I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. John Parkins as dean of Augustana Faculty and executive officer of Augustana Campus, effective July 1, 2024.
John is currently serving as chair of the Department of Resource Economics and Environmental Sociology with the Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences. As chair, John has built strong relationships through his collaborative approach with colleagues and the community and is an exemplary, forward-thinking leader. He is deeply committed to Indigenization and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.
John is actively involved in the community. He is serving a two-year appointment as executive secretary for the International Association for Society and Natural Resources. Since 2017, he has been an editorial board member of Society & Natural Resources, an international journal, and a board member of the Alberta Emerald Foundation since 2022.
An environmental sociology professor, John joined the U of A in 2007 after a decade of Canadian Forest Service experience. His research and teaching career has focused on many aspects of rural and community development, sustainable rural livelihoods and the complex relationship between industry development and community development. John is a proud graduate, earning a master of science from the U of A in 1987 and a PhD in sociology in 2004.
I want to thank Dr. Demetres Tryphonopoulos for his tremendous contributions during his five-year term as dean of Augustana Faculty and executive officer of Augustana Campus. His innovative and collaborative strengths have been integral to Augustana’s growth and successes. He helped develop and implement an ambitious vision for Augustana with the 2020-2025 Strategic Academic Plan. His tenure as dean saw the revival of the rehabilitation medicine master’s program on campus, the development of a two-year elementary education program with the Faculty of Education, and the launch of the Hesje Observatory. He also led innovative program and degree changes to provide better opportunities for students to gain transferrable skills and real-world experience.
Among his many additional contributions, he welcomed Augustana’s first Canada Research Chair and was instrumental in helping the campus navigate the transition to online learning during COVID-19. I am also grateful for his commitment as an engaged and constructive member of the larger university community through his work on committees and institutional initiatives.
Beginning July 1, Demetres will begin an administrative leave.
I also want to thank the faculty dean selection committee for their dedication to this process that began in September 2023.
Verna Yiu
Provost and Vice-president (Academic)