Yajaira Ayala is a fourth-year PhD candidate in the disaster science and management program at the University of Delaware. Her dissertation is titled “Reframing Reality: An Analysis of Vulnerability and Resiliency Among Poor African American Women in the Long-term Recovery Process.” This work explores the strategies poor Black women create and employ in the aftermath of disasters amid structural and cultural violence.
During her time at the University of Delaware, Ayala has worked on various projects looking at disaster recovery, pro-social behaviors during emergencies, and exploring the role of social capital in increasing people’s resiliency. Yajaira is also a William Averette Anderson Fund Fellow, or BAF or Bill Anderson Fund. This organization is dedicated to supporting and expanding the number of historically underrepresented professionals in the hazards and disasters field. As a fellow and 2022 Student Council vice-chair, Ayala has worked to bring more equity and justice to the field of disasters. As she continues her education and professional development, Ayala is interested in bringing attention to issues of social inequality, reframing colonizing practices in the disaster field, and working alongside historically marginalized communities in developing and supporting strategies that provide a sustainable recovery.