Regardt “Reggie” Ferreira, PhD
Director of DRLA Program, Executive Director of CEDR, Professor
He/Him
Biography
Regardt (Reggie) Ferreira, PhD,, is a globally recognized leader in disaster resilience, social work, and community development. As Director of Tulane University’s Disaster Resilience Leadership Academy and Executive Director of the Consortium for Emergent Disaster Resilience, he has shaped the field through visionary research, program innovation, and strategic partnerships.
A tenured Full Professor of Social Work at Tulane University in New Orleans, Dr. Ferreira has built a distinguished academic and professional career spanning more than two decades. He earned his BSW and master’s degree in Disaster Risk Management (cum laude) from the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein, South Africa, and his Ph.D. in Social Work (Dean’s Citation) from the University of Louisville. Since joining Tulane’s faculty in 2013, he has been instrumental in developing and launching pioneering programs, including assisting with Tulane’s Doctor of Social Work and MS in Disaster Resilience Leadership, and a dual degree in Masters of Social Work and MS in Disaster Resilience Leadership, which have become models for interdisciplinary training in the field. Dr. Ferreira is the former Chief Editor of the American Psychological Association’s Traumatology journal, where he advanced scholarship on resilience practices among trauma-affected populations, contributing to the journal’s first impact factor of 3.2.
His research portfolio reflects a sustained commitment to addressing the complex intersections of resilience, disaster risk, climate change, and behavioral health, with fieldwork spanning Europe, Africa, North America, the Caribbean, and Asia. He has secured and led initiatives totaling over $45 million in funding from federal agencies and major foundations, advancing the practice of disaster risk reduction and resilience. Dr. Ferreira has authored more than 100 journal articles, book chapters, and abstracts, and his expertise is frequently sought by prominent media outlets, including CNN, Rolling Stone, Voice of America, TIME, HBO/VICE, The Atlantic, Fox, Fox News, NBC, NBC News, CBS, ABC, Reuters, Medscape, NPR, Futurity, ScienceDaily, USA Today, Inside Climate News, Globo, and Psychology Today. His leadership extends to service on numerous national and international advisory committees, including the National Academies of Science, the American Red Cross, and the Global Resilience Partnership.
Recognized for both his academic contributions and his commitment to mentorship, Dr. Ferreira has received multiple awards for excellence in teaching. Originally from Bloemfontein, South Africa he remains dedicated to building the next generation of leaders who will strengthen resilience worldwide.
Areas of Expertise
- Behavioral Health
- Community Development, Policy, and Planning
- Community Organizing and Advocacy
- Disaster Mental Health
- International Social Work
- Intimate Partner Violence / Sexual Violence
- Program Development and Evaluation
- Research
- Resilience
Education
- Bachelor of Social Work, University of the Free State in Bloemfontein, South Africa
- Master of Science in Disaster Risk Management, University of the Free State in Bloemfontein, South Africa
- Ph.D. in Social Work, University of Louisville
Highlights, Honors & Awards
Teaching:
Tulane School of Social Work – Disaster Resilience Leadership Academy Outstanding Faculty Award 2021-2022
Tulane School of Social Work - Outstanding Faculty Award 2017. Tulane School of Social Work. Tulane University. (2017).
Tulane School of Social Work - Outstanding Faculty Award 2014. Tulane School of Social Work. Tulane University. (2014).
Dr. Jef Frank Award for Outstanding Teaching 2012. Kent School of Social Work, University of Louisville.
Faculty Favorite 2011-2012 Award. Recognition to faculty that makes a significant difference in student learning and intellectual growth, University of Louisville (2012).
Community Service:
American Red Cross. (2021). Executive Stamp of Approval Award for Service.
American Red Cross. (2020). Stamp of Approval Award for Service.
Engineering Excellence Award. (2016). American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC), Part of Center for Hazards Research Team, University of Louisville. Resilience Innovation.
Selected Publications
Ferreira, R.J. (2025). Hurricane Katrina at 20: Lessons on Resilience and Recovery. Traumatology.
Ferreira, R.J., Davidson, T., Buttell, F., Contillo, C. M., Leddie, C., Leahy, C., Nuñez-Dune, C., Lentz, B., Simkins, M., Jerolleman, A., Eide, C., Glaude, M. W., Thomas, J., Leiva, D., Awbrey, M. L., & Friedman, R. (2024). Barriers to equitable disaster recovery in the United States: A scoping literature review. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction.
Ferreira, R.J. (2023). Climate Change: From Resilience to Equitable Resilience. Traumatology.
Saltzman, L.Y. Hansel, T. Ferreira, R.J. (2023). Climate Change and Health Equity: Expanding Our Reach Using Technology. PLOS Climate.
Cannon, C.E.B., Ferreira, R.J., Buttell, F., & O’Connor, A., (2022). “Disaster’s Disparate Impacts: Analyzing perceived stress and personal resilience across sex and race." Disasters.
Ferreira, R.J. & Buttell, F.B. (2022). “A Global South Perspective: The Intersection of COVID-19 and Intimate Partner Violence” American Journal of Public Health.
