Miriam Belblidia

Miriam Belblidia is a social scientist specializing in disaster management and climate resilience, with over 15 years of experience advancing community-centered strategies across the Gulf Coast. She holds a Master of Public Administration in civil security and disaster management and a Bachelor of Arts in anthropology and political science from the University of Pittsburgh.

As a National Academies’ Gulf Research Program Science Policy Fellow with the Oceans & Wildlife Institute, Belblidia works at the intersection of disaster preparedness, wildlife conservation, and community resilience. Her work includes developing curricula for Wildlife & Community Resilience and Wildlife Rehabilitation training programs, as well as advancing wildlife disaster preparedness and response. She recently supported the rescue of over 300 endangered sea turtles during the January 2026 Gulf cold stun event.

Belblidia’s prior experience spans water management, emergency response, and international research. She served as a floodplain manager in New Orleans and as a Fulbright Fellow with the Technical University of Delft in the Netherlands. As co-founder and director of Water Works, she led hurricane response operations, built strategic partnerships, and redistributed more than $500,000 in direct aid to community-based organizations.

Belblidia previously led the University of Pittsburgh’s Center for Disaster Management, where she advised research and taught graduate coursework. Her applied work includes hazard mitigation planning, coastal risk assessments, and programs focused on equitable engagement and grassroots resilience. She has published and presented widely on mutual aid, climate justice, and disaster risk reduction, with research interests in socio-technical systems, hazard mitigation, and climate migration.