Elizabeth Russell
Associate Professor
B.A. (Hons.), M.Sc., Ph.D. (Memorial University)
Office: LHS DNA C115
Phone: 705-748-1011 ext. 7867
Email: elizabethrussell@trentu.ca
- Open to accepting Graduate students.
Research interests:
Dr. Elizabeth Russell is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology. She is a past Director of the Trent Centre on Aging & Society and created and supervises students in the MA in Interdisciplinary Aging Studies graduate program. She teaches courses on the Psychology of Aging, Qualitative Research Methods, and Knowledge Mobilization, and she supervises undergraduate and graduate students studying (primarily) rural aging and intergenerational connections. Dr. Russell created a novel Intergenerational Psychology of Aging course, which will run again in Winter, 2026 (in PSYC 3550H). Her research takes a collaborative, interdisciplinary, and community-based approach to studying diverse aging topics focused within rural communities, including the sustainability of rural age-friendly community programs, intergenerational connections, and housing alternatives for older adults. Dr. Russell was selected as an inaugural Trent University 2022 Early Career Researcher Award recipient, and as a co-primary investigator of the Rural Aging Research Program, the impact of her collaborative research was recognized with the awarding of the inaugural Trent University Research Impact Award in 2021. In 2023, Elizabeth was awarded a Trent Teaching Fellowship and Trent’s prestigious Symons Award for Excellence in Teaching. Her career goal is to support the development of an Intergenerational Trent University.
For detailed information on Elizabeth’s research program, please visit: https://www.trentu.ca/ruralaging
For information on the Trent Centre for Aging & Society, please visit: https://www.trentu.ca/aging/
Selected publications:
Wells, T., & Russell, E. (2025). Challenging ageism and supporting equity through an intergenerational classroom: Project report. Trent University.
Wells, T., & Russell, E. (2025). Developing and implementing an intergenerational classroom: Pedagogical toolkit. Trent University.
Snowden, E., Zapletal, A., Skinner, M, & Russell, E. (2025) Rural older voluntarism during the COVID-19 pandemic. Final project report. Trent University.
Russell, E. (2024). Rural places and aging: Between aging in place and stuck in place. In M. Cutchin & G. Rowles (eds.), Handbook on Aging and Place (277–292). Edward Elgar. ISBN: 9781802209776
Heins, A., Russell, E., & Wells, T. (2024). Intergenerational classroom at Trent University – video series and key video. Trent Centre for Aging & Society.
Wells, T., & Russell, E. (2024). “I’ve got a lot of other things I do”: The nuances of digital engagement among older people. Canadian Journal on Aging. 10.1017/S0714980824000266
Zapletal, A., Wells, T., Russell, E., Skinner, M., & (2023). On the triple exclusion of older adults during COVID-19: Technology, digital literacy and social isolation. Social Sciences and Humanities Open, 8(1), 100511. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2023.100511
Russell, E. Thériault, É., & Colibaba, A. (2022). Facilitating age-conscious student development through lecture-based courses on aging. Canadian Journal on Aging, 41(2). https://doi.org/10.1017/S0714980821000246
Russell, E. (2022). Knowledge Mobilization Video: Housing alternatives for older Canadians: Abbeyfield House Society of Lakefield. Trent Centre for Aging & Society Knowledge Mobilization Hub.
Russell, E. (2022). Knowledge Mobilization Video: Seniors in Motion. TCAS Knowledge Mobilization Hub.
Russell, E., Skinner, M. W., & Colibaba, A. (2021). Did we expect too much of rural age-friendly initiatives? Studying the scope and sustainability of a rural Canadian age-friendly program. The Journal of Rural and Community Development, 16(2), 208–231.
Russell, E. (2021). Teaching university students to be ‘age-conscious’ could help address our elder care crisis. The Conversation.
Russell, E., Skinner, M. W., & Colibaba, A. (2021). Developing rural insights for building age-friendly communities. Journal of Rural Studies, 81C, 336-344. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2020.10.053
Russell, E. (2020). Knowledge Mobilization 3-Part Video Series: Aging during COVID-19. Trent Centre for Aging & Society Knowledge Mobilization Hub.
Russell, E., Skinner, M., & Fowler, K. (2019). Emergent challenges and opportunities to sustaining age-friendly initiatives: Qualitative findings from a Canadian age-friendly funding program. Journal of Aging and Social Policy, 34(2). 198-217. https://doi.org/10.1080/08959420.2019.1636595