Introducing Crystal A. Felima as new co-chair of the Risk & Disaster TIG

Irena Connon

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Sep 26, 2025, 6:03:05 PM (2 days ago) Sep 26

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Dear TIG members,

Happy Friday and I hope you all had a good week.

I'd like to take a moment to welcome and formally introduce Crystal A. Felima as the new co-chair of the SfAA Risk and Disaster TIG.

Crystal A. Felima, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Anthropology and African American & Africana Studies at the University of Kentucky. Her research and teaching examine the intersections of disaster, climate change, and Black feminist studies, with a particular focus on climate crises and grassroots responses in Haiti and small island contexts more broadly. She is currently completing her first book on flood narratives in Cap-Haïtien, Haiti. Crystal is also a Co-Series Editor for Berghahn Books’ Catastrophes in Context series, a Fellow of the Society of Applied Anthropology, and a Board Member of the Haitian Studies Association. Prior to academia, she worked as a federal emergency manager, GIS specialist, and equity advisor with FEMA, an experience that continues to inform her applied anthropological practice.

Crystal has long been committed to advancing anthropological approaches to disasters, climate change, and risk through both scholarship and practice. She has presented at SfAA on disaster futures and Caribbean climate change, mentored emerging scholars in disaster anthropology, and actively participates in interdisciplinary research networks. As Co-Chair, she is enthusiastic about strengthening connections among members and fostering dialogue on disasters and risks.

I'm really excited and honoured to be working together with Crystal over this next year.

Best Wishes

Irena

Dr Irena L. C. Connon

Faculty of Social Sciences,

University of Stirling,

Stirling, Scotland, FK94NF,

Phone: + 44 (0)1786 467634

Email: irena....@stir.ac.uk

Chair (Acting) of IUAES Commission on Risk and Disaster

Co-Chair of Society for Applied Anthropology Risk and Disaster Topical Interest Group

Leader of SAGES forum on Creating Sustainable Water Futures

Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence

The University of Stirling is a charity registered in Scotland, number SC 011159

AJ Faas

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Sep 27, 2025, 7:27:09 PM (23 hours ago) Sep 27

to Irena Connon, disasters-and-app...@googlegroups.com

Welcome, Crystal! It's great to have you at the help with Irena!

A.J. Faas, Ph.D.

Professor & Graduate Coordinator

Department of Anthropology

San José State University

President | Society for Applied Anthropology

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