JULIE
HAGEN ELLIOTT
PHD STUDENT
AND WRITER
Disasters | Emergency Management | Cross-sector Collaboration | Nonprofits | Faith-Based Response
About Me
Volunteering amidst tornado debris in 2011, I found something I never expected to find in a disaster: passion. As I worked alongside individuals, young and old; met families who had lost everything; and watched individuals face difficult circumstances with joy and hope; my life was changed.
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I'm Julie Hagen Elliott and I am a Disaster Science & Management PhD student in the Biden School of Public Policy at the University of Delaware. My research centers on cross-sector collaborations between nonprofits and emergency management agencies. I am also interested in the role faith-based groups in disaster management.
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I am not passionate about disasters. I am passionate about the human aspects of disaster: community and unity, joy in pain, hope for the future, and resilience.
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I am a former emergency manager, adjunct faculty, and professional writer.
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Continue scrolling to learn more about my research projects and professional experience.
Research
I study cross-sectoral collaboration in disaster. I am especially interested in how relationships are built and maintained pre-disaster, and how those relationships impact the success of future collaborations. My primary focus is on the relationships between nonprofit organizations and emergency management agencies, often encapsulated in Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (VOAD) chapters, whether at the local, state, or national level. Through my research, I want to develop a clearer picture of what promotes or inhibits collaboration, highlighting how we can increase the efficiency and effectiveness of partnership in the future.​
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My prior work examined the role of Faith-Based Congregations (FBCs) in disaster response. Faith-based response to disaster is still a major interest.
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I am currently an affiliate with the University of Delaware Disaster Research Center where I am working as a member of the Coastal Hazards, Equity, Economic Prosperity & Resilience (CHEER) Hub. In this role, I research household-level experiences -- particularly the experiences of renters and those residing in mobile manufactured homes -- with coastal hazards.
Experience
Education
2022 - 2026 (expected)
Doctor of Philosophy
in Disaster Science & Management
University of Delaware
2018 - 2020
Master of Science
in Emergency Management & Disaster Science
Thesis: The Role of Faith-Based Congregations in Disaster Response and Recovery: A Case Study of Katy, TX
University of North Texas
2013 - 2016
Bachelor of Science
in Emergency Administration & Planning
University of North Texas
Work Experience
August 2022 - Present
University of Delaware
August 2023 - Present
Research Assistant
Disaster Research Center
Coastal Hazards, Equity, Economic Prosperity & Resilience (CHEER) HubC​
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January 2023 - March 2023
Office of Emergency Management Student Assistant
University of Delaware Office of Emergency Management
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August 2022 - May 2023
Teaching Assistant for the Master of Science in Disaster Science & Management Program
University of Delaware, School of Public Policy and Administration
March 2019 - August 2022
University of North Texas
October 2021 - August 2022
Emergency Preparedness & Business Continuity Manager
Risk Management Services
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March 2019 - October 2021
Emergency Management Coordinator
Risk Management Services
Publications & Presentations
Journal Articles
Elliott, J.H. & Webb, G.R. (in press). Moved to partner: A case study of faith-based congregations in disaster response. Journal of Emergency Management.
Book Reviews
Elliott, J.H. (in press). Review of Unnatural Disasters: Why Most Responses to Risk and Climate Change Fail but Some Succeed by G. Lizarralde. International Journal of Mass Emergencies and Disasters.
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Presentations
Elliott, J.H. (2022). Moved to partner: Faith-based groups in disaster response. Texas Emergency Management Conference.
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Elliott, J.H. & Webb, G.R. (2021). The Role of Faith-Based Congregations in Disaster Response & Recovery. PRIMR 2021 @ Texas A&M.
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Elliott, J.H. & Webb, G.R. (2021). The Role of Faith-Based Congregations in Disaster Response & Recovery. Emergency Management Association of Texas Symposium.
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Media
Elliott, J.H. (2021). Now is time to prepare for severe weather. The Weather Channel. Live Interview. Link.
Teaching Experience
University of North Texas, Denton, TX
EADP 3010 Principles of Emergency Management
Fall 2021, Spring 2022
In-person
Get in Touch
Want to know more about my research or experience? Want to discuss opportunities for collaboration? Let's chat!
Email me direct at jhe@udel.edu or drop me a line here. Either way, I look forward to connecting with you!