Preparing the Next Generation of Resilience Leaders: New Interdisciplinary Course on Community Resilience and Emergency and Disaster Management

We are excited to announce a newly funded educational initiative that brings together engineering, social sciences, public health and emergency management in a new course on Community Resilience - Emergency and Disaster Management. Course development is funded by a Kern Family Foundation grant through The Grainger College of Engineering's SIIP program. 

To be developed collaboratively by faculty and local emergency professionals, this 400-level, project-based course aims to equip senior and graduate students with the skills and mindset needed to address the growing challenges of disasters and emergencies. Through interdisciplinary teamwork, hands-on projects, and direct engagement with community stakeholders, students will learn to apply engineering expertise to real-world problems — while building communication, collaboration, and critical thinking skills essential for crisis response.

The course will be designed based on The Entrepreneurial Mindset principles — encouraging curiosity, connections among issues and across disciplines, and value creation in high-stakes situations. Students will engage with local emergency management agencies and develop innovative, community-informed solutions aimed at improving resilience and preparedness.

This effort is initiated by the following collaborating group of faculty and emergency professionals: Sotiria Koloutsou-Vakakis (Sen. Lecturer, CEE); Ana P. Barros (Prof., Dept. Head, CEE); Yanfeng Ouyang (Prof., CEE); Vishal Verma (Assoc. Prof., CEE); Ashlynn S. Stillwell (Assoc. Prof., CEE); Franklin T. Lombardo (Assoc. Prof., CEE); Carena Van Riper (Assoc. Prof., NRES); Andy Nelson, Director, Construction Engineering Research Laboratory, U.S. Army ERDC; Brian R Brauer, RN, ED.D., Executive Director of Emergency Management; John Dwyer, Coordinator, Champaign County Emergency Management Agency; George Heintz, NIBA, IGB (former Risk Management Consultant); Julie Pryde, Public Health Administrator, Champaign-Urbana Public Health District.

The pilot course is planned to be offered in Spring 2026. This effort advances experiential learning and strengthens campus-community partnerships.

Stay tuned for updates, student project highlights, and opportunities to engage in this important work