Kristin Taylor

Kristin Taylor is an Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science at Wayne State University, affiliated with the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Her research focuses on disaster politics, policy learning after crises, and resilience governance. She holds a Ph.D. in Public Administration from North Carolina State University, an M.C.P. from the University of Cincinnati, and a B.A. from Ohio University.

Her work examines how governments adapt policies to protect vulnerable populations post-disaster, including studies of Hurricane Harvey recovery, water infrastructure failures, and pandemic response. She leads stakeholder engagement in the NSF-funded NICHE program ($12.8M), a national initiative to enhance community resilience against climate-driven hazards. Taylor has been awarded the Theodore Lowi Award for best article in Policy Studies Journal and is a recipient of multiple National Science Foundation grants.

• Research Focus: Policy learning dynamics, disaster mitigation, crisis communication, federalism in disaster governance
• Key Projects: NICHE program (wind/surge resilience testing), WHIRL project (water system resilience)

Her recent publications analyze pandemic policy responses, visual narrative messaging for vaccine uptake, and the role of policy entrepreneurs. Taylor teaches courses on environmental policy, policy formation, and public policy fundamentals.