PhD defence J.F. (Joyce) Biggins

Below is a brief summary of the dissertation: 

This study explores how communities recover from devastating floods and what kind of leadership truly helps them rebuild. Based on the author’s real-world experience responding to storm and flood disasters, the research focuses on the role of religious leaders—not in a religious sense, but as trusted community figures who can guide and support long-term recovery.

The case study takes place in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, where a group of clergy, local government officials, and university partners worked together after the historic March 2016 flood. The study followed their collaboration over two years, examining how they supported community needs, responded to crises, and built trust across different sectors.

The findings show that functioning leadership doesn’t always come from formal titles or government positions. Instead, it often emerges from those who step up with compassion, insight, and a strong connection to the people they serve. Religious leaders played a key role by uniting communities, advocating for those most in need, and helping to create long-term solutions that reached beyond emergency response.

This research shows that resilience—the ability to recover and grow stronger after disaster—depends on inclusive, adaptative, and community-based leadership. It offers practical strategies for how local leaders, especially faith-based ones, can work alongside governments to help their communities thrive after crisis.