With over 10 years of UX research experience, Emily’s practices were developed in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and through the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, Hurricane Harvey and COVID-19. In 2006 she developed a database detailing personal and property impacts of the storm on more than 400 households – which was used by the FBI in a multi-million dollar federal corruption lawsuit. Her experience in the fisheries industry (including 2am contextual research on shrimp boats) positioned her to respond immediately to the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill of 2010 and support the creation of a “subsistence fishing” claims category.

While Emily’s primary experience is with acute disasters in the United States, her global background through residences in Europe and East Africa contribute to her understanding of communities and chronic crisis response. Additionally, with a nearly 20 year involvement in racial justice work, Emily carries a commitment to intersectionality in research and highlighting the disproportionate impact disasters have on marginalized groups.