Thomas A. Birkland

Thomas (Tom) A. Birkland is a Professor of Public Policy at North Carolina State University, where he is also the Associate Dean for Research and Engagement in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, He holds degrees from the University of Oregon (BA), Rutgers University (MAI, and the show more University of Washington, Seattle (PhD). At North Carolina State he teaches courses on disaster policy and on the policy process. Dr. Birkiand's research is in theories of the policy process, focusing on agenda change, policy change, and learning. He is also an internationally known expert on policies related to natural disasters and industrial accidents. He is the author of two books, After Disaster and Lessons of Disaster, and many journal articles. His recent interests have focused on whether and to what extent people and institutions learn from disasters. show less