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.

 

Research Fellows

 

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Rebecca Purc-Stephenson

Professor (Psychology) and Research Fellow

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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Research Associates

 

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Serena Isley

Research Associate

Serena Isley is a Research Associate for the ACSRC. She is an Augustana alumnus, where she completed her B.Sc. in Biology and Psychology, and holds an M.Sc. 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. 

 

 

Executive & Advisory Councils

The Executive and Advisory Councils are responsible for guiding the centre's mission while providing key insights, connections, and experience.

Executive Council

John R Parkins, PhD (Dean & Executive Officer, Augustana Campus)

Rickey Yada, PhD (Dean, Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences)

Debra Davidson, PhD (Professor, Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences)

Rebecca Purc-Stephenson, PhD (Professor, Faculty of Psychology, Augustana Campus)

Joseph Wiebe, PhD (Director of the Chester Ronning Centre, Associate Professor, Religion and Ecology in Ethics and Global Studies, Augustana Campus)

Advisory Council

Gerald Rhodes (Rural Municipalities of Alberta - RMA)

Cathy Goulet (Killick Leadership Group)

Arnold Hansen (Battle River Alliance for Economic Development)

Patricia MacQuarrie (City of Camrose)