ACSRC People

Clark Banack

Director

Dr. Clark Banack is the Director of the Alberta Centre for Sustainable Rural Communities and an Adjunct 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 (forthcoming in 2023 with the University of Toronto Press), and the co-editor of Building Inclusive Communities in Rural Canada (forthcoming in 2023 with the University of Alberta Press).  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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Kate McConnell

Coordinator

Kate is the Program Coordinator for the ACSRC, in addition to Special Initiatives Coordinator for the University of Alberta - Augustana Campus.  She holds a B.A. Major in Drama, Minor in Fine Arts from Bishop's University and a graduate certificate in Arts Administration and Cultural Management from Humber College.  Prior to the U of A, Kate's experience has primarily been in the arts sector, with an emphasis on communications, governance, organizational development, and strategic planning. Since 2021, she has been working with Clark to ensure the success of the ACSRC and its initiatives.

 

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

Demetres P. Tryphonopoulos, PhD (Dean & Executive Officer, Augustana Campus)

Stanford Blade, 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)

Brent Swallow, PhD (Professor, Faculty of Agriculture Life and Environmental Sciences)

Ian Wilson, PhD (Director of the Chester Ronning Centre, Assistant Professor, Religious Studies, Augustana Campus)

Advisory Council

Gerald Rhodes (Rural Municipalities of Alberta - RMA)

Cathy Goulet (Northern Alberta Development Council)

Arnold Hansen (Battle River Alliance for Economic Development)

Patricia MacQuarrie (City of Camrose)