Cornelius Ojo

Bio

Advisor and Program

Traci Rose Rider
College of Design, NC State University

About

I am building a career at the intersection of urban planning, disaster risk reduction and resilience, and public health, driven by a commitment to equitable recovery in vulnerable communities. With an academic background in architecture and a PhD focus on post-disaster recovery planning, my research explores how policy windows opened by hurricanes can be harnessed to promote long-term health and psychosocial well-being. I am developing a coherence-based framework that uses survivors’ lived experiences to examine the effectiveness of recovery policies. My goal is to contribute to global climate adaptation by shaping policy and planning frameworks that are grounded in real-world needs. Participating in this program will strengthen my ability to translate interdisciplinary research into practice and to advocate for community-centered strategies that elevate resilience, particularly in climate-stressed and under-resourced settings.

Research Interests

My research examines how post-disaster policy changes impact long-term health outcomes in routinely disrupted communities, particularly after hurricanes. I am developing a coherence-based framework that uses survivors’ lived experiences to assess the effectiveness of redevelopment policies. This work bridges design, health, and policy to support inclusive and resilient recovery planning. My work aims to redefine success in post-disaster policy beyond physical reconstruction toward psychosocial well-being and adaptive capacity.