N. Emel Ganapati

N. Emel Ganapati is a Professor of Public Policy and Administration and Director of the Laboratory for Social Science Research at Florida International University (FIU)’s International Hurricane Research Center and Extreme Events Institute. She holds a Ph.D. and M.U.P. in Planning from the University of Southern California and the University of Pennsylvania, respectively.

• Education:
  • Ph.D. in Planning, University of Southern California (2006)
  • M.U.P. in Planning, University of Pennsylvania

Her research focuses on enhancing community resilience through studies of disaster-affected populations' participation, social capital, and vulnerabilities. She explores burnout among disaster responders, interdependencies in disaster management, and methodological advancements in qualitative and interdisciplinary disaster research. Her work spans public administration, urban planning, and social science disciplines.

Dr. Ganapati’s contributions have earned recognition in Public Administration Review, Journal of the American Planning Association, and other top journals. She has led projects funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), U.S. Department of Justice, and the Natural Hazard Center, addressing multi-sector decision-making for resilience and regional disaster risk reduction in Latin America and the Caribbean.

• Scientific Awards:
  • 2021 Risk Analysis Journal Best Paper Award (for interdisciplinary disaster research)
  • FIU 2012 Top Scholar Award
  • ACSP 2006 Gill-Chin Lim Award (for international planning dissertation)
  • USC 2006 Jack Dyckman Award (for planning dissertation)
  • FIU 2020 Certificate of Recognition for Service Excellence
  • Gölcük Earthquake Commemoration Committee Community Award
  • Florida Education Fund 2018 William R. Jones Outstanding Mentor Award

She has served on editorial boards (e.g., Natural Hazards Review), advisory committees (Culture and Disaster Action Network), and professional organizations (American Society for Public Administration). Her doctoral students hold academic positions at Georgetown University, University of California Berkeley, Ohio State University, and other institutions. Dr. Ganapati’s work has been highlighted by Washington Times, National Public Radio (NPR), and Weather Channel.