Dr. Alex Clark

President

Alex Clark (he/him) PhD RN FCAHS is a values-driven administrator, researcher, and advocate for growth-oriented academic workplaces.

A settler in Canada, originally from Scotland, he’s worked across academic departments of public health, medicine, and nursing. With a decade of experience in academic administration, from 2017, Alex was Associate Vice-President (Research) supporting health research across the University of Alberta.

He is particularly interested in academic working cultures, leadership, effectiveness, and well-being. As a writer, consultant, and educator, his work has been featured in Nature, the Guardian, University Affairs, and Times Higher Education. In 2018, he co-authored the book How to be a Happy Academic.

Alex’s research seeks to improve access and outcomes in heart disease via complexity-driven methods, theory, and design. A former career-scientist, his work has influenced health policy and practice worldwide and been published in the world’s best-known medical and health journals. He continues to be a peer-review panel chair for the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

Alex’s efforts around mentorship and development were recognized with his designation as a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader/Young Scientist and Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences. His past and current honorary and other academic appointments include: the University of Sydney, George Institute for Global Health (Australia), University College Dublin, Glasgow Caledonian University, University of Toronto, and Australian Catholic University.

Alex lives on Treaty 6 Territory in Edmonton and will have an active residence in Athabasca. He is a husband, and father to two children who are now on their own university journeys. He enjoys soccer, the visual and performing arts, reading, and travel.