TRI’s CEO Andrea Davis Shares Expertise at Region 6 Higher Education Summit

NewsroomHigher EducationEmergency Management
Written By Andrea E. Davis

Andrea Davis, President and CEO of The Resiliency Initiative, was a featured speaker at the Region 6 Higher Education Collaborative Summit, held February 4–5 at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, Arkansas.

Davis participated in two dynamic panel discussions focused on advancing the future of emergency management: “From Classroom to Career: Bridging Gaps Through Experiential Learning”, which explored how hands-on experience is essential in preparing the next generation of emergency management professionals, and the Emergency Management Career Panel, where she offered real-world insights into building a meaningful and impactful career in the field.

The event brought together students, educators, and practitioners from across the region to share ideas, foster collaboration, and support the development of resilient leadership across the emergency management sector.

Andrea E. Davis

As the Founder, President and CEO of The Resiliency Initiative, a certified Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB), I empower small businesses and communities to become self-reliant through crisis and risk mitigation planning. I have over 20 years of experience in emergency management, business continuity, and public health, working for public, private, and non-profit sectors across various industries and geographies.

My core competencies include strategic policy development, program management, stakeholder engagement, and media relations. I have led global, enterprise-wide crisis management departments for multi-national, Fortune 500 companies, such as The Walt Disney Company and Walmart, overseeing large-scale responses to natural disasters, pandemics, cyberattacks, and social unrest. I have also served as the External Affairs Director for the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Louisiana Recovery Office for Hurricane Katrina, managing a recovery portfolio of over $25 billion.

My passion is volunteer service, which led to my selection as the Inaugural Emergency Manager of the Year in 2018 by the International Association of Emergency Managers and my induction into the Women’s Emergency Management Hall of Fame in 2013. Currently, I am Board Chair for the California Resiliency Alliance and the Northwest Arkansas American Red Cross. Additionally, I am an advisory board member for the Institute for Diversity and Inclusion in Emergency Management (I-DIEM) and the Dr. Lucy Jones Foundation.

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