Meet the 2026 RUX cohort!
We are excited to welcome back 22 Kentuckians to the RUX Leadership Cohort this year.
These Kentuckians represent the arts, agriculture, community development, education, government, philanthropy, environment, health, and small business across 18 Kentucky counties: Campbell, Calloway, Clark, Fayette, Fulton, Franklin, Harlan, Henry, Jefferson, Jessamine, Knott, Madison, McCracken, Muhlenberg, Rowan, Taylor, Trimble, and Wolfe.
They will become the 10th cohort to complete the RUX leadership program-- a nationally celebrated model for bridging difference and building civic capacity from the ground up.
Since 2014, the Kentucky Rural-Urban Exchange (RUX) has worked with 18 communities across every Kentucky region to facilitate over 100 community conversations about KY’s opportunities and challenges. We've worked with 200+ partners to train, connect, and resource more than 500 Kentuckians. Together, we tell a story of Kentucky's innovation, resilience, and rich sense of place.
This year's cohort will share a unique RUX experience: as rising second-year fellows, they'll be the first class to be trained as facilitators of our Currency of Connection curriculum. Upon graduation, they'll have a shot at funding to apply this work in their home communities.
Class of 2026
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I’m Angel Ballew, and my career has been a winding road through education, sales, agriculture, and federal grant management—but every step has shaped the leader I am today. I started out as an elementary school teacher, where I learned how to communicate, collaborate, and think on my feet. Then, I took a leap into Inside Sales at Curriculum Associates, which introduced me to the fast-paced, results-driven world of business. That experience sharpened my skills in project planning and attention to detail—something I’ve carried into every role since. In 2019, I returned home to Kentucky and got deep into the family farm business, managing everything from vegetable production to alfalfa hay and soybeans. Running a farm teaches you resilience, adaptability, and strategic planning—lessons that translate well into leadership. Alongside that, I’ve spent years working in federal grant funding at the Kentucky Housing Corporation, overseeing grant allocations and working closely with housing counseling teams. That role strengthened my ability to listen actively, manage conflict, and communicate effectively across different sectors. Now, I combine my passion for agriculture and business by supporting farmers with agribusiness coaching, technical assistance, and soil health advising. With over a decade of experience in compliance, grant funding, accounting, and networking, I love helping farmers navigate the ins and outs of building sustainable, thriving operations. That’s why I’m excited to be part of RUX—to grow my leadership and communication skills so I can better serve my community. Looking forward to connecting with you all!
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Melissa Benson (she/her) hails from Jessamine County. She is a project manager in the healthcare IT industry and doctoral candidate at the University of Kentucky. She is also an alum of Berea College and University of the Cumberlands. In 2022, Andy Beshear awarded her the honorable title of Kentucky Colonel for her work with LGBTQ youth of Kentucky as a co-founder of Camp Beacon where she is now the Board Chair. Melissa is also a member of the Kyndred Collective and on the advisory board for Partnership for a Resilient Kentucky. Melissa is also a poet and her work has been featured in Discarded: A Rural Anthology and Mountain Movement Magazine. She enjoys traveling, kayaking, and time with her husband and daughter.
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Lacy has an extensive work history in management in both the corporate world and in the non-profit sector. She, her husband of seventeen years, and two children (ages 13 and 16) are active in the community and her children attend the Paducah city schools. Lacy is a member of Rotary International, has served as the Paducah Middle 6th grade girls’ basketball team coach, she’s a member and Deacon at Immanuel Baptist Church She was recently featured in Vue Magazine’s “40 Under 40.” Lacy is known for her clever sense of humor and she may have dressed up as Dolly a time or two. Lacy likes things from the heart and finds her daily interactions with people to be the most meaningful to her. When she was asked why she desired to move from a higher-income corporate management position to a boots-on-the-ground, not-exactly-rolling-in-the-riches Executive Director position at a non-profit, she said: “I’ve always been intrigued by the inner workings of a community and the people living in them. In retail management, however, I often felt detached from the communities we served. It’s never been about the money for me, just the path and following that often soft (sometimes loud) inner voice that leads the way. The conviction and calling I have to serve make it difficult for me to work in arenas where people come second. To me, the people — and helping others find their path — should always be first. This is the big picture for me, not a means to it. Each experience and place I’ve been seems to build perfectly to PCM.”
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John Bowman is originally from Georgetown, Ky. John now lives in Louisa in Eastern Ky. John is an individual with a profound journey of personal transformation. Having overcome 24 years of substance use, he marked a significant turning point on October 12, 2018, when he embraced a life of recovery. This milestone led him to dedicated service in recovery and criminal justice reform. John is the Kentucky Senior Campaign Organizer for Dream.Org, a nationally renowned nonprofit organization that champions the cause of criminal justice reform. His role involves reshaping drug policies in Kentucky, and he does so by actively engaging with directly impacted individuals, harm reduction specialists, law enforcement agencies, the business community, and the faith community. John's extraordinary journey from addiction to becoming an advocate for change exemplifies his resilience, compassion, and unwavering commitment to making a lasting impact on society. His work in recovery and criminal justice reform is a testament to his dedication and his invaluable contributions to shaping a better future for his community and beyond.
