Through research, teaching, and work with governments and practicing professionals, the Program on Crisis Leadership (PCL) seeks to improve society’s capacity to deal with natural disasters; infrastructure, technology, and systems failures; emergent infectious disease; and terrorism. Jointly affiliated with the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation and the Taubman Center for State and Local Government, PCL takes a comprehensive perspective, looking at risk reduction strategies, emergency preparedness and response, and disaster recovery.

Featured Research and Teaching

Enlarged Image of Coronavirus

PCL researchers offer insights on crisis management fundamentals for leaders responding to the COVID-19 pandemic  (Photo source)

Observations from the Gulf Coast / Photo: Mark Wolfe-FEMA

PCL Senior Fellow Doug Ahlers explores why people choose to remain in disaster-vulnerable communities.

The National Guard and Homeland Security

PCL partners with the National Guard on training programs for large-scale, multi-organizational response operations.

"Effective collaboration is essential if the extraordinary demands of crisis leadership are to be met."

Howitt and Leonard

PCL faculty offer short-term executive education programs and graduate-level courses on crisis leadership, disaster response, and homeland security.

Featured Course: Leadership in Crises: Preparation and Performance 

Faculty are currently conducting research on terror attacks in urban settings, disaster risk management in Asia, and disaster recovery.

Latest Book: “Public Health Preparedness: Case Studies in Policy and Management”