Improving effectiveness in warning communication
Recognizing the enormous opportunities resulting from international solidarity and collaboration in disaster communication and management, AlertHub seeks to establish itself as the leading European interdisciplinary network centred on risk and crisis communication research with the aim of fostering cross-border knowledge exchange and collaboration between scholars and practitioners, to reduce public risk and harm posed by climate change-related disasters.
AlertHub is the place for scholars, practitioners, public institution representatives, policymakers, local authorities, journalists, EU institutions and organizations representatives to connect and collaborate in strengthening research and research dissemination in the field of warning communication.
To achieve its objectives, AlertHub aims to build an open-access knowledge platform focused on warning systems, legal and political frameworks, and the challenges of effective warning communication. The network also fosters collaboration to identify best practices and governance recommendations for improving warning communication. Finally, it seeks to develop innovative formats for knowledge exchange and networking among key stakeholders across Europe.
AlertHub Leadership
COST Officers
AlertHub Global Advisory Board
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Dr. Jesús Arroyave
Bio
Dr. Jesús Arroyave is the Coordinator of the Ph.D. Program in Communication at the Universidad del Norte (Colombia). He holds a Ph.D. in Communication from the University of Miami, and graduate degrees from Rutgers University (US) and Universidad Javeriana-Norte (Colombia).
His work focuses on media and journalism studies, health communication, and communication for social change. He has presented internationally and published books, chapters, and research articles. He has also served as a consultant for organizations such as Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) / WHO, USAID, and UN World Food Programme (WFP) and was Vice President of the Colombian Association of Communication Faculties and University Programmes (2012–2014).
His work focuses on media and journalism studies, health communication, and communication for social change. He has presented internationally and published books, chapters, and research articles. He has also served as a consultant for organizations such as Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) / WHO, USAID, and UN World Food Programme (WFP) and was Vice President of the Colombian Association of Communication Faculties and University Programmes (2012–2014).
Prof. Hamilton Bean
Bio
Dr. Hamilton Bean is a Professor of Communication at the University of Colorado Denver and an internationally recognized expert on disaster warning systems and public alerting. His research focuses on how warning messages are designed, governed, and interpreted across technological, institutional, and cultural contexts, with particular attention to mobile public alert and warning systems. Dr. Bean has led and contributed to multiple interdisciplinary research projects examining the effectiveness of Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA), message clarity, public trust, and decision-making during imminent threats. His work has been funded by agencies including the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Japan Foundation, and has informed policy discussions at multiple levels. He is the author of Mobile Technology and the Transformation of Public Alert and Warning and has consulted with government agencies on evidence-based public warning communication practices.
Dr. Aizhana Dzhumalieva
Bio
Dr. Aizhana Dzhumalieva is the Chair of the Journalism and Mass Communication Department at the American University of Central Asia (AUCA). She holds a PhD. in Business Administration from RANEPA (Russia), an MBA from AUCA (Kyrgyzstan), and a degree in International Relations from the International University of Kyrgyzstan.
Since joining AUCA in 2016, Dr. Dzhumalieva has held multiple leadership roles, ncluding Head of the School of Entrepreneurship and Business Administration and Chair of the MA in Journalism program. She plays a central role in curriculum development and international collaboration, serving as Lead Media Literacy Course Expert for AUCA in the Open Society University Network (OSUN) project. She also oversees international media initiatives, including programs for Afghan students and journalists across Central Asia. Dr. Dzhumalieva serves on advisory boards for OSUN and the WHO, contributing to global discussions on risk communication and infodemic management.
Since joining AUCA in 2016, Dr. Dzhumalieva has held multiple leadership roles, ncluding Head of the School of Entrepreneurship and Business Administration and Chair of the MA in Journalism program. She plays a central role in curriculum development and international collaboration, serving as Lead Media Literacy Course Expert for AUCA in the Open Society University Network (OSUN) project. She also oversees international media initiatives, including programs for Afghan students and journalists across Central Asia. Dr. Dzhumalieva serves on advisory boards for OSUN and the WHO, contributing to global discussions on risk communication and infodemic management.
Dr. Joel Iverson
Bio
Dr. Joel Iverson (PhD, Arizona State University) is a Professor of Communication Studies at the University of Montana. His research focuses on the communicative processes of organizing at group, organizational, and community levels, with an emphasis in risk and crisis communication.
