Ratna Dougherty

Ratna Dougherty is Assistant Professor in the School of Public Affairs at the University of South Florida, specializing in emergency management, local governance, and interorganizational networks. Her research examines disaster response systems and policy implementation.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Public Affairs, University of Central Florida (2023)
• M.P.A., University of South Florida (2015)
• B.A. in Political Science, University of Central Florida (2013)

Research interests include:

• Coordination mechanisms in disaster response
• Social equity in emergency planning
• Smart city technologies in resilience building
• Policy-practice gaps in crisis management

Publications analyze networked governance, warning systems, and equity integration in disaster contexts. She serves on FCCMA committees and leads NSF-funded projects on community resilience.