Dr. Qian Hu is an Associate Professor and Program Director for the Master of Emergency and Crisis Management Program in the School of Public Administration at the University of Central Florida (UCF). After receiving her Ph.D. in public administration from Arizona State University, she joined UCF in fall 2011. She specializes in emergency management, organizational networks, social media, and big data. Dr. Hu has spent more than a decade researching organizational networks and applying network governance to understanding interorganizational communication and coordination in the context of disasters. Her recent research investigates the challenges and opportunities facing emergency management organizations when using social media platforms to engage citizens, nonprofit organizations, and businesses in crisis communication and disaster response.

Dr. Hu has published 33 refereed journal articles and one co-authored book, entitled “Network Governance: Concepts, Theories, and Application.” Her work has been published in highly ranked journals such as Public Administration Review, the Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, Public Management Review, Public Administration, the American Review of Public Administration, Administration & Society, the Journal of Urban Affairs, Disasters, and Risk Analysis.

Dr. Hu is currently the Chair for the ASPA Section on Complexity and Network Studies and executive committee member for the ASPA Section on Emergency and Crisis Management and Section on Intergovernmental Administration and Management. She serves as an associate editor for Chinese Public Administration Review, and Complexity, Governance, & Networks, and editorial board member for three other journals

Dr. Hu is a recipient of the UCF Research Excellence Award (2016), Teaching Incentive Program Award (2016), Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Award (2017), and College Excellence of Graduate Teaching (2015).

Areas of Expertise

• Network Governance and Organizational Networks
• Emergency Management, Crisis Communication, and Coordination
• ICT-Facilitated Collaboration, Social Media, and Big Data

Education

Ph.D. in Public Administration, Arizona State University

The primary goal of my research is to advance knowledge of cross-sector collaboration in public service. My research has focused on three areas: (1) the theoretical development of network governance, (2) the empirical study of interorganizational communication and coordination in emergency management from a network relationship perspective, and (3) the use and management of information and communication technologies (ICTs) for better organizational performance and interorganizational collaboration.

Theoretical Work on Network Governance. My work has contributed to the advancement of network research by articulating the network governance framework, addressing theoretical foundations, and filling research gaps. For instance, my article recently published in Public Administration provides insights into whether certain network structural properties improve performance across a wide range of management and policy domains.

A Network Approach to Emergency Management. To understand and improve the structure and effectiveness of interorganizational collaboration in emergency management, I have applied the network governance framework and methods of network analysis to analyze how organizations communicate and coordinate during natural and man-made disasters.

ICT-Facilitated Collaboration, Social Media, and Big data. This line of my research addresses how public organizations can align their ICT capacity with organizational goals, missions, and structures to achieve better performance and facilitate collaboration with others.

Research Interests

• Network Governance and Organizational Networks
• Emergency Management, Crisis Communication, and Coordination
• ICT-Facilitated Collaboration, Social Media, and Big Data

I strongly believe in the importance of translating research into practice and strive to integrate service into teaching and research.

I have made significant service contributions to UCF by serving as program coordinator for the Public Affairs Ph.D. program (public administration track, 2013-2015) and program director of the Master of Emergency and Crisis Management (MECM) Program since fall 2021 (ranked #2 in the nation by the U.S. News & World Report). I created the graduate certificate in public policy analysis that welcomed its first cohort of students in 2018. I have served on more than 40 service committees at UCF, including the faculty senate and its steering committee, a three-year term on the college RIA Committee, and the search committee for the director position at the UCF Office for Diversity and Inclusiveness and the college associate dean position. I have taken leadership roles in professional associations. I am Chair for ASPA Section on Complexity and Network Studies and board member for two other ASPA sections and the China-America Association for Public Affairs. I am an associate editor for Complexity, Governance & Networks, and Chinese Public Administration Review and editorial board member for three other journals.

Current Service

• American Society for Public Administration (Leadership Roles)
  • Executive board member, Section on Intergovernmental Administration and Management, American Society for Public Administration, March 2019-present.
  • Executive board member, Section on Emergency and Crisis Management, American Society for Public Administration, March 2021-present.
  • Chair, Section on Complexity and Network Studies, American Society for Public Administration, March 2021-current
• State and Local Government Review Best Journal Article Award Committee, Member. 2021-present
• China-America Association for Public Affairs (CAAPA)
  • Board Member, 2022-current
  • Best Student Paper Award and Wen Wang Award for Young Scholar Best Paper Committee, 2022-current

Editorial Board Experience

• 2019 – present, Associate Editor, Chinese Public Administration Review (International Journal)
• 2019 – present, Editorial Board Member, Frontiers in Communication: Disaster Communication
• 2018 – present, Editorial Board Member, Complexity, Governance, & Networks
• 2019 – present, Editorial Board Member, Public Administration and Policy Review (in Chinese)

2019– present, Editorial Board Member, Journal of Risk, Disaster & Crisis Research (in Chinese)

• 2021 - The William Petak Best Paper Award from the American Society for Public Administration Section on Emergency and Crisis management. Article entitled “Dynamics of interorganizational emergency communication on Twitter: The case of Hurricane Irma” (First author)
• 2019 - Nomination for the Administrative Sciences Young Investigator Award. Recognize young scholars under 40 who have made significant contributions to administrative science.
• 2017 - Honorable Mention for “Best Journal Article Award” from of the Academy of Management Division of Public and Nonprofit Management, one of the finalists selected from all articles published in top public administration journals in 2016. Article entitled “The intellectual structure of empirical social network research in public administration” (First author)
• 2013 - Best Conference Paper Reviewer, the Academy of Management (AOM) annual conference, Division of Public and Nonprofit Management. Recognizes reviewers who have provided high-quality reviews and constructive comments.

UCF Honors, Awards and Recognition

• 2021 - Inductee, Scroll and Quill Society, University of Central Florida. The honor society recognizes faculty who have made a national and international impact through their sustained and outstanding achievements in research.
• 2020 -Sabbatical Award, University of Central Florida
• 2017 - Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Award, University of Central Florida. Recognizes discovery, reflection, and the use of evidence-based methods to research effective teaching and improve student learning.
• 2016 - Research Incentive Award, University of Central Florida. Recognizes outstanding research, scholarly, or creative activity that advances the body of knowledge in a particular field, including interdisciplinary research and collaborations.
• 2016 - Teaching Incentive Program Award, University of Central Florida. Recognizes teaching productivity and excellence.
• 2015 - Excellence in Graduate Teaching Award, College of Health and Public Affairs, University of Central Florida. Recognizes outstanding graduate-level teaching.

• PAD 6037: Public Organization Management (mixed mode, online, redesigned course)
  This course introduces concepts, theories, and practical techniques related to organizational behavior and organizational management.
• PAD 6825: Cross-Sectoral Governance (online)
  This course examines the structures, dynamics, and processes associated with developing and delivering public services through networks and partnerships involving public, nonprofit, voluntary, and private sectors.