Heather Smith Kirkland

Heather Kirkland works full time in the University Budget Office while pursuing a PhD in Cultural Anthropology at American University. She is currently in the dissertation proposal phase. Kirkland’s research focus is disaster preparedness and response, primarily hazard mitigation and working with vulnerable populations. In 2012, she received an honorable mention from the National Science Foundation for her graduate research on disasters and trauma. Her long-term career goal is to teach at the college level. In the immediate future, she would like to collaborate with researchers and practitioners involved in hazard mitigation. Kirkland is interested in the ways in which organizational culture and communication influence decision making and understanding of risk. She is exploring the topic of intergenerational communication and diversity among emergency managers. The cultural themes that emerge from disaster discourse, illustrate the diversity of individuals involved in mitigation and response efforts. She is compelled as an anthropologist, to find a common thread that will allow for interdisciplinary collaboration. Kirkland is excited to attend the Natural Hazards Workshop, to network with and learn from the variety of perspectives represented at the event.