Dr. Karen Chapple

Biography

Karen Chapple, Ph.D., is the Director of the School of Cities at the University of Toronto and a Professor in the Department of Geography and Planning. She previously served as Professor Emerita in City & Regional Planning at the University of California, Berkeley, where she held the Carmel P. Friesen Chair in Urban Studies and was department chair. Chapple's research focuses on economic development, housing inequalities, and governance in urban settings, particularly in the U.S. and Latin America. She has authored significant publications, including "Planning Sustainable Cities and Regions: Equitable Development," which won the John Friedmann Book Award. In addition, she co-founded the Urban Displacement Project, a portal examining displacement patterns and policy solutions. Her research has addressed a wide array of topics including gentrification, climate change, and economic resilience. Chapple is a recipient of various honors, including the UC-Berkeley Chancellor’s Award for Research in the Public Interest and the Fulbright Global Scholar Award.

Research Interests