Strengthening Resilience Knowledge

Resiliency Academy

Since 2020, the Resiliency Academy has offered accessible, timely webinar series that strengthen resilience knowledge, practical skills, and leadership capacity for professionals across sectors. Since its launch, the Academy has experienced significant and sustained growth in participation.

2026 Resiliency Academy

Exploring What Resilience Looks Like

March–December, 2026

This comprehensive webinar series explores the principles, tools, and strategies needed to understand and strengthen resilience in social, ecological, and community systems. Every session is designed to build sequentially, deepening understanding and skills over the course of the 10-session series.

Participants will examine how natural and human systems experience change and variability, analyze vulnerabilities and risks, and explore approaches for reducing hazards and promoting adaptive capacity.

The series emphasizes systems thinking, equity, and justice, providing practical guidance on decision-making, change management, and effective communication.

Through these sessions, attendees will gain the knowledge and skills to design inclusive, evidence-based strategies that enhance resilience across communities, organizations, and interconnected systems.

Our Next Event: Thursday, April 16

From Change to Impact: Identifying and Reducing Hazard Pathways

Date: Thursday, April 16th
Time: Noon – 1:30 pm ET
Partner Cost: $16 |Non-Partner Cost: $20

All Resilient Virginia partners are eligible for discounted event registration.
Learn more about becoming a partner and join today to receive a discount on Resiliency Academy registration.

About Our Speaker

Dr. Katie Trozzo

The 2026 Resiliency Academy webinar series explores the principles, tools, and strategies needed to understand and strengthen resilience in social, ecological, and community systems. Every session is designed to build sequentially, deepening understanding and skills over the course of the 10-session series.

The second session will focus on expert scoping — an essential process for identifying community hazards and developing practical, forward-looking solutions.

Find Out More About Our Speakers Below

Paul Robinson

Paul Robinson, Ph.D., is the founder and Executive Director of RISE, a Norfolk-based nonprofit committed to driving innovation and business growth for the most challenging problems faced by coastal communities. RISE has established the exclusive one-stop shop and living lab for coastal resilience entrepreneurs. Since 2018, RISE has provided over $10 million in financial support and services to support over 40 businesses in creating new, scalable products that enable communities to adapt to environmental hazards such as flooding and sea level rise. In addition to his work at RISE, Dr. Robinson is the founder and CEO of AeroTech Research, a company specializing in weather hazard detection for aircraft, and holds 8 patents in this area. He has also served as a Senior Advisor to Focus Investment Bank in the areas of Government, Aerospace, and Defense, and was a member of a local angel investment group, 757 Angels.

Luis Ortiz

Luis Ortiz, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of climate applications at George Mason University's College of Science. Before joining GMU, Dr. Ortiz worked as a fellow at the Office of the US Secretary of Transportation where he worked on climate change, environmental justice, and permitting. His expertise is in the field of urban climate, where he investigates the links between built environments and the atmosphere, as well as the impacts of those links on people and infrastructure. Dr. Ortiz dedicates significant effort to climate science translation and regional assessments through his leadership roles at the Virginia Climate Center (VCC) and appointment to the 5th New York City Panel on Climate Change (NPCC). He is a lead author of the First Virginia Climate Assessment published in 2025 and contributed to several chapters of the NPCC on topics ranging from extreme heat and humidity to drivers of regional climate change.

Molly Mitchell

Molly Mitchell, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor at William & Mary's Virginia Institute of Marine Science. Her research interests focus on shifts in coastal resources due to the interaction of sea level rise and human-driven changes. Although primarily an ecologist, she works on projects involving physical dynamics (sea level rise trend analysis, shoreline geology) and human decision making (social vulnerability, sea level rise adaptation, adaptive management application). She works with representatives from many different groups to help translate research and current scientific understanding into practical recommendations.

2026 Resiliency Academy Topics

MARCH
Change Happens: Making Sense of Variability Across the Systems We Depend On

APRIL
From Change to Impact: Identifying and Reducing Hazard Pathways

MAY
Risk and Vulnerability Explained: How Lives, Systems, and Perceptions Shape Outcomes

JUNE
Proactive Resilience: Planning, Adapting, and Mitigating Hazards Before They Strike

JULY
Seeing the Bigger Picture: How Systems Thinking Builds Resilient Communities

