Community Advisory Board

The Hormel Institute Community Advisory Board consists of nine board members. The board provides recommendations and actions related to community engagement and educational opportunities in Mower County and Southeastern Minnesota related to the biomedical research, training and education happening at the Institute. The board helps monitor the effectiveness of authentic community engagement approaches and current community outreach and education activities through the Institute. 

Board members include: Chair Oballa Oballa; Chris Weis, Mower County Public Health; Sara Lee, Mayo Clinic; Dewey Schara, Austin Public Schools; Sara Salas-Ramirez, Parenting Resource Center; Laura Helle, Austin Arts; Trish Harren, Mower County; Jessica Vazquez, Mower County Extension; Catherine Haslag, Riverland Community College and Science Fair Mentoring; and Mary Nelson, Freeborn Mower Electric Cooperative.

If you are interested in learning more about The Hormel Institute Community Advisory Board contact, kelly521@umn.edu