Jack L. Rozdilsky

Jack L. Rozdilsky is an Associate Professor and Graduate Program Director of the Disaster and Emergency Management program at York University’s Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies. He specializes in disaster social science, emergency management practices, and homeland security. His recent work includes analyzing the 2018 Toronto van attack and leading pandemic-related research on stigma during the COVID-19 crisis under a Canadian Institutes of Health Research grant. He holds a doctorate in resource development and urban studies from Michigan State University, with prior roles in academia and public-sector hazard mitigation planning.

Education:

• PhD in Resource Development and Urban Studies, Michigan State University

Research Focus: Rozdilsky’s research bridges social science and practical emergency management, emphasizing community resilience, policy evaluation, and the sociocultural dimensions of disasters. His work on the Toronto van attack explores interagency coordination failures, while his pandemic research investigates how public health measures exacerbate social stigmatization.

Grants & Collaborations:

• Co-PI on CIHR-funded pandemic stigma study (2022–present)
• Principal Investigator for Dahdaleh Institute’s Seed Grant on global health perspectives (ongoing)

Professional Experience: Previously taught emergency management in Illinois and Texas, directed regional hazard mitigation plans, and worked in land use planning.