Chris Chamberlain Faculty Profile

Photo of Chris Chamberlain

Chris  Chamberlain

Associate Professor, Department Chair

Department of Hospitality, Recreation and Tourism

Chris has been creating community in the recreation field since 1988 and has served on faculty in the Department of Leadership in Hospitality and Leisure Services at Cal State since 2005. He also currently works as a Program Manager for the City of San Ramon overseeing Aquatics, Teens, Summer Playground Programs and Fitness Runs. In addition Chris has served on the California Park & Recreation Society state board representing several special interest sections as well as serving as the chair of the Curriculum Advisory Committee for the HRT department. He is also a frequent speaker at local, state and national conferences on the topics of leadership and staff development, team building, risk management, and growing a part-time staff.

Chris holds a BA in Liberal Studies, a BS in Recreation Administration and a MPA in Public Management all from Cal State Hayward. He also holds a doctorate from the University of Phoenix in Organizational Leadership.

  • BA Liberal Studies; CSU East Bay
  • BS Recreation Administration; CSU East Bay
  • MPA CSU East Bay
  • DM Organizational Leadership; University of Phoenix
Spring Semester 2024
Course #SecCourse TitleDaysFromToLocationCampus
REC 30008Wellness Through LeisureARRWEB-ASYNCHOnline Campus
REC 31009Women and LeisureTTH11:00AM12:15PMAE-0142AHayward Campus

Chamberlain, C. (2011). Find your niche. Park & Rec Business, 3 (12), p. 30-31.

Chamberlain, C. (2010). Building a better lifeguard staff. Parks & Recreation, 45 (11), p. 59-61.

Chamberlain, C. & Shellito, M. T. (2010). Organizational Structure and Administrative Operations. In M. Moiseichik (Ed.), Management of Parks and Recreation Agencies (Rev. 3rd Ed.). Ashburn, VA: National Recreation and Park Association.

Chamberlain, C. (2008). 50 things you can do right now to enhance your recreation agency (Part 1). California Parks and Recreation, 64 (2), p. 48-53.

Chamberlain, C. (2008). 50 things you can do right now to enhance your recreation agency (Part 2). California Parks and Recreation, 64 (3), p.48-52.

Chamberlain, C.J. (2003). Organizational leadership’s influence on social capital accumulation through community-based volunteer programs.  Dissertation Abstracts International, 64 (09), 3576. (UMI No. AAT 3106491)

Other Published Works

Chamberlain, C. (2011). Morning Rose. In Nancy M. Johnston (Ed.), Photography Vibes: Best of edition (“Love & Romance”, p. 129). Indianapolis, IN: PMP Design Studio.

Chamberlain, C. (2008). Morning Dew. In J. Tanner (Ed.), Collected Impressions (p. 64). Owings Mills, MD: The International Library of Photography.

Aquatic Power Session- Special Feature “Lifeguard Performance: Measuring results”, CPRS State Conference, with Jim Wheeler and Keith Haase, Sacramento, CA, March 11, 2011

Succession Planning in Challenging Times, CPRS State Conference- HOT TOPIC, with Jim Wheeler Sacramento, CA, March 10, 2011

Top Gun Tools for Success: Building Blocks for Success, CPRS State Conference, with Jim Wheeler, Sacramento,  March 9, 2011

Programming and Event Planning:  Evaluating Funding Opportunities for Programs and Events- Graduate Level, National Aquatic Management School, San Diego, CA, February 17, 2011

Programming and Event Planning:   Developing Optimized Programs and Events- Level II, National Aquatic Management School, San Diego, CA, February 17, 2011

Programming and Event Planning:  Understanding Programming, Planning, Marketing, and Evaluating Community-centered Programs and Events- Level I, National Aquatic Management School, San Diego, CA, February 17, 2011

Training Alternatives for Your Lead Staff, Northern California Aquatic Management Association, Sacramento, CA, January 20, 2011

Enhancing your Superhero Skills in Tough Times, CPRS District 1 Fall Workshop, with Jim Wheeler, Suisun, CA, November 18, 2010

101 Special Events and Program Ideas, CPRS District 1 Fall Workshop, with Jim Wheeler, Suisun, CA, November 18, 2010

Training Alternatives for Your Lead Staff, California Aquatic Management School, Lake Arrowhead, CA, October 8, 2010

Enhancing your Superhero Skills in Tough Times, California Aquatic Management School, Lake Arrowhead, CA, October 7, 2010

Bridging the Gap: A model for Online Recreation Classes, CEAS Fall Forum, CSUEB Hayward, CA, September 21, 2010

Budget Monitoring and Forecasting, NRPA National Aquatic Management School, Level 3 with Clayton Shuck, Houston, TX, March 23, 2010

Programming and Event Creation, NRPA National Aquatic Management School, Level 1 with Jim Wheeler, Houston, TX, March 24, 2010

Advanced Risk Management, NRPA National Aquatic Management School, Level 3 with Jim Wheeler, Houston, TX, March 23, 2010

