MSW, PhD

Assistant Professor

Teaching interests

• Macro Social Work
• Community and Environmental Justice
• Research Methods
• Grant Writing for Research

Research interests

• Reducing climate and weather-related health inequities 
• Inclusive severe weather risk communication
• Community resilience and sustainability
• Interdisciplinary and community-engaged solutions

Dr. First’s research examines the impacts of climate and weather-related hazards (e.g., tornadoes, floods, hurricanes, heat) on human health. Her work encompasses various topics, including assessing environmental health disparities, studying risk communication and behavioral processes, formulating hazard mitigation strategies, and implementing resources and interventions to foster adaptive coping and well-being. Her research is solution-focused and interdisciplinary, integrating physical, natural, and social sciences with community stakeholder engagement to translate research findings into actionable strategies. Her work has been supported by funders such as the National Science Foundation (NSF), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), National Integrated Heat Health Information Systems (NIHHIS), Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), and the Natural Hazards Center.

Select Publications

1. First, J. M. (2024). Examining tornado exposure, post-tornado distress, and gender following the March 2020 tornado in Nashville, Tennessee. Environmental Hazards, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1080/17477891.2024.2379895
2. Ellis, K.N., First, J.M., Kintziger, K.W., *Hunter, Ella (2024) Overnight heat in sleep spaces of housed and unhoused residents: results and recommendations from a Knoxville, Tennessee, case study. International Journal of Biometeorology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-023-02611-3
3. Ellis, K. N., First, J. M., Strader, S. M., Grondin, N. S., Burow, D., & Medley, Z. (2023). The Climatology, Vulnerability, and Public Perceptions Associated with Overlapping Tornado and Flash Flood Warnings in a Portion of the Southeast United States. Weather, Climate, and Society, 15(4), 943-961. https://doi.org/10.1175/WCAS-D-23-0018.1
4. First, JM, & *Lee, S. (2023). Examining Factors Influencing Protective Actions Among Persons with Disabilities During the December 10–11, 2021, Tornado Outbreak in the United States. Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness, 17, e474. doi:10.1017/dmp.2023.150
5. Lee, S. & First, JM. (2023). Investigation of the microenvironment, land cover characteristics, and social vulnerability of heat-vulnerable bus stops in Knoxville, Tennessee. Sustainability. DOI: 10.3390/su151410866
6. First, JM., Ellis, K., Strader, S. (2022). Double trouble: Examining public protective decision-making during concurrent tornado and flash flood threats in the U.S. Southeast. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2022.103297

View Dr. First’s publications on Google Scholar

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