John Gruidl, Ph.D.

Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs

John Gruidl, Ph.D.

Adjunct Professor of Economics
PhD, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Applied Economics

John Gruidl is passionate about creating new learning opportunities for students, community leaders, and community development practitioners.

From 1994-2005, he started and directed the award-winning Peace Corps Fellows Program, a community-based internship program for returned Peace Corps Volunteers. He also started the Midwest Community Development Institute, one of four sites in the country that provides intensive training and certification for community developers.

Gruidl is particularly excited about the Master in Community and Economic Development program as a wonderful opportunity for in-depth learning among practitioners and faculty with varied experiences. He is widely published in the field of community and economic development.

In addition to working with communities in Illinois, he has worked on projects in Kentucky, Missouri, Mexico, Northern Ireland, and Scotland. In 2007, Gruidl received the Community Development Achievement Award from the Community Development Society for his innovative contributions to the field.

Gruidl has taught Economics at St. Olaf College and Macalester College. He also helped develop new programming regarding community response to climate change at the Department of Community Development, University of Minnesota - Extension.