21st Century Leadership, NRPA National Aquatic Management School, Level 3 with Tina Dittmar, Houston, TX, March 23, 2010

Succession Planning, NRPA National Aquatic Management School, Level 3 with Jim Wheeler, Houston, TX, March 23, 2010

Top 10 Things You Can Do Right Now to Enhance Your Recreation Agency, CPRS State Conference, Palm Springs, CA, March, 12, 2010  

Top Gun Tools for Success: Building Blocks for Successful Execution in Aquatics, Northern California Aquatics Management Association, West Sacramento, January 21, 2010

Top Gun Tools for Success: Building Blocks for Success in Park Development & Operations, CPRS District 1, Petaluma, December 8, 2009

Top Gun Tools for Success: The Three Building Blocks for Successful Execution in Aquatics, CPRS Aquatic Section’s California Aquatic Management School, Pacific Grove, October 14 & 15 2009

Municipal Parks and Recreation, Guest Lecturer in Dr. Yates’ Recreation 1000 class, May 7, 2009.

Top 10 Things You Can Do Right Now to Enhance Your Recreation Agency, CPRS State Conference, Santa Clara, CA March, 4, 2009     *Top rated conference session

Professional Balance in the 24/7 World, CPRS District III Fall Institute, Pleasant Hill, CA, October 14, 2008 with Michelle Collay

Student Outreach & Mentoring, CPRS District III Fall Institute, Pleasant Hill, CA, October 14, 2008 with CPRS District III Mentor Committee members

Engaging Our Freshmen, Back to the Bay Conference, CSU East Bay, September 18, 2008 with Eric Kupers

Professional Balance, CEAS Staff Retreat, CSU East Bay, September 17, 2008

Student Outreach & Mentoring: Connecting YOU with Your Future!, CPRS District III Fall Institute, Pittsburg, CA, October 24, 2007 with CPRS District III Mentor Committee members

The Purpose and Value of What We Do, CPRS Aquatic Section’s California Aquatic Management School, Pacific Grove, October 12, 2007

City of Crossroads- A Training Simulation for Recreation & Aquatic Professionals, CPRS Aquatic Section’s California Aquatic Management School, Pacific Grove, October 9, 2007

The Purpose and Value of What We Do, CPRS Supervisors Section’s SuperCal Conference, Fallen Leaf Lake, October 2, 2007

Why We Do What We Do, Highlands Recreation District Summer Staff Training, San Mateo, CA, May, 20, 2007

Why We Do What We Do, City of Newark Staff Retreat, Newark, CA, February 28, 2007

Leadership Essentials for Aquatic Professionals in the 21st Century, CPRS State Conference, March 2005 with Jim Wheeler, Keith Haase, and Mike Dopson.

Peer Supervision, CPRS District I Training, Vallejo, CA, May 22, 2004

Volunteerism, Organizational Learning and Social Capital, CPRS State Conference, March, 2003 with Kim French

Volunteerism, Organizational Learning and Social Capital, CPRS Supervisors Section’s SuperCal Conference, Fallen Leaf Lake, October, 2003

Who’s Watching The Water?, CPRS District III Fall Institute, October 24, 2003

Managing a Critical Incident: Planning, Procedures and Debriefing, CPRS Aquatic Section’s California Aquatic Management School, Pacific Grove, October, 2001 with Mike Dopson

Growing a Part Time Staff, NRPA National Aquatic Conference, Scottsdale, Arizona, March 1999

Developing Operational Plans, NRPA National Aquatic Conference, Scottsdale, Arizona, March 1999

Scouter of the Year, Meridian District, Mount Diablo Silverado Council, 2011

Order of the Arrow- BSA National Honor Society- Ordeal Member 1981, Brotherhood Member 2010

Professor of the Year Nominee, CSU East Bay, 2010

Professional Achievement Award, Bay Area Public Pool Operators Association, 2007

Professional Merit Award, Bay Area Public Pool Operators Association, 2004

Distinguished Alumni, California State University, Hayward Department of Recreation & Community Services, 2000

Eagle Scout, 1980

SKATE Student Club On Campus Advisor, 2011

Stewardship Council Grant Committee Member, 2011

Juvenile Mentoring Initiative Grant Committee Member, 2011

Faculty Learning Community Member-Research & Grants, 2011

Provost’s Tablet Computing Discussion Group, 2011

CEAS Strategic Planning Committee, Secretary, 2009-present

Academic Senate, At Large Member, 2009-2011

Acting Department Chair, Dept. of Hospitality, Recreation & Tourism, June-August, 2009

College of Education & Allied Studies Commencement Coordinator, 2009, assisted 2010

Search Committee Chair, Department of Hospitality, Recreation & Tourism, Leisure Management Faculty, 2007-2008

College Governance Task Force (Formally the Strategic Planning Committee), CEAS, 2007-2009

ASI Recreation/Wellness Center Development Committee, 2007-2008

CPRS District 3 Student Outreach and Mentorship Program Committee Faculty Representative, 2007-present

CPRS/CSUEB Curriculum Advisory Committee, LHLS, 2000-2007, Chair 2003-2007