Rate My Professor Michele Wood

Michele Wood is Professor and Chair of the Department of Public Health at California State University, Fullerton. She holds a PhD in Public Health from the University of California, Los Angeles (2008), an MS in Community Psychology from California State University, Long Beach (1994), and a BA in Psychology from the University of California, Irvine (1987, cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa). Her academic career at CSUF includes positions as Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Science (2009–2014), Associate Professor (2014–2018), Professor (2018–present), and Department Chair (2018–present). Previously, she served as Lecturer in Community Health Sciences at UCLA School of Public Health (2008–2010) and in various departments at California State University, Long Beach (2008–2009).

Wood's research interests encompass earthquake early warning systems, risk communication, public health preparedness, disaster warnings, HIV prevention, substance use, and health disparities. Notable publications include 'Evidence-based guidelines for protective actions and earthquake early warning systems' (McBride et al., Geophysics, 2021), 'Tornado warning guidance and graphics: Implications of the inclusion of protective action information on perceptions and efficacy' (Sutton et al., Weather, Climate, & Society, 2021), 'Milling and public warnings' (Wood et al., Environment and Behavior, 2018), 'Communicating actionable risk for terrorism and other disasters' (Wood et al., Risk Analysis, 2012), and 'Is a picture worth a thousand words? The effects of maps and warning messages on how publics respond to disaster information' (Liu et al., Public Relations Review, 2017). She has received the 2026 John W. 'Jack' Bedell Faculty Leadership in Collegial Governance Award, Outstanding Scholarly and Creative Activity awards from CSUF (2018) and the College of Health and Human Development (2014, 2008), the 2014 Outstanding Article Award from the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism, Delta Omega Honorary Society membership (2008), and fellowships including START (2006, 2005) and NIMH Pre-Doctoral (1999–2002). Wood has served over a decade on CSUF's Academic Senate, with four nonconsecutive terms on the Executive Leadership Committee and as current vice chair. She mentors in the Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Training Program and leads the Community Health Ambassador Program.