Hans Louis-Charles

Hans Louis-Charles is an assistant professor at the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University. At the Wilder School, Louis-Charles teaches risk assessment, disaster response, and disaster recovery courses in the Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness program. In addition, Louis-Charles conducts applied and theoretical research focused on human and organizational behavior during disaster events for better-informed policy and practice in emergency management. His research utilizes a mix-methods approach and includes studies on household preparedness and protective action behavior during a hurricane event, post-disaster looting, media coverage of disasters, and the challenges of conducting ethical post-disaster field research. 

Louis-Charles earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Central Florida, his master’s degree in international development from the American University, and his PhD in disaster science and management from the University of Delaware. Louis-Charles is a Founding Fellow of the William A. Anderson Fund for hazard and disaster mitigation education and research.