Dr. Elaina Sutley is the Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging, and an Associate Professor in Structural Engineering at the University of Kansas. Dr. Sutley's research investigates various natural hazards, including tornadoes, floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, and wildfires, integrating engineering and social science disciplines to understand what happens during disasters – to buildings, to infrastructure systems, to people, to businesses and organizations, and to social networks – and how these processes take place over time –immediately when the disaster strikes, during response, and throughout long-term recovery. Dr. Sutley integrates experimental, field-based, and computational research methods to advance social equity driven resilience.

Dr. Sutley's research projects have received funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Math, the Applied Technology Council, Headwaters Economics, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Kansas Department of Transportation, and the Florida Division of Emergency Management. 

Dr. Sutley is active at the national-level, currently serving on the ASCE Infrastructure Resilience Division's Executive Committee, ASCE Structural Engineering Institute's Board of Governors, and the Applied Technology Council's Board of Direction. She is the Co-Chair for the ASCE IRD SPEED committee, and a task lead on the ASCE 7 Standard Wind Loads Subcommittee. Dr. Sutley is a registered professional engineering in Kansas, and a LEED Accredited Professional for Homes.