Ryan Benally
Home and Community
Extension Assistant Professor | Home and Community | 4-H & Youth | San Juan County
Educational Background
Licensures & Certifications
Expertise
Community Health work, Health Wellness, Health Equity, Community Developments
Biography
Ryan Benally is an Assistant Professor with Utah State University Extension, focusing on community health, rural and tribal outreach, youth development, and workforce training across San Juan County.
Teaching Interests
Community Health Worker Certification, SNAP-Ed nutrition education, youth leadership development, college and career readiness, workforce preparation, and community-based health education through Utah State University Extension.
Research Interests
Community Health Worker workforce development
Rural and tribal health education
Youth health, nutrition, and prevention
Program evaluation and community-engaged scholarship
Awards
Belonging and Inclusion Award, 2025
Utah Association of Extension 4-H Youth Development Professionals – Utah State University Extension
Diversity Program Award (3rd Place Team), 2024
Utah Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences
Supervisor of the Year – Create Better Health, 2024
Utah State University Extension
County of the Year (Create Better Health - San Juan), 2023
Utah State University Extension
Publications | Journal Articles
Academic Journal
- Romney, K., Wille, C., Velasco Burgos, M.J, Benally, R., (2025). Pathways to Higher Education: Expanding College and Career Access for Rural Youth. Outcomes and Impact Quarterly, 5:3, doi: 10.59620/2995-2220.1106
An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.
Publications | Other
An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.