The CSCA Executive Council and the ASA Executive Leadership Team invites everyone to a special meeting, held in Hamilton and accessible online.
CSCA & ASA Together
The CSCA Executive Council and the ASA Executive Leadership Team invites everyone to a special meeting, held in Hamilton and accessible online. We will have presentations from both CSCA and ASA leadership, including a talk connecting forestry policy and cross-border relations, and a formal launch of the CSCA Legacy Campaign, which seeks to expand our reach to all Canadian university campuses to inspire fruitful conversations around science and Christianity and encourage local fellowship and networking opportunities from coast to coast.
The CSCA Executive Council at the 2025 annual meeting of the American Scientific Affiliation near Denver, CO.
AGM Schedule (EDT/UTC-4)
- 12:00 pm – Light Lunch
- 1:00 pm – Talk by Janel Curry
- 1:35 pm – Annual General Meeting (AGM) with required membership votes.
- Members will receive the agenda and materials at least one week ahead of time.
- 1:50 pm – CSCA Legacy Campaign Launch: Vicki Best & Arnold Sikkema
- 2:20 pm – Meeting Ends, and transitions to fellowship and networking (both in-person and online)
Canadian & US Forestry Policy: What It Teaches Us About Why the ASA Needs the CSCA
In spite of their many similarities in resources, cultural, and historic settlement, the institutional structures that frame Canadian and U.S. natural resource policy have subtle but significant differences. A comparison of forest policy development in both countries aids in illuminating these differences while providing a lesson on why the ASA needs the CSCA.
Janel Curry obtained her PhD in geography from the University of Minnesota. She taught at Central College in Pella, IA and at Calvin University in Grand Rapids, MI in the areas of geography and environmental studies. Her areas of research have included environmental policy, religious worldviews and the environment, and women in leadership. This research has led to over 40 peer-reviewed publications. In addition, she has held three Fulbright Fellowships to the University of Guelph, Ontario; City University of Hong Kong; and most recently, Forman Christian College in Lahore, Pakistan. Besides her scholarly interests, Janel has held several administrative roles including being dean for research and scholarship at Calvin College and provost at Gordon College. She has two married daughters, both of whom point out that they all watched Nova together on Tuesday nights when they were growing up.
Arnold Sikkema is Professor of Physics and Chair of the Mathematical Sciences Department at Trinity Western University in Langley, BC. A theoretical physicist with a background in general relativity and condensed matter theory, his current research focuses on theoretical biophysics and the Christian philosophy of science, particularly the relationship between physics and biology. Arnold has been involved in Christian higher education since 1997 and joined the CSCA Executive Council in 2011, becoming Executive Director in 2018. He holds a BSc from the University of Waterloo and a PhD from the University of British Columbia. Originally from Ontario, Arnold has called British Columbia home since 1991, apart from eight years in the United States. He and his wife Valerie have three adult children, all of whom studied at Trinity Western University.
Vicki Best joined the ASA in 2012 as Financial Manager, becoming Director of Operations and Development in 2016 and Executive Vice President in 2022. She brings extensive experience in accounting, finance, real estate management, institutional advancement, and nonprofit leadership. Before joining the ASA, Vicki spent 16 years as CFO of Covenant Christian Academy (CCA) and 23 years as Treasurer of First Congregational Church in Hamilton. She continues to serve CCA as Property Manager and Tax Consultant and provides leadership to several faith-based organizations. Vicki also serves on the Wazee Foundation board, Gordon College’s Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership advisory council, and as an elder at her church. She teaches as an adjunct professor at Gordon College and holds degrees from Gordon College and Biola University.