Dr. Catherine Chambers is the acting director of the master’s program in Coastal Communities and Regional Development. Dr. Chambers is the director of the Coastal and Marine Management masters program.

She holds a PhD from University of Alaska Fairbanks, a master degree in Zoology from University of Southern Illinois and a bachelor degree from Drake University in Environmental Science. Her PhD dissertation was entitled "Fisheries management and fishing livelihoods in Iceland" and was part of the US National Science Foundation “Marine Ecosystem Sustainability in the Arctic and Subarctic” interdisciplinary training program.

Catherine Chambers’ research interests include fisheries management, coastal communities, and Arctic social-ecological systems. Her recent publications include “Thirty years after privatization: A survey of Icelandic small-boat fishermen,” “Community, change and conflict in Icelandic fisheries,” and earlier publications are on biology/zoology. She has also published a paper outlining a new guideline for teaching concepts of sustainability and interdisciplinary for University level courses.

The Program Director in Coastal Communities and Regional Development has the following roles:

• Professional oversight over the master’s program, administration and co-ordination of the curriculum
• Contact between the Master's program committee, University Centre staff, teachers and students in Coastal Communities and Regional Development
• Recommend new teachers, instructors, and thesis advisors to the master’s committee
• Facilitate cooperation, foster a network around the program and be of an assistance to teachers if needed
• Answer or correctly forward all questions relating to professional aspects of the master’s program
• Keep track of students’ academic progress, both in courses and when working on their theses
• Take responsibility for thesis assessments, including presentations (lectures) and defenses