Sustainable Rural Development

Mary Emery focuses on rural and community development including using the Community Capitals Framework (CCF) in evaluation, research on community change, and program planning. She coordinates the Great Plains IDEA transdisciplinary multi-university distance degree in Community Development and is Department Head for Sociology and Rural Studies South Dakota State University.


Isabel Gutierrez-Montes is a Colombian Biologist, MSc. in natural resources and Ph.D. in Rural Sociology, who works in Mesoamerica using the CCF as a diagnostic and planning tool in landscape management, assessment of vulnerability, implementation of farmer field schools, and socio-environmental educational programs. Currently, she is the leader of the Mesoamerican Agroenvironmental Program, and Coordinator of the Masters of Development Program at CATIE, Costa Rica.


Edith Fernandez-Baca is a Peruvian DVM with a Ph.D. in Rural Sociology. Her focus is on using CCF in social and ecosystem adaptation to climate change, PAR, gender and inclusion in Andes Countries. Currently, she is the National Coordinator for Peru of the Mountain Ecosystems Based Adaptation Program at UNDP.