Chelsea Hunter

Chelsea Hunter is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of North Texas. Her work focuses on environmental management, marine conservation, and Indigenous sovereignty. She holds a PhD from The Ohio State University and has served as a Knauss Marine Policy Fellow with NOAA, contributing to federal fisheries legislation. She currently chairs the Fisheries and Coastal Communities Topical Interest Group for the Society for Applied Anthropology.

• Education: PhD (2024, Anthropology, Ohio State University), MA (2017, Applied Anthropology, San Diego State University), BA (2013, Anthropology, Portland State University)

Research Interests: She examines social-ecological systems through collaborative management frameworks, disaster recovery (e.g., post-2015 Nepal earthquakes), and West African pastoralist demography. Methodologies include qualitative/quantitative analysis and agent-based modeling.

• Awards: Distinguished University Fellow, Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship

Professional Roles: Active in policy advocacy and academic leadership, with experience bridging Indigenous sovereignty and environmental governance in the South Pacific.