Lightfoot, E. S., Lesen, A. E., & Ferreira, R. J. (2020). Gender and resilience in Gulf Coast communities: Risk and protective factors following a technological disaster. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction. 50, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2020.101716
Buttell, F., & Ferreira, R. J. (2020). The hidden disaster of COVID-19: Intimate partner violence. Psychological trauma: theory, research, practice and policy, 12(S1), S197–S198. https://doi.org/10.1037/tra0000646
Finucane, M. L., Blum, M. J., Ramchand, R., Parker, A. M., Nataraj, S., Clancy, N., Cecchine, G., Chandra, A., Slack, T., Hobor, G., Ferreira, R.J., Luu, K., Lesen, A., & Bond, C. (2019). Advancing community resilience research and practice: Moving from “Me” to “We” to “3D”. Journal of Risk Research, 23:1, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1080/13669877.2018.1517377
Ferreira, R.J., Buttell, F., & Cannon, C. (2018). Ethical Issues in Conducting Research with Children and Families Affected by Disasters. Current Psychiatry Reports. 20:42. DOI:10.1007/s11920-018-0902-2
Selected News & Media
“Day Zero” looms over Cape Town. (2018). CNN.
How the Mental Health Community is Bracing for the Impact of Climate Change. (2019). Rolling Stone.
The impact of climate change on mental health goes beyond anxiety (2021). Living Well.
Earth Day Angst: Young people cope with sense of urgency, hopelessness about climate change. (2022). VOICE OF AMERICA.
5 years on, failures from Hurricane Maria loom large as Puerto Rico responds to Fiona. (2022). NPR.
New Orleans communities prepare for climate change. (2023). NBC News.
Destruída por inundações do furacão Katrina, Nova Orleans traz lições de reconstrução para o RS. (2024). Globo News.
Selected Funding
Total Funded Research Experience: $43,750 720
Foundation Funding:
Source & Title: Global Resilience Partnership Southern African Resilience Academy – Climate resilient futures in Southern Africa: Synthesising local knowledge, gender equity, and policy innovation (2025-2027). Level of funding: $20,000; Role: Co-PI.
Source & Title: Walmart Foundation, Consortium for Equitable Disaster Resilience – Systems Change Individual and Household Program (2024-2026). Level of funding: $550,000; Role: PI
Source & Title: Sasakawa US Peace Foundation, Equitable Resilience and Social Vulnerability: Lessons from the US and Japan (2024). Level of funding: $25,000 Role: PI
Source & Title: Walmart Foundation, Consortium for Equitable Disaster Resilience (2022-2023). Level of funding: $750,000; Role: PI
Source & Title: Global Resilience Partnership – Equitable Disaster Resilience (2022-2023). Level of funding: $25,000; Role: Principal Investigator
Source & Title: GOMRI, Consortium for Resilient Gulf Communities (2015-2020), Level of funding: $8,500,000; Role: Lead Research Scientist & CO-PI Education and Community Engagement, Tulane University (PI-Melissa Finucane)
Source & Title: Gates Foundation, Disaster Resilience Leadership Program (2015-2017). Level of funding: $3,500,000; Role: Educational Liaison (PI- Ky Luu)
Local/State, Federal and International Funding:
Source & Title: HRSA: Project RETAIN (2022-2024). Level of funding: $2,280,000; Role: CO-PI (PI- Tonya Hansel)
Source & Title: USAID – Resilient African Network (2015-2016). Level of funding: $25,000,000; Role: Educational Liaison (PI- Ky Luu)
Source & Title: UNICEF, Strengthening Rwandan Social Service Workforce (2015-2018). Level of funding: $385,000; Role: CO-PI (PI-Laura Haas)
Source & Title: City of New Orleans, Positive Action (2015-2016). Level of funding: $15,000; Role: PI
Source & Title: Federal Emergency Management Agency, Disaster Case Management (2013-2014). Level of funding: $75,000; Role: PI
Source & Title: Dept. of Local Government, Community Risk Profile (2011-2013). Level of funding: $400,000; Role: Research Assistant (PI-Dave Simpson)
Source & Title: Dept. of Local Government, Kentucky Long Term Recovery Planning (2011-2013). Level of funding: $375,000; Role: Research Assistant (PI-Dave Simpson)
Source & Title: National Council on Aging, Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (2010-2012). Level of funding: $800,000; Role: Program Manager (PI-Carla Crane)
Source & Title: Federal Emergency Management Agency, State Hazard Mitigation Plan (2009-2011). Level of funding: $666,000; Role: Research Assistant (PI-Dave Simpson)
Source & Title: National Science Foundation, Community Disaster Preparedness and Resiliency (2009). Level of funding: $300,000; Role: Research Assistant (PI-Dave Simpson)
Tulane University:
Source & Title: Tulane University Lavin Bernick, Resilience Rewired: Good Practices for Effective Resilience in Southern Africa (2025). Level of funding: $7,000; Role: PI
Source & Title: Tulane University Lavin Bernick, Towards equitable resilience: Adaptation in the face of climate and disaster (2024). Level of funding: $8,000; Role: PI
Source & Title: Tulane University Lavin Bernick, Predictors of Mental Health Well-Being, and Preparedness (2020)
Level of funding: $7,840; Role: PI
Source & Title: Tulane University Lavin Bernick, Pathways to Psychosocial Climate Resilience (2019) Level of funding: $9,500; Role: PI
Source & Title: Foundation for Puerto Rico (2018) Level of funding: $16,500; Role: PI
Source & Title: Tulane University, Nepal Resilience Leadership Development (2016-2017) Level of funding: $23,880; Role: PI
Community Involvement
Global Resilience Partnership - Advisory Council
Global Resilience Partnership - Board of Directors
Program Director, Consortium for Equitable Disaster Resilience
