ACSRC People

Clark Banack

Director

Clark Banack, PhD is the Director of the Alberta Centre for Sustainable Rural Communities and an Assistant Professor of Political Studies at the Augustana Campus of the University of Alberta.  Clark is the author of God’s Province: Evangelical Christianity, Political Thought, and Conservatism in Alberta (McGill-Queen’s University Press), the co-author of Faith, Rights, and Choice: The Politics of Religious Schools in Canada (2023), and the co-editor of Building Inclusive Communities in Rural Canada (2023).  He has also authored several academic articles and book chapters related to Alberta politics, rural issues, religion and politics, education policy, and populism in Canada.

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Carole Preston

Coordinator

Carole is the Program Coordinator for the ACSRC.  She holds a B.A. Major in Psychology and Concentration in Rural Development.  She is also a Professional Canadian Art Therapist with a studio in rural Alberta.  Within this role, Carole combines her passion for weaving the arts into sustainable rural communities from the mental health of community members to the vibrancy of our public places.  She is also adept in administration, communications and event planning. She works with Clark to ensure the success of the ACSRC and its initiatives.

Rebecca Purc-Stephenson

Professor (Psychology) 

Rebecca Purc-Stephenson, PhD., is an Applied Social Psychologist and professor at the Augustana Campus. Working collaboratively with industry experts, community members, and healthcare providers, she and a team of undergraduate students study the stressors and resilience of those living in rural and farming communities, turning research into practical programs and resources that support their mental health and well-being. She is the lead researcher of the Agricultural Well-being in Alberta (AgWellAB) program and a co-founder of AgKnow, the Alberta Farm Mental Health Network.

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Glen Hvenegaard

Professor, Augustana - Sciences 

Glen Hvenegaard, PhD, is a Professor of Environmental Science at the University of Alberta’s
Augustana Campus. He explores the connections between people and nature by researching
environmental interpretation, parks, birds, nature-based tourism, and rural sustainability. He is
co-author or co-editor of Frank Farley and the Birds of Alberta (2025), Parks and Protected
Areas: Mobilizing Knowledge for Effective Decision-Making (2021), Tourism and Visitor
Management in Protected Areas: Guidelines for Sustainability (2018), and Taking the Next
Steps: Sustainability Planning and Collaboration in Rural Canada (2016).

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John Parkins

Professor, REES - Environmental Sociology

John Parkins', PhD, research covers a range of topics in rural sociology, natural resource sociology, the sociology of agriculture and social impact assessment. His current research project Energy Transitions in Canada explores the social, cultural and ethical dimensions of a changing energy landscape.  The project includes detailed cases on wind energy in Alberta and emerging areas of focus on the role of co-operatives for renewable energy development in Canada. 

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Serena Isley

Research Associate

Serena Isley, MSc., is a Research Associate for the ACSRC. She is an Augustana alumnus, where she completed her BSc in Biology and Psychology, and holds an MSc in Medicine from the University of Alberta (2024). With experience in clinical research, Serena has contributed to numerous papers and reviews related to mental health and rural initiatives, including investigating the impacts of programs like Men Sheds on mental health in rural communities through the ACSRC (2022). Originally from a rural region, Serena is deeply committed to enhancing the sustainability and longevity of rural communities through research and innovative solutions.