Lorie Higgins

Lorie Higgins is a Professor and Extension Specialist in the Department of Agricultural Economics & Rural Sociology at the University of Idaho. She holds a Ph.D. from Washington State University (2001), an M.A. (1993), and a B.A. (1989) from the University of Montana. Her research focuses on community-based decision-making, qualitative and participatory research methods, wildfire risk perceptions, and Ripple Effects Mapping for program evaluation. She leads initiatives in community resilience, disaster recovery, and collaborative processes.

Her work integrates interdisciplinary approaches to address socio-environmental challenges, particularly in rural and hazard-prone regions. Notable contributions include developing Ripple Effects Mapping as a participatory tool for assessing program impacts and analyzing community responses to wildfires and hurricanes. Higgins collaborates with Extension educators and policymakers to enhance community adaptive capacity and leadership development.

Her publications emphasize themes like disaster management, community resilience, and qualitative methodologies. Grants and funding have supported her research on wildfire recovery, community reviews, and cultural industries. Higgins currently oversees the Ripple Effects Mapping training programs and contributes to regional economic development initiatives.