Bill Anderson Fund

News from the BAF

May 3, 2024
| Fellows

Friday Fellow Feature: Jennifer R. Blanks

Our featured Fellow for May 2024 is Dr. Jennifer Blanks, who will be graduating this month with a Ph.D. in urban and regional science from Texas A&M University.

Purpose

Our work empowers the diverse next generation of professionals, academics, and researchers as leaders who are well-equipped to facilitate meaningful social change on complex issues of inequity. Ultimately, our aim is to prioritize the lived experiences and expertise of marginalized communities in solidarity with their pursuit of disaster risk reduction and environmental justice

Mission

Our mission and vision are to expand the number of historically underrepresented professionals in the fields of hazard and disaster research and practice so that the diversity of the hazard and disaster field be reflective of American society.

Programs

Our Flagship programming consists of three pillars: Training, Mentorship and Peer Support. Workshops and other training events foster personal and professional development. Our network of Mentors leverages their knowledge, skills, abilities, and connections to help our Fellows identify and accomplish their career goals. Peer networks promote camaraderies and collaboration among Fellows and Alumni throughout and beyond their doctoral studies.

Fellows

BAF Fellows are a diverse group of doctoral students representing dozens of academic disciplines who specialize in hazards and disaster studies at over 30 institutions across the United States. Our Fellows program will position them to become tomorrow’s leaders in the fields of hazard and disaster mitigation, research, policy, and practice.

Bill Anderson

Founded in 2014 by Norma Doneghy Anderson, the William Averette Anderson Fund (BAF), a charitable organization, has developed a mission dedicated to the work done by and the legacy of William (Bill) Averette Anderson, who passed away in 2013.

Partners

Our partners include academic institutions and universities such as the University of Colorado Boulder and The Natural Hazards Center, Texas A&M University, and Arizona State University.

Support Our Mission

Your support makes it possible for us to meet our goals, improve outcomes and change the way we understand and respond to hazards and disasters for future generations as a charitable organization. Your gift directly supports programming delivered to our Fellows and Alumni.

Listen to Dr. Darien Alexander Williams explain how the BAF provides emerging scholars with a valuable community of lifelong friends and collaborators.