Community Preparedness Program Manager
County of Sonoma
Santa Rosa, California, United States
Dr. Nancy Brown** serves as the Community Preparedness Program Manager for the Sonoma County Department of Emergency Management, where she leads initiatives designed to increase preparedness among individuals, families, businesses, and neighborhoods throughout Sonoma County.
Dr. Brown earned her Ph.D. in Emergency Management from Massey University in Wellington, New Zealand. She also holds a Master of Science degree in Emergency Management Administration from California State University, Long Beach. Her master's thesis examined how community gardening contributes to community disaster resilience.
Her doctoral research bridged the fields of disaster science, tourism resilience, community resilience, and organizational resilience. Through this work, she developed a model for measuring disaster resilience within the hotel sector, contributing to both academic research and practical applications for the hospitality industry.
Prior to pursuing her doctorate, Dr. Brown served as the Emergency Preparedness Coordinator for the resort hotels at Disney's Magic Kingdom in Anaheim, California. Her professional experience spans emergency management, community preparedness, business continuity, and resilience planning, providing her with a unique perspective on building stronger and more disaster-resilient communities.
Leveraging Community to Build Resilience and Fill YOUR Gaps
Tuesday, November 10, 2026
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM PST