Catherine de Boer

Dr. Catherine de Boer is an Associate Professor in the School of Social Work at Memorial University of Newfoundland, where she chairs the MSW Program. She holds a PhD in Social Work from Laurier University, along with multiple advanced degrees in Social Work, Theology, and Arts. Her academic career includes teaching at institutions like Renison University College and Laurier University, with expertise in blended learning formats and direct practice methodologies. Her research focuses on identity transformation, disengagement, narrative therapy, disability policy, and military-civilian transitions. Notably, she contributed to a 7-year SSHRC grant on disability policy and served as a Visiting Professor at Anglia Ruskin University's Veterans and Families Institute.

Education:

• PhD in Social Work, Laurier University
• Master of Theological Studies, Laurier University
• Master of Social Work, Laurier University
• Master of Arts, University of Toronto
• Bachelor of Social Work, King’s College (University of Western Ontario)

Her community engagement includes co-designing the Right Here, Right Now Drop-In Counselling Program—a feminist, narrative trauma-informed service for women—funded by Bell Let’s Talk and provincial grants. Dr. de Boer also maintains a private practice in downtown St. John’s, emphasizing trauma-informed and systems approaches.

Research Trends: Her articles analyze veteran well-being, policy impacts on disability, and educational strategies in social work. Themes of identity, systemic barriers, and narrative methodologies recur across her work.

Grants & Advising: She led evaluations for the Right Here program and contributed to national disability policy research. No formal advisee list is provided in the text.

Labs/Teams: Collaborates with the Veterans Affairs Canada research network and the Newfoundland disability policy cluster.