FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 30, 2025
PINE BLUFF, AR – The Arkansas Rural Health Partnership (ARHP) proudly announces Scott Kuttenkuler as the inaugural President of the Arkansas Rural Health Academy (ARHA) – a transformative initiative set to revolutionize the rural healthcare workforce pipeline across Arkansas.
Founded in January 2025 – the first-of-its-kind employer-driven training program embedded directly within rural healthcare settings – the Academy has already trained 21 students, who are now integrated into local healthcare teams, and is on track to train and integrate over 300 more in the coming year. These individuals will return to their communities as skilled healthcare professionals, driving lasting economic growth and improving patient access across the Delta and beyond.
“We are thrilled to welcome Scott Kuttenkuler to lead the Academy at this critical moment,” said Mellie Boagni, CEO of the Arkansas Rural Health Partnership. “His vision, leadership, and deep-rooted commitment to workforce development make him the ideal person to carry this work forward as we scale statewide.”
Scott Kuttenkuler
Scott Kuttenkuler’s bold vision and unwavering dedication mirror Boagni’s own leadership style, forging a powerhouse partnership to drive the Academy’s mission forward.
With more than two decades of trailblazing leadership in higher education and workforce development, Kuttenkuler most recently served as Vice Chancellor of the Saline County Career Technical Campus at Arkansas State University Three Rivers – where, together with his team, he more than doubled enrollment to over 750 students, broadened technical program offerings, and secured in excess of $3 million in workforce grants. A recognized force at Southeast Arkansas College and the University of Arkansas at Monticello, he championed student success, forged strategic industry partnerships, and ignited public-private collaborations that supercharged regional economies. He holds advanced degrees in Communication and is completing a Doctorate in Higher Education Administration at Arkansas State University – an academic endeavor that underscores his unwavering commitment to innovation and excellence.
“I am honored to lead the Arkansas Rural Health Academy,” said Kuttenkuler. “Together with our partners – hospitals, clinics, colleges, and employers – we will meet learners where they are, provide real-world training, and open pathways to sustainable careers in rural health.” We will focus our energies on the workforce training gaps that exist and contribute to challenges faced by rural healthcare providers. We will listen to their needs, collaboratively dream big, and leverage available resources to make meaningful change throughout the state.”
Since 2008, the Arkansas Rural Health Partnership (ARHP) has mobilized more than $79 million in grant funding for rural health, securing over $8 million from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the U.S. Department of Labor, and the Delta Regional Authority. Through this support, ARHP has awarded $2.4 million in scholarships, launched a statewide career-exploration platform, and deployed mobile training units that have reached over 5,000 aspiring healthcare professionals.
The Arkansas Rural Health Academy represents a bold new era of ARHP’s community-driven, agile approach to eliminate workforce shortages and extend quality care to every corner of rural Arkansas. Under Kuttenkuler’s visionary leadership, the Academy will accelerate its early achievements – deepening collaborations with hospitals, clinics, colleges and employers to cultivate a thriving pipeline of skilled professionals – essential to the health, resilience, and economic vitality of Arkansas’s rural communities.