WKU News

Drs. Jacqueline Basham, Edrisa Sanyang, and Ritchie Taylor of the WKU College of Health and Human Services (CHHS) recently presented findings from the Kentucky Statewide Jurisdictional Risk Assessment at the 2025 Kentucky Preparedness Summit. Hosted by the Kentucky Department for Public Health, the summit included public health practitioners, departments, and emergency preparedness organizations from Kentucky.

The presentation, delivered to more than 200 practitioners from across Kentucky, highlighted research conducted by a team from Western Kentucky University’s (WKU) Center for Environmental and Workplace Health, one of the Applied Research Centers within CHHS. The multidisciplinary team also includes faculty and students from two WKU colleges, CHHS and the Ogden College of Science and Engineering, representing three disciplines: Public Health, Psychological Sciences, and Nursing.

Research Team Members:
Faculty: Drs. Jacqueline Basham, Katrina Burch, Kara Haughtigan, Gretchen Macy, Edrisa Sanyang, and Ritchie Taylor.
Students: Trenton Daugherty, James Macy, Chase Pitchford, Allison West, and Dariyan Whitman.

“This project showcases the community-based and multidisciplinary nature of research that occurs at WKU,” said Dr. Taylor. “Future research will address the preparedness of the Kentucky public health system for hazards identified.”

Along with the Kentucky Department for Public Health, Public Health Preparedness Branch, the WKU team addresses preparedness planning and specific needs, such as family reunification plans during disasters.

The team, along with Kentucky Emergency Management and county emergency managers in Christian and Hopkins counties, will conduct a Hazardous Materials Commodity Flow Study. This research will enhance the Jurisdictional Risk Assessment and improve public health preparedness.

For more information about this project or the WKU Center for Environmental and Workplace Health, please visit: www.wku.edu/cewh