K. on Dec 11, 2008 at the Rural Minority & Multi-Cultural Health Conference, Albuquerque, NM.
  
• Using RAC to Find Resources for your Community
  Presented by Spencer, K. on Aug 28, 2008 at the Community Action Partnership (CAP) Annual Convention, Chicago, IL.
  
• Cultural Competency & Limited English Proficiency (LEP): Resources and Applications for Mental Health Services in Rural Communities
  Presented by Spencer, K. on Aug 9, 2008 at the National Association for Rural Mental Health's 34th Annual Conference, Burlington, VT.
  
• Using RAC to Find Funding Opportunities & Resources
  Presented by Spencer, K. on Jun 23, 2008 at the Delta Regional Authority Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA.
  
• Cultural Competency & Limited English Proficiency Resources: Applications to North Dakota Rural Communities
  Presented by Spencer, K. & Patron, P. on Mar 26, 2008 at the Dakota Conference on Rural & Public Health, Fargo, ND.
  
• Cultural Competence and Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Resources and Application to Rural Communities
  Presented by Spencer, K. & Patron, P. on May 14, 2007 at the Rural Minority and Multicultural Health Conference, Anchorage, AK.
  
• Finding Funds for Health Information Technology (HIT)
  Presented by Gabriel, H., Spencer, K., & Reinertson-Sand, M. on Mar 20, 2007 at the 2007 Dakota Conference on Rural and Public Health, Mandan, ND.
  
• Funding Sources for Health Information Technology
  Presented by Spencer, K. on Oct 12, 2006 at the Healthcare Financial Management Association, Colorado Chapter - Great Fall Conference, Glenwood Springs, CO.
  
• Using the Rural Assistance Center to Find Community Project Resources
  Presented by Spencer, K. on Aug 24, 2006 at the South Dakota Grant Writer’s Conference, Chamberlain, SD.
  
• Using the Rural Assistance Center to Find Resources for Your Community
  Presented by Spencer, K. on May 5, 2006 at the Idaho Rural Health Association Biennial Meeting, Sun Valley, ID.
  
• Finding Information on RAC and Other Websites
  Presented by Spencer, K. on Aug 23, 2005 at the Office of Rural Health Policy All Programs Meeting, Washington DC.
  
• Using the Rural Assistance Center to Find Resources for Your Community
  Presented by Spencer, K. on Aug 6, 2005 at the National Association for Rural Mental Health Annual Conference, Honolulu, HI.
  
• Analysis of the Rural Health Literature Indexed in PubMed and in the Rural Assistance Center Documents Index
  Presented by Gabriel, H., Niemeier, M., Reinertson-Sand, M., Sande, K., & Spencer, K. on May 20, 2005 at the National Rural Health Association Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA.
  
• Health and Human Services Information for Rural America
  Presented by Spencer, K. on Apr 1, 2005 at the Office of Rural Health Policy and National Rural Health Association Rural Voices Program Conference Call, Grand Forks, ND.
  
• Emerging Issues in Rural American Health: An Evaluation of the Rural Assistance Center
  Presented by Kruger, G., Sande, K., Niemeier, M., Reinertson-Sand, M., & Spencer, K. on May 20, 2004 at the National Rural Health Association Annual Conference, San Diego, CA.