Laura Olson

Laura Olson has 17 years of experience leading disaster recovery, hazard mitigation, climate adaptation and resilience initiatives. She has responded to hurricanes, oil spills, volcanic eruptions, tornadoes, and floods. She currently works with the United Nations Development Program’s Climate Change & Disaster Risk Reduction Team and with the Culture and Disaster Action Network (CADAN). Her work reflects a commitment to the cultural values of stakeholders and the delivery of effective disaster programs and services. Laura is Associate Faculty at Royal Roads University School of Humanitarian Affairs & Georgetown University’s Emergency & Disaster Management program. She is a Senior Fellow with Virginia Tech’s Global Forum on Urban and Regional Resilience, a Research Associate with Jacksonville State University’s Disaster and Community Resilience Center. She has a Ph.D. in Public Administration from The George Washington University.