Jason D. Rivera

Jason D. Rivera is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Public Management at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York (CUNY). He also serves as affiliated faculty for the Master of Science Program in Emergency Management and as affiliated research faculty for The Christian Regenhard Center for Emergency Response Studies (RaCERS). Additionally, Rivera holds leadership positions as Chair of the Section for Emergency and Crisis Management (SECM) within the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA), an Executive Board Member of the Section of Emergency Management and Homeland Security Programs within NASPAA, and a member of the Diversity and Social Equity Committee within NASPAA.

Rivera earned his Ph.D. in Public Affairs from Rutgers University-Camden (2016), following an M.S. in Public Affairs (2015), M.P.A. in Public Management (2008), and B.A. in History from Rowan University (2006). His academic credentials reflect a sustained commitment to public service and administration.

Dr. Rivera's research centers on social equity, governance, public administration theory, and disaster management, with particular emphasis on marginalized communities' experiences during emergencies. He advocates for inclusive disaster planning processes and has published extensively in top journals including Public Administration Review, State and Local Government Review, and International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction. His work examines how racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic factors influence disaster preparedness, response, and recovery outcomes.

Analysis of Rivera's recent publications reveals a strong focus on Latino and Hispanic communities within emergency management contexts, with growing attention to international applications in Central America and Africa. His methodological approach combines qualitative and quantitative techniques, often using survey research to illuminate community experiences during disasters. The research demonstrates consistent theoretical development in social equity frameworks while maintaining practical relevance for emergency management practitioners.

• Lavern Burchfield Award (2024)
• William Petak Award (2024, 2019, 2017)
• SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creativity (2020)
• Stanford M. Lyman Distinguished Book Award (2008)
• Laverne Burchfield Award for Best Book Review in PAR (2023)
• Excellence in Public Administration Education (2021)

Rivera has led U.S. Department of State-supported projects evaluating emergency management capacity in El Salvador and The Gambia. His international expertise earned him a Fulbright Specialist appointment (2023-2026). He teaches courses including Emergency Incident Management, Organizational Theory, and Research Methods in Public Administration. As editor of "Disaster and Emergency Management Methods" (2021), he has shaped methodological approaches for an entire generation of scholars in the field.