Dr. Jen Henderson

Education

• B.A., Psychology and English (double major) from Weber State University (2000)
• M.A., Cultural Studies from Kansas State University (2002)
• M.F.A., Creative Nonfiction from Goucher College (2004)
• Ph.D., Science and Technology Studies, Virginia Tech, (2016)

Research

 

• Risk, uncertainty, and vulnerability/resilience

• Rapid and slow onset disasters 

• Weather and climate extremes 

• Political ecology 

• Methods in geography 

I'm a geographer who studies how risk and uncertainty emerge in decision-making processes amid weather and climate extremes. In particular, my passion is helping those who are invisible in disasters be seen by policy makers, organizations, and agencies – those with the power to shift the status quo. I often work with physical scientists, practitioners, and operational experts in weather and climate contexts, such as forecasters in the National Weather Service, to develop convergent research that improves warning and communication systems. My work with different members of the public is focused on the challenges they experience before, during, and after hazards like tornadoes, flash floods, drought, and hurricanes.

Jen directs the Risk and Equity in Disasters (RED) Lab, which focuses primarily on two ends of the disaster continuum: we work with experts (e.g. the National Weather Service) to understand and intervene in problems related to warning systems for weather and climate extremes—that is, science that is usable and policy relevant. And we work with communities impacted by disasters to identify ways of understanding disaster contexts and decision making by various groups amid uncertainty. RED Lab is a qualitative methods laboratory that develops innovative data collection techniques to compliment traditional interviews and focus groups protocols, social media analysis, survey design, and ethnographic approaches. 

 

Courses

• GEOG 2300 - Introduction to Human Geography 
• GEOG 3340 - Introduction to Research in Human Geography 
• GEOG 3360 - Technology and the Human Landscape 
• GEOG 4320 - Environmental Hazards and Disasters 

Synergistic Activities

Member of TTU STEM-CORE

Associate Editor Weather, Climate and Society