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A graduate of Spalding University with a bachelor’s in Natural Sciences, I’m rooted in Kentucky life, from growing up in Louisville to building a homestead in Henry County. My work has included community service, corrections, and farming, all shaped by hands-on experience and real-life learning. I’m currently a Generation Shaper or stay-at-home mom, focused on raising my family while investing in a stronger local community that my children will want to stay connected to. I believe in showing up, doing the work, and leading with intention, resilience, and purpose.
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I’m a mother. A maker, artist, risk-taker. A nurturer, grower, builder. A problem-solver. A pragmatic dreamer - finding where I fit. Raised in Ohio, I spent my young adult life in Cincinnati and working transiently. In 2020, I relocated to Morgan County to grow my family. Beauty, future generations, and resourcefulness influence my life choices. I enjoy growing and preserving food, creating, learning from the natural world, connecting with others, and acquiring new knowledge. I’m hopeful to witness how others are improving complex situations while holding true to their core values, being of service, and supporting themselves and their families.
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Megan Falce is a lifelong Kentuckian and resident of Harlan County. She holds a B.A. in General Studies and certificate in Social Intelligence and Communication from Eastern Kentucky University and is a certified Environmental Educator through KEEC and KY Master Naturalist. After nearly a decade of environmental and cultural education work in Harlan County at Kingdom Come State Park and Pine Mountain Settlement School, Megan joined Kentucky Natural Lands Trust as Outreach Coordinator for Harlan, Letcher and Bell Counties in 2024. In her free time, she enjoys being outdoors, spending time with her family, and attending live music.
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I am passionate about people, place, animals, sustainability, equity, curiosity, and creativity. I love to travel, to nest, to build community, to grow and raise my own food, to walk in the woods, to make something from nothing, to rock climb, and snuggle with my family. I am a musician in The Handshake Deals - playing accordion, bass, drums, write and sing. I work for KWA to protect, restore and celebrate waterways of Kentucky. I co-own Turtle Farm Pottery with my husband in the RRG, KY. I like to lead by example and I want to make a positive impact on the world.
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My name is Ayla Hargis, and I am a Warren County native who moved to the Adair/Taylor County area in 2013. After working several years in the nursing field with my CNA license, I decided I needed to go back to school. I chose social work and started my college career off at Somerset Community College when my daughter turned one year old. I transferred and was accepted into the Campbellsville University’s Carver School of Social Work program in 2017, where I received my Bachelor’s in Social Work in 2018. While obtaining my bachelor’s degree at Campbellsville, I was the first online student to receive the “Outstanding Social Work Student” award and in 2025 I received the Judy Cox servant leader award from the Taylor County Chamber. Immediately after graduating with my BSW, I was quickly accepted into the Master of Social Work program and graduated in 2019 with my MSW. I started at Green River Ministries Homeless Shelter in 2018 as a practicum student and advanced into the Executive Director position in 2019 where I currently still work. In March 2025 I began working as an AmeriCorps Vista worker and am excited to serve underserved communities. I also serve on several boards throughout the community including the Cumberlands Workforce Development Board, Taylor County Leadership Committee, Taylor County Interagency, Taylor Co. Middle School Advisory Council, Salvation Army, Kiwanis and Rotary among a few others. I enjoy spending time with my daughter Payten, my family and friends and have a heart to serve whenever and wherever I am able. One of my goals is to help restore hope to those who may have lost it and remind them and others that God loves them no matter where they are in life.
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I am a community volunteer and member of the Frankfort Independent School Board. Since 2001, I've worked with Chef Ouita Michel and the Holly Hill family, first in restaurant and events management and now as content manager and writer. I've been married to Tom Lowry for over 40 years. We have two grown children and two grandchildren and all of us live in downtown Frankfort. My passions are community, education, food, travel, and writing. My latest project is editing a reprint of Peytonia Cook Book for the University Press of Kentucky.
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Melissa Helton is Literary Arts Director of Hindman Settlement School. Her work has been in Shenandoah, Women of Appalachia Project, Still: The Journal, and more. Her chapbooks include Inertia: A Study, and Hewn. She is editor of the anthology Troublesome Rising: A Thousand-Year Flood in Eastern Kentucky and Untelling, the literary and arts magazine. Her work has been supported through the Kentucky Foundation for Women and has been awarded prizes in poetry and nonfiction. She taught in colleges and universities for 17 years and is a dual citizen in the UK.
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I’m Laura Kaylor, a salon owner, tourism commissioner, and community advocate in Greenville, Kentucky. I own Hello Gorgeous Salon & Spa and have spent two decades as an entrepreneur. My work focuses on marketing, placemaking, and event planning to help grow tourism and strengthen my community. I’m passionate about bridging rural and urban connections through creative projects and local initiatives, always looking for ways to bring people together and make a lasting impact.
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Jackson Kinkead brings over five years of experience leading alternative artist organizations and collectives. He is a Louisville-rooted multidisciplinary cultural worker with expertise in journalism, scenic fabrication, synthesizer and vocal performance, documentary film, alternative institutions, and event production. He serves as the Executive Director of the Woodbine Chamber.
