Jessica Austin

Jessica Austin is a graduate research assistant at the Natural Hazards Center and a PhD candidate in the Department of Sociology at the University of Colorado Boulder. Her work also supports the Natural Hazards Engineering Research Infrastructure CONVERGE facility. Previously, she served as the primary data manager for the Social Science Extreme Events Research network and the Quick Response Research Award Program.

Before returning to full-time study, Austin held multiple policy and administration roles in state, federal, and non-profit public health agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Austin earned a Master of Public Administration from Western Michigan University and a Master of Science in anthrozoology from Canisius College. Her research interests include animals and society, including disaster preparedness for companion animals, social psychology, and qualitative research methods.