Elizabeth Williams

Elizabeth Williams serves as Department Chair and Professor in the Department of Communication Studies at Colorado State University, within the College of Liberal Arts. She is also an affiliate faculty member in the Colorado School of Public Health. Her research focuses on high reliability organizations (HROs), exploring their practices for ensuring safety and learning from accidents, particularly in fire departments and healthcare. She has co-edited books and published widely on organizational resilience, communication in crises (e.g., the Yarnell Hill Fire), and wearable technology applications in health.

Education:

• Ph.D., Purdue University

Her research interests include:

• Organizational communication dynamics
• Health communication and safety in HROs
• Crisis response strategies
• Employee resilience during the Great Resignation
• Utilization of technology for health promotion

Her articles collectively emphasize crisis management, organizational learning, and communication design in HROs. Recent work highlights nonprofit resilience, the impact of dissent expression, and emotional sustainability in human services organizations.

Awards:

• 2017 NCA Organizational Communication Division Edited Book Award
• Excellence in Teaching Award (College of Liberal Arts)
• Outstanding Service Award (College of Liberal Arts)

In advising roles, she has supported students through case study assignments and collaborative projects. Grants and funding details are not explicitly mentioned, but her work with ResponderStrong and public health initiatives demonstrates a commitment to applied research.

She is part of the Communication Studies department at CSU and affiliated with the Colorado School of Public Health, contributing to interdisciplinary efforts in health, safety, and organizational resilience.