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Carrick Moon is a partnerships officer at the pro-democracy nonprofit Protect Democracy where he works to prevent American democracy from declining into a more authoritarian form of government and build a resilient, representative democracy for all. Born and raised in Georgetown, Kentucky, he now lives in Lexington where he leads On Your Block to connect and mobilize neighbors across the city, and has co-launched The Binding Thread, a state-wide storytelling initiative centering the rich everyday connections to people and place across Kentucky. He is a 2022 graduate of Indiana University, where he co-founded the Queer Student Union and received a Kovener pedagogical research fellowship focused on the work of bell hooks.
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Mark Mozingo, a Winchester native, is the Marketing and Promotions Specialist for the UK College of Fine Arts. He is also a professional actor, director, and producer, actively working in film, television, and onstage. Previously, he was Events and Sponsorship Director for the Lexington Art League, coordinating the Woodland Art Fair. Before returning to Kentucky, he lived in New York City, performing Off-Broadway, regionally, and internationally. He co-founded and served as Associate Artistic Director of AthensWest Theatre Company. Mark holds a BFA in Acting from Wright State University and an Executive MBA from UK/UofL.
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Bethany Pelle is a Newport, Kentucky-based social practice and ceramic artist weaving together studio craftsmanship, critical inquiry, and community activism. Her practice explores autonomy, collective imagination, and radical belonging through collaborative projects. She founded Kyndred Arts & Culture (2019), an artist-led organization honoring local creativity. Initiatives include Kyndred Collective—a neuro-affirming network of neurodivergent+ Kentucky artists—and Kyndred Clay, a forthcoming community ceramics studio that will feature adaptive apprenticeship pathways for low-income, neurodivergent, and chronically ill makers. Trained as a mental health peer support specialist and trauma-sensitive mindfulness facilitator, Bethany brings a holistic, care-focused lens to her work. She is grateful for the community of support and deepening connection to place that RUX offers.
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Leah Raidt (they/she) is a trauma-informed meditation teacher, creative producer, and writer/performer based in Louisville, KY. Leah is on faculty at the Passionist Earth & Spirit Center. They have partnered with Nazareth Retreat Center, Maybeitsfate, KyGSA, KyCAD, KY Inclusive Weddings, The Sisters of Loretto and more to offer classes, workshops, poetry hours and presentations. Their award-winning short films are available for streaming on OTV. Leah’s work has been published by Queer Kentucky, kudzu jelly, new words press and Game Over Books.
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My name is Duane (or DJ), I live in Morehead. Technically a transplant that moved here as a child, I've grown to love my community and my involvement in it. I have a bachelor's in legal studies and philosophy. I worked in substance use treatment and community mental health as a case manager for about 4 years, and am now finishing up my MSW. I recent accepted a position as a local government advisor. Economic justice and structural inequity are important issues to me, as is building dynamic and inclusive communities. RUX excites me as an opportunity to build meaningful relationships, which is just about the most important thing I can think to do.
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Born and raised in Lexington, Jim Seaver now calls Frankfort home. By day, he works as the Community Engagement Coordinator for the Kentucky Historical Society. Before moving back to Kentucky in 2022, Jim spent 11 years teaching at the college level, serving on the Kentucky Governor’s Scholars Program faculty, and working as a wine educator and brand ambassador for the largest winery east of the Rockies. Jim is a historian and folklorist by training and holds degrees from the University of Kentucky and Indiana University.
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Sarah Townsend is an education leader with Marshall County Schools who is passionate about creating positive, student-centered learning environments where all children can thrive. She is committed to supporting the whole child through strong school culture, meaningful relationships, and systems that promote academic and personal success. Townsend is actively involved in initiatives that strengthen student support, family engagement, and staff collaboration. She believes every student has the potential to succeed and works each day to help students grow with confidence, character, and compassion. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family including her two grandchildren, traveling, and exploring new places.
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Leah Van Winkle is a community development leader specializing in rural capacity-building, strategic planning, and inclusive leadership. As Associate Director for Programming at Brushy Fork Leadership Institute, she co-leads the People Ready Communities Leadership Program, supporting cross-sector teams in driving economic and community development. She has guided multiple Eastern Kentucky communities in implementing revitalization projects, fostering collaboration, and securing funding for long-term impact.
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Joe is a native Kentuckian who left for a quarter of a century, returning a bit ago because it was the right thing to do. As an artist, photographer and location scout he has traversed all points throughout the US and most corners of the globe. Now, along with his native Siberian wife, Lena, two crazy dogs—Sunshine and Shadow—and a wacky cat, Billie Jo Granite, he is rediscovering home turf. He has created visual projects for the Ohio River Way, that connects people to opportunities for adventure along the 300-mile route to celebrate the unique beauty, culture and communities of the river. Joe is a founding board member of Payne Hollow on the Ohio that is dedicated to preserving the homestead, artistic legacy and land ethic of Harlan and Anna Hubbard. He is developing artistic, cultural and environmental programming at the site and knows that with RUX it will be even better!
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