2026 Brings New Spaces and New Faces to RHAU

January 5, 2026 | St. George, Utah — The Rural Health Association of Utah (RHAU) is pleased to announce an exciting new chapter as the organization moves into a larger office space at University Plaza at Utah Tech University. RHAU will continue its valued partnership with Utah Tech while now joining the University of Utah School of Medicine’s Southern Utah Regional Medical Campus team within the University Plaza buildings.

“Our new location provides the space we need to grow, collaborate, and plan for the future,” said Kasey Shakespear, Executive Director of RHAU. “This move is a significant milestone for our organization. We are incredibly grateful to Dr. Michelle Hofmann and the University of Utah School of Medicine team for the partnership and the opportunity to be housed alongside their Southern Utah campus.”

The expanded office offers multiple workspaces and capacity for a growing team—an important development as RHAU continues to broaden its reach and impact across rural Utah. This growth coincides with the addition of two Spring 2026 interns, further strengthening RHAU’s capacity.

Emma Johnson will join RHAU focusing on advocacy initiatives and supporting a National Rural Health Association grant aimed at expanding RHAU’s advocacy efforts. Emma is a senior in Utah Tech’s Population Health Program and grew up in Mantua, Utah.

Drake Fowers will support improvements to the RHAU Health Resource Database, assist with general operations, and contribute to planning for the 2026 RHAU Tech Summit. Drake is also a senior in Utah Tech’s Population Health Program and is originally from Rupert, Idaho.

“We couldn’t be happier to welcome Emma and Drake to the RHAU team,” added Shakespear. “Both supported our 2025 Annual RHAU Conference as part of their Utah Tech capstone course and made significant contributions to the success of the conference and golf tournament. RHAU is on the rise, and we are excited to continue expanding our team and our capacity to make an even greater impact for rural Utah.”

To learn more about the Rural Health Association of Utah and stay up to date on our work, visit www.rhau.org