MSW, PhD
Assistant Professor
Research at a glance
Research Topics
Research Summary
Dr. First studies how people prepare and cope with climate change and severe weather events.
Teaching interests
- Macro Social Work
- Community and Environmental Justice
- Research Methods
- Grant Writing for Research
Research interests
- Ecosystems & Environment
- Human Health
- Mental Health
Dr. First is an interdisciplinary social scientist, studying how people prepare and cope with climate change and severe weather events (e.g., extreme heat, floods, tornadoes), with an emphasis on solution-focused research to reduce social inequities and health threats. Her research approach is collaborative and community-driven, integrating physical, natural, and social sciences with community stakeholder engagement. She employs various convergent research methods, including population-based surveys, interviews, case studies, remote sensing, visual tools (e.g., mapping, photography), historical data, experiments, and model building. 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.
View Dr. First’s publications on Google Scholar