AscendRural Welcomes Jose Alba as Director of Community Engagement

AscendRural is thrilled to announce that Jose Alba has joined AscendRural as its new Director of Community Engagement.

Jose brings a distinguished background in rural healthcare leadership and community engagement. Most recently, he served as President of CentraCare – Long Prairie, overseeing a fully integrated healthcare campus that included a critical access hospital, rural health clinic, and family medicine practice. Under his leadership, the campus achieved its highest-ever employee engagement scores and earned recognition as a Lown Institute “Top 30 Socially Responsible Hospital.”

Prior to CentraCare, Jose held senior leadership roles at Astera Health, where he helped design a multimillion-dollar, next-generation rural health center and championed innovative models of outpatient care. His leadership has consistently delivered measurable results through expanding patient access, improving satisfaction, and strengthening workforce development and retention.

“Jose’s impressive background in rural healthcare will be a tremendous asset to AscendRural,” said Melissa Kjolsing, Managing Director of AscendRural. “Rural hospitals are more than healthcare providers. They are anchors of community well-being. They create access to care, sustain local economies, and serve as gathering places where trust and connection are built.”

Jose’s commitment to rural vitality extends well beyond his professional career. He has served on numerous boards, including Rural Minnesota CEP, the Minnesota State Foundation, and the United Way of Ottertail and Wadena Counties, and has been active in local Rotary and Lions organizations. His leadership reflects a deep belief in the power of community-driven solutions to advance health and opportunity.

“I believe the strength of rural communities lies in their people, their resilience, creativity, and shared commitment to one another,” Jose shared. “I’m excited to join AscendRural and to help lift up local voices so that solutions are designed with, not for, rural America.”

In his new role, Jose will lead AscendRural’s efforts to build and strengthen relationships with communities nationwide, ensuring that local perspectives shape innovation and that AscendRural’s work reflects the values, strengths, and aspirations of rural America.