Alessandra Jerolleman, PhD, JD, MPA, CFM

Alessandra Jerolleman is the Director of Research for the Center for Environment, Land and Law, at Loyola University New Orleans College of Law.  She previously served as an Associate Professor and Director of the Doctoral Program in Emergency Management at Jacksonville State University.  Dr. Jerolleman is currently supporting the U.S. Geological Survey’s National Climate Adaptation Science Center as a Climate Justice Lead.  She is a community resilience specialist and applied researcher at the Lowlander Center with expertise in disaster recovery, risk reduction, and hazard policy.   She has published several books and articles including: Disaster Recovery through the Lens of Justice; The Relationship between Persons and Property: Implications for Climate Change and Resettlement; and Justice, Equity, and Emergency Management.  Dr. Jerolleman is founder of the Natural Hazard Mitigation Association (NHMA) and served as its Executive Director. 

She is a subject matter expert in climate adaptation, hazard mitigation, disaster recovery, and resilience with a long history of working with the public, private, and nonprofit sectors; as well as tribal nations. She is involved in various aspects of planning and policy and the national and local level.  Her experience includes: conducting independent research on disaster risk reduction and hazard mitigation for various organizations such as the National Wildlife Foundation; working as the lead grant writer and emergency planner for the First Peoples’ Conservation Council; community based resilience planning across the United States; working with Save the Children USA along the Gulf Coast following hurricanes and tornadoes, on a resilience initiative; hazard mitigation planning at the local, state and campus level; community education and outreach regarding mitigation measures and preparedness; development of collaborative networks among practitioners; and, delivery of training and education. Dr. Jerolleman speaks on: Just Recovery; climate justice; land use and resettlement; hazard mitigation and climate change; hazard mitigation planning; protecting children in disasters; and, public/private partnerships.