His theoretical developments include the Four Flows Model of Communication and Communities of Practice Theory. Recently, he has applied these approaches to a range of contexts, including wildland fire policy, wildland firefighting, agricultural biosecurity, earthquake forecasting, health support groups, volunteer management, and nonprofit organizations. Dr. Iverson has received numerous accolades for his applied research.
His theoretical developments include the Four Flows Model of Communication and Communities of Practice Theory. Recently, he has applied these approaches to a range of contexts, including wildland fire policy, wildland firefighting, agricultural biosecurity, earthquake forecasting, health support groups, volunteer management, and nonprofit organizations. Dr. Iverson has received numerous accolades for his applied research.
Dr. Jeong-Nam Kim
Bio
Jeong-Nam Kim is a communication theorist whose research examines public information behavior in technologically disrupted and algorithmically mediated environments. He is best known for the Situational Theory of Problem Solving (STOPS) and, with James E. Grunig, for theorizing cognitive arrest and epistemic inertia. His recent work focuses on AI and democracy, analyzing how generative AI and algorithmic systems reshape public reasoning, trust, misinformation, and struggles over epistemic power and citizens’ cognitive autonomy. He is Director of the Debiasing and Lay Informatics (DaLI) Lab and the Center for Information to Intelligence (CItI) at KAIST, where he serves as a KAIST Chair Professor in AI & Futures Studies at the College of Artificial Intelligence and the Moon Soul Graduate School of Future Strategy.
Dr. Ngoc-Son Le
Bio
Dr. phil. Ngoc-Son Le is a senior communication expert, entrepreneur, and mentor with extensive experience in both Germany and Asia. He has worked in leading newsrooms, lectured at universities, and consulted for public sector organizations in Vietnam.
He has authored numerous books and papers, including "Crisis Management: Communication Strategies to Weather Any Storm," co-authored with Prof. Dr. Martin Löffelholz. Recognized for his contributions to journalism and media development in Southeast Asia, he maintains strong connections across political, academic, and professional circles. He is also the founder and chairman of Berlin Crisis Solutions (established in Erfurt, Germany), a crisis management network pooling experts from Germany and Asia, focusing on Vietnam.
He has authored numerous books and papers, including "Crisis Management: Communication Strategies to Weather Any Storm," co-authored with Prof. Dr. Martin Löffelholz. Recognized for his contributions to journalism and media development in Southeast Asia, he maintains strong connections across political, academic, and professional circles. He is also the founder and chairman of Berlin Crisis Solutions (established in Erfurt, Germany), a crisis management network pooling experts from Germany and Asia, focusing on Vietnam.
Dr. Angella Napakol
Bio
Dr. Angella Napakol is an academic leader and expert in media, communication, and cultural studies, with a focus on health communication, risk and crisis communication, social and behavioural change communication, policy, and community impact. Currently, she serves as the Director of Academic Affairs at Uganda Christian University, overseeing academic governance, program development, strategic partnerships and strengthening the university’s global academic presence. She holds a Ph.D. in Mass Communication/Media Studies from the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
Dr. Juan-Andrés Rincón-González
Bio
Dr. Juan-Andrés Rincón-González is a seasoned expert in strategic risk, crisis, and disaster communication with over 40 years of professional experience as a professor, consultant, and crisis team trainer. His work centers on human-centered approaches to crisis management and communication, emphasizing listening and dialogue as core tools for navigating crises with justice and care for those involved.
He has advised leading companies across Latin America and is an active member of the International Crisis and Risk Communication (ICRC) and the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC). He is also an active advocate of the #NoNaturalDisasters campaign and the Early Warnings for All (EW4All) initiative. and served as a speaker including in the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, the UK, Mexico, Panama, and the United States.
Currently with Universidad Panamericana (Mexico), he has taught at multiple universities, served as an international judge for communication awards, and contributes to academic journals in corporate, risk, and crisis communication.
He has advised leading companies across Latin America and is an active member of the International Crisis and Risk Communication (ICRC) and the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC). He is also an active advocate of the #NoNaturalDisasters campaign and the Early Warnings for All (EW4All) initiative. and served as a speaker including in the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, the UK, Mexico, Panama, and the United States.
Currently with Universidad Panamericana (Mexico), he has taught at multiple universities, served as an international judge for communication awards, and contributes to academic journals in corporate, risk, and crisis communication.
