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<\/p>\n\t\tPublished Aug 03, 2026 by <\/p>\n
ECU political science professor Jason M. Pudlo received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar award to conduct disaster recovery research in Canada during 2026-27.
\nPudlo will study how places of worship support disaster recovery to help emergency managers connect with local community resources.
\nThe research will compare U.S. and Canadian disaster recovery systems and could inform future disaster planning, including lessons from Hurricane Helene.<\/p>\n
GREENVILLE, N.C. (08\/03\/2026) \u2014 An East Carolina University faculty member is receiving a prestigious, national award to support his research on places of worship that serve as hubs of disaster recovery and resilience. Dr. Jason M. Pudlo, assistant professor in the Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences Department of Political Science and a Water Resources Center affiliate, will be a Fulbright U.S. Scholar to Canada during the 2026-27 academic year.<\/p>\n
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Dr. Jason Pudlo.<\/p>\n
Pudlo will travel to the University of Regina in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, from January through May. His research may help link emergency managers to local resources both in the United States and Canada.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is pretty exciting, and I want to thank everyone involved at ECU, the University of Regina, my colleagues and family,\u201d Pudlo said.<\/p>\n
To learn how places of worship are a key part of the disaster recovery cycle, Pudlo will connect with various denominational houses of worship and community networks active in relief efforts. He will examine who the religious institutions work with, their capacity to assist, and the similarities between U.S. and Canadian disaster recovery systems at the local and national levels.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnderstanding how houses of worship fit into the disaster relief system will help link emergency managers to local resources in both the United States and Canada,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Pudlo said this will be especially important in the United States, and in states like North Carolina, at a time when the U.S. government is pushing for states and local leaders to take on a larger role in disaster management. This also ties into Pudlo\u2019s research in western North Carolina \u2014 post-Hurricane Helene \u2014 and the lessons learned that may be applied to future events.<\/p>\n
Fulbright Scholar Awards<\/a> are prestigious fellowships that offer scholars transformative opportunities to teach and conduct research abroad while strengthening their professional development and fostering long\u2011term connections that enrich their careers, campuses and communities. Among the achievements of Fulbright alumni are\u00a063 Nobel Prizes, 98 Pulitzer Prizes and 83 MacArthur Fellowships.<\/p>\n Fulbright Canada is a joint, treaty-based organization between the United States and Canada. It is supported by Global Affairs Canada, the U.S. Department of State and a group of corporate sponsors, charitable trusts and university partners.<\/p>\n Fulbright Canada is committed to community development and fostering cultural understanding. The organization aims to grow intellectual capacity, increase productivity and assist in the shaping of future leaders.<\/p>\n Contact: ECU News Services, ecunews@ecu.edu<\/a>, 252-328-6481<\/p>\n ###<\/p>\n East Carolina University News Services<\/p>\n Howard House, 1001 E. Fifth Street<\/p>\n Greenville, NC 27858<\/p>\n