Catherine Durham is the assistant to the county administrator of Dakota County, Minnesota, and has been an ICMA member since 2008.

She graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a bachelor of arts in journalism and mass communication in 2006, and completed her MPA in 2010. She was also a Teach for America corps member 2006-2008 in Greenville, Mississippi.

Durham joined ICMA as a graduate student at UNC and attended the ICMA Annual Conference in Richmond, Virginia, as a student. She has also attended ICMA Annual Conferences in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and San Jose, California.

After an internship with the city of Rocky Mount in North Carolina, Durham graduated from UNC in May of 2010. She then moved to Minnesota as an ICMA Local Government Management Fellow for Dakota County. 

“The ICMA Local Government Management Fellowship was a great opportunity, she says. “I gained experience working on a variety of projects and worked closely with senior managers from throughout the county. “

“I think that the ICMA LGMF program is a great way to build a connection between more experienced managers and younger generations and to ensure that those just getting started in the field are able to gain an understanding of the issues facing local governments today,” she adds.

In May of 2011, Catherine became the assistant to the county administrator in Dakota County.

“On a larger scale, I find that my ICMA membership provides access to a variety of resources on emerging issues and allows for a peer network of dedicated professionals.”