Prof. Matthew Seeger
Bio
Dr. Matthew W. Seeger is a Distinguished Professor of Communication at Wayne State University and internationally recognized for his contributions to the fields of crisis and risk communication, with a research portfolio that spans public health, crisis response, communication ethics, and the dynamics of complex system failure and recovery.
He has advised the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for over a decade, contributed to World Health Organization emergency communication guidelines, and consulted with both government agencies and Fortune 500 companies on crisis preparedness and response.
His academic output includes over 200 peer-reviewed publications and 10 books, and he continues to mentor the next generation of scholars, having supervised more than 40 doctoral dissertations. Dr. Seeger is currently the founding co-editor of the new Taylor and Francis journal, Crisis and Risk Communication.
He has advised the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for over a decade, contributed to World Health Organization emergency communication guidelines, and consulted with both government agencies and Fortune 500 companies on crisis preparedness and response.
His academic output includes over 200 peer-reviewed publications and 10 books, and he continues to mentor the next generation of scholars, having supervised more than 40 doctoral dissertations. Dr. Seeger is currently the founding co-editor of the new Taylor and Francis journal, Crisis and Risk Communication.
Prof. Deanna D. Sellnow
Bio
Dr. Deanna D. Sellnow is Professor and Chair of the Communication Department at Clemson University and an internationally recognized expert in strategic instructional communication.
Her research focuses on risk and crisis communication, particularly in health, disaster, and emergency contexts. She co-developed the IDEA model—a practical framework designed to help spokespersons communicate more effectively during crises by guiding communities toward informed action.
She has conducted funded research for agencies such as the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Her research focuses on risk and crisis communication, particularly in health, disaster, and emergency contexts. She co-developed the IDEA model—a practical framework designed to help spokespersons communicate more effectively during crises by guiding communities toward informed action.
She has conducted funded research for agencies such as the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Prof. Timothy L. Sellnow
Bio
Dr. Timothy L. Sellnow is a Professor at Clemson University and a global authority on risk and crisis communication. With over two decades of experience, his work centers on improving public messaging in high-stakes situations involving health threats, disasters, and bioterrorism. He is co-developer of the IDEA model, which has shaped communication strategies for agencies such as the CDC, USDA, EPA, and WHO. Thus, in addition to serving frequently as a corporate consultant, he has conducted funded research for the Department of Homeland Security, the United States Department of Agriculture, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Environmental Protection Agency, the United States Geological Survey, and the World Health Organization.
A prolific scholar and engaging speaker, Dr. Sellnow has published many refereed journal articles and co-authored six books on risk and crisis communication. In his research and training efforts worldwide he advocates for renewal-focused crisis communication that turns disruption into opportunity.
A prolific scholar and engaging speaker, Dr. Sellnow has published many refereed journal articles and co-authored six books on risk and crisis communication. In his research and training efforts worldwide he advocates for renewal-focused crisis communication that turns disruption into opportunity.
Dr. Farrukh Shahzad
Bio
Dr. Farrukh Shahzad is Head of the Media Studies Department at Bahria University (Pakistan), a distinguished academic and professional in the field of media studies and an expert in media effects, political communication, and strategic communication.
With over 13 years of experience in academia and the media industry, he has collaborated with international organizations in Australia and the UAE. His research has been published in leading journals, and he serves as a reviewer for Taylor & Francis and Sage Publications, as well as a board member at several universities.
With over 13 years of experience in academia and the media industry, he has collaborated with international organizations in Australia and the UAE. His research has been published in leading journals, and he serves as a reviewer for Taylor & Francis and Sage Publications, as well as a board member at several universities.
Prof. Steven Venette
Bio
Dr. Steven Venette is a professor in the School of Communication at the University of Southern Mississippi and a leading scholar in risk and crisis communication, with a research portfolio spanning disaster messaging, collaborative emergency response, and risk perception. His work explores linguistic agency, message design, and social dynamics in crises such as wildfires, pandemics, and opioid misuse. He has contributed to major journals and handbooks, emphasizing interdisciplinary, human-centered approaches to resilience, communication ethics, and community preparedness. Dr. Venette also collaborates on applied projects with federal agencies, advancing practical communication strategies in high-stakes, uncertain environments.