Shannon Strother, MPH, PhD
Dr. Shannon Strother is the Director, National Incident Management Systems and Advanced Technologies Institute (NIMSAT) at the University of Louisiana – Lafayette. She brings over 25 years of experience in emergency management and non-profit leadership and management, with expertise in emergency management, social policy, resilience, urban environments, poverty alleviation, and vulnerability analysis. Dr. Strother is responsible for overseeing NIMSAT programs that support emergency management initiatives for the public, private, and non-profit sectors in Louisiana, as well as the Louisiana Business Emergency Operations Center.
Current Research
Dr Strother’s research interests lie at the intersection of emergency management, disaster resilience, and community preparedness, with a particular focus on how public policy, technology, and social behavior influence emergency response outcomes. She is especially interested in exploring data-driven approaches to hazard mitigation, including the use of geographic information systems (GIS), predictive analytics, and early warning systems to improve decision-making and reduce vulnerabilities in high-risk populations. Dr Strother’s work aims to bridge the gap between academic research and real-world practice by developing actionable strategies for emergency planners, first responders, and public health officials to enhance operational efficiency and community resilience.
Additionally, Strother is committed to investigating the evolving landscape of homeland security threats, including cybersecurity and critical infrastructure protection. She is particularly drawn to interdisciplinary collaborations that examine the role of intelligence analysis, interagency coordination, and risk communication in preventing and responding to both natural and man-made disasters. By integrating principles from public administration, crisis leadership, and security studies, Strother’s research strives to support the development of comprehensive, adaptive strategies that safeguard communities while promoting equity and trust in emergency and security systems.
Future Research
Dr Strother’s research explores the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of emergency management and homeland security operations. By developing AI-driven tools for real-time data analysis, decision support, and resource optimization, the NIMSAT research team aims to improve situational awareness and streamline emergency response efforts. This includes applications such as AI-enhanced surveillance for threat detection, natural language processing for crisis communication analysis, and machine learning algorithms to forecast disaster impacts and prioritize resource allocation. These technologies have the potential to significantly reduce response times and improve outcomes during both routine emergencies and large-scale disasters.
In parallel, Strother is investigating the integration of autonomous vehicles (AVs) into emergency preparedness and early warning systems, particularly in support of vulnerable
and hard-to-reach populations. AVs can play a critical role in distributing emergency alerts, conducting reconnaissance in hazardous areas, and delivering supplies or evacuation assistance before and during crises. A central focus of her work is applying these innovations in direct support of the State of Louisiana’s emergency management and homeland security missions. Louisiana’s unique risk profile—ranging from hurricanes and flooding to industrial and cyber threats—demands adaptive, forward-thinking strategies. Strother’s research is aligned with providing actionable insights and technological solutions that strengthen the state’s readiness, resilience, and response capabilities across diverse and evolving threat environments.
Education: Dr. Strother is a Registered Nurse and holds a Master of Public Health, Master of Science in Urban Studies, and a PhD in Urban Studies.
Email Dr. Strother
or call 337.482.0609