Education 
Jeannette recieved her Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Colorado at Boulder specializing in environmental sociology with an emphasis in hazards and disasters.  Her dissertation research was an examination of collective behavior and the construction of social problems during the response to the September 11, World Trade Center attacks. 

Jeannette continued her education as a post-doctoral researcher at the Natural Hazards Center , under the direction of Dr. Kathleen Tierney. During her post-doc, she conducted research on the barriers to adopting new technologies within public sector agencies, earthquake early warning systems, and the uses of information and communication technology for communication in disaster events. It was also during this period that she began her work on Crisis Informatics, with colleague Leysia Palen at the University of Colorado, School of Engineering.  

Personal
Jeannette is mom to a precocious son and enjoys the beauty that can be found in Colorado Springs and the mountains along the front range. 
  

Professional Experience

Jeannette currently works as a Senior Research Associate at the Trauma Health and Hazards Center where she is the Principal Investigator on several National Science Foundation funded projects.  These include the HEROIC Project (with Co-PI Carter Butts at UCI), an investigation of online informal communication in disaster; Disaster Resilient Rural Communites research (with Co-PI Charles "Chip" Benight); and RAPID research in New Zealand on communication following the February 27, 2011 Christchurch earthquake.    

Jeannette continues to work closely with Dennis Mileti, professor emeritus from the University of Colorado, on research relevant to public warnings and social media.  Current collaborations focus on the applications of social media to public warning systems, including alerts, messaging, and public response processes. 

Prior to beginning her work as a disaster researcher, Jeannette coordinated victim services for Columbine High School (1999) and served as a chaplain in domestic violence shelters and trauma hospitals in the greater Denver-Metro area.