Alyssa Provencio

University of Central Oklahoma

Alyssa L. Provencio is an assistant professor in the Department of Political Science and faculty in the Master of Public Administration program at the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO). Provencio’s expertise is in teaching and researching emergency and disaster management, focusing on underrepresented communities, representation in the decision-making and policy process, and building resilience to address environmental justice issues. 

At UCO, she also serves as the academic affairs equity advocate and coordinates the Disaster Management Certificate. She has served as the faculty senate president since May 2022. Professionally, she has worked for several non-profit organizations, including the Clinton Foundation, and attributes her passion for emergency management to the time she spent in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. 

Provencio’s hometown is Derby, Kansas, and she is a graduate of Oklahoma State University, the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service, and Kansas State University. Provencio enjoys swimming, cycling/spinning, running, baking, scuba diving, and exploring the outdoors in her free time. She lives in rural Oklahoma with her better half, Tom, their cat, Lou, and dog, Biggs.