Sarah DeYoung

Sarah DeYoung is an Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology & Criminal Justice at the University of Delaware, with a joint appointment in the Disaster Research Center (DRC) and the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration. Her expertise spans disaster management, public health, and social vulnerability, focusing on evacuation decision-making, companion animals in disasters, infant feeding in emergencies, and refugee well-being. She holds a Ph.D. in applied social and community psychology from North Carolina State University, an M.S. from St. Joseph’s University, and a B.A. from North Carolina State University.

Dr. DeYoung has conducted fieldwork in over a dozen disasters, including the 2015 Nepal earthquake and Hurricane Florence. She has secured grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF), National Academies of Sciences, and the Natural Hazards Center. Her research emphasizes coastal resilience, equity, and policy solutions, such as the NSF-funded Coastal Hazards, Equity, Economic Prosperity and Resilience (CHEER) project. Media outlets like Marketplace and Atmos have featured her insights on disaster challenges, including homelessness during wildfires and climate misinformation.

DeYoung’s work bridges academia and practice, addressing critical issues like disaster preparedness, refugee support, and climate adaptation. She collaborates with interdisciplinary teams and has advised on policy interventions to enhance community resilience.