SDSU Imperial Valley Professor Joins 2025 NRHA Fellowship

Shiloh Williams, an SDSU Imperial Valley assistant nursing professor, is one of 18 fellows selected to participate in the yearlong program for the National Rural Health Association.

Selected participants gain unique experiences around the health policy development process. They also will have access to key individuals who can support initiatives.

Williams said her background and experience will allow her to represent Imperial Valley well.

“What attracted me the most about NRHA is that their approach is ‘rural first,’” Williams said. “They go in depth to understand communities and create models that best work for them, regionally and nationally.”

The selected fellows come from all over the United States, including from Washington, Alabama and Texas.

Williams was born and raised in Imperial Valley, and the SDSU nursing professor hopes her perspective will help change how agencies and communities operate.

“I am excited to better understand how policy is developed and how we, as leaders, can create equitable health policies,” Williams said. “It’s often that agencies create models using data from other regions and when it’s time to apply them, it may not always resonate or work for our communities.”

The fellows will connect with NRHA leaders within the program, and fellows will often go on to serve leadership roles within NRHA or other rural health groups.

According to the NRHA, the 18 fellows are scheduled to meet in February to launch the program.