IUP Executive Named Appalachian Leadership Fellow
Dr. Christina Koren is one of three Pennsylvania fellows chosen for the eight-month Appalachian Leadership Institute program.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in People
Dr. Christina Koren, executive director of Strategic Partnerships and External Affairs at IUP, has been selected as a fellow of the Appalachian Leadership Institute. She is one of three ALI Fellows from Pennsylvania.
Why it matters
The fellowship focuses on economic and community development across the Appalachian Region, which spans 13 states. Selection gives Pennsylvania participants a direct role in shaping regional development strategies.
The Appalachian Leadership Institute fellowship runs eight months and includes six multi-day seminars held across the region. Only three of the selected fellows come from Pennsylvania, and the total fellowship cohort size was not provided.
The players
Christina Koren
Dr. Christina Koren is executive director of Strategic Partnerships and External Affairs at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Jennifer DeAngelo
Jennifer DeAngelo is Vice President for University Advancement at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
The details
The fellowship builds economic and community development strategies and integrates local assets into regional development plans. IUP's Vice President for University Advancement, Jennifer DeAngelo, is part of the institution's advancement leadership.
Timeline
The announcement of Koren's fellowship selection was published on November 5, 2026.
Regional Leadership Pipeline
The Appalachian Leadership Institute develops leaders who build economic and community development strategies across the 13-state Appalachian Region. Pennsylvania's three selected fellows extend that regional pipeline into the state's public universities.
For Pennsylvania residents, the fellowship means regional economic and community development efforts will include voices from the state's universities. Readers working in Appalachian communities may see new partnerships emerge from fellows' projects over the eight-month program.
The takeaway
Leadership programs like the Appalachian Leadership Institute tie university staff to regional economic planning. Watch for how Pennsylvania's three fellows apply their training to local development work.
Further reading
Explore more People coverage to see other leadership appointments and selections.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WCCS AM1160 & 101.1FM.
