Christina Koren
Christina Koren, director of Strategic Partnerships at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, has been selected to serve on the board of directors of the Center for Population Health.
The Center was developed, through funding and in collaboration with the 1889 Foundation, as a population health resource center to benefit Cambria and Somerset counties. The Center’s work focuses on opportunities around disease prevention, reducing health disparities, and improving the health of community members.
In addition, each August, CPH coordinates an annual health and human services summit for Cambria and Somerset counties, designed to bring together representatives from a variety of community-based organizations to discuss the collective work underway to address the health and human service needs identified through the Community Health Needs Assessment process.
“I look forward to partnering with fellow board members and Center staff to expand regional collaboration and harness IUP’s relationships, resources, and expertise to drive meaningful solutions to the rural health, workforce, and population health challenges facing Pennsylvania communities, particularly in our western Pennsylvania region,” Koren said.
IUP’s College of Osteopathic Medicine holds pre-accreditation status from the American Osteopathic Association’s Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation. IUP is actively recruiting and admitting students to the IUP COM, looking forward to admitting its first class of students in fall 2027. IUP’s College of Osteopathic Medicine is the only college of osteopathic medicine at a public university in Pennsylvania.
Koren has been an invited speaker and moderator for a number of state conferences related to health care and rural health. In April, she was selected to moderate a session for the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment (PHC4) Conference and was a member of the IUP team invited to present at the April Appalachian Regional Commission’s “Network Appalachia” meeting, showcasing the region’s experts on transportation, robotics, economic development, and emerging technologies.
Koren is an ambassador-at-large for the university, developing partnerships with business, nonprofit, and governmental organizations, both regionally and beyond. She is the producer of the IUP and Indiana Regional Medical Center’s Rural Health Pulse podcast, now in its fourth season; initiated the “Talon Ticket” program, a partnership with IUP, the Indiana County Chamber of Commerce, and area businesses; and is cochair of the annual IUP and IRMC Pennsylvania Mountains Rural Health Conference, now in its fifth year.
Koren has almost 20 years of experience in higher education administration. Prior to coming to IUP, she worked as the executive director of mission integration and community engagement at Mount Aloysius College, where she was selected to serve as the first director of government relations. She also serves as vice president for the Ebensburg Mainstreet Partnership and maintains an adjunct instructor role in higher education.
Additionally, she serves on the boards of Pennsylvania Downtown Center, Armstrong-Indiana Career Pathways Partnership Executive Committee, and the Indiana County Center for Economic Operations work group. Pennsylvania Business Central recognized Koren on its “Foremost Under 40” list in 2024 and among its Top 100 People in 2023.
She earned her bachelor’s degree at St. Vincent College, her MBA at Waynesburg University, and her doctoral degree in administration and leadership studies at IUP.
IUP is one of only two public universities in the commonwealth ranked as an R2 Doctoral University–High Research Activity (R2) by the National Center for Postsecondary Research’s Carnegie Classification, and is one of only 20 Pennsylvania public universities selected for the Carnegie Foundation-American Council on Education’s “Opportunity College and University-Higher Access, Higher Earnings” designation.
Since its founding in 1875, IUP has evolved from a teacher-training institution into a doctoral research university recognized for its commitment to student success and achievement. IUP’s Impact 150 comprehensive campaign is designed to honor a legacy of educational excellence while looking toward a future of innovation, public service, and leadership in healthcare education, including the first college of osteopathic medicine at a public university in the Commonwealth.