Welcome

I am a doctoral candidate in Information Sciences at the University at Albany – SUNY, with concentrations in Data Analytics and Information for Risk in Emergency Management & Security (IRES). My research examines how immigrant and marginalized communities experience disasters, access emergency services, and navigate recovery and how data, technology, and policy can be leveraged to close those gaps. I also serve as an Adjunct Professor at the College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity (CEHC), University at Albany – SUNY.

Research Focus

  • Immigrant Vulnerability & Integration
  • Social & Technological Equity
  • Assistive Technologies
  • Privacy & Ethical Concerns in AI
  • Data Analytics for Risk & Emergency Management

About

My name is Yvonne and I am a doctoral candidate in Information Sciences at the College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity, University at Albany – SUNY, with concentrations in Data Analytics and Information for Risk in Emergency Management & Security (IRES). I am also an Adjunct Professor at the same college, where I teach courses on homeland security and emergency preparedness.

My path to this work was not planned. Living through the COVID-19 lockdown and Winter Storm Uri in Denton, Texas opened my eyes to what crises feel like for people navigating unfamiliar systems far from home. But that was just the beginning. As a Ghanaian-born scholar with roots in economics, public administration, and information sciences, I am drawn to bigger questions about equity, technology, and who gets left behind. My dissertation, Beyond the Undocumented: Immigrant Vulnerability & Resilience in Disaster Contexts, examines how immigrant communities navigate disasters in the United States.

I am also a Fellow of the Bill Anderson Fund and a member of the NSF CoPe MACH project, a multi-institutional initiative improving the understanding and governance of co-evolving coastal hazards across New Jersey, New York City, and Philadelphia.

In my pre-doctoral life, I was an economist with a passion for data, policy, and public service across Ghana. On this website, you will find more about what I research, teach and publish Click to download PDF of my CV. You can also reach me via email, connect with me on LinkedIn, or follow my work on Google Scholar.

Background

I hold a Master of Public Administration from the University of North Texas, a Master of Philosophy in Economics from the University of Ghana, and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from KNUST, Ghana. Before entering academia, I worked in consulting, banking, and public service across Ghana.

Interests

My best collaborations have come from unexpected places, and I am always open to new partnerships. If you are a researcher, practitioner, policymaker, or community organization working on immigrant communities and disasters, social equity in emergency management, AI ethics and privacy, data analytics for risk, or assistive technologies for vulnerable populations, I would love to hear from you. Feel free to reach out via email.