BIO

Deborah Thomas
Deborah Thomas is an Assistant Professor of Geography at the University of Colorado at Denver, where she is also affiliated faculty with the Doctoral Program in Health and Behavior Sciences. She completed her Ph.D. at the University of South Carolina in 1999, specializing in hazards geography, and has over ten years of experience working with geographic information systems (GIS) in a variety of social science application areas, including hazard management and environmental health. Her research interests focus on the use of technologies in support of hazards management and issues of vulnerability as they relate to both natural and human-induced hazards and environmental health hazards. Current research projects include: 1) using GIS in the mitigation process and assessing its potential in emergency response; 2) examining the political aspects of disaster declarations; 3) incorporating mapping technologies into health hazard response; 4) investigating drought impacts on Colorado’s resort industry; and 5) assessing higher education needs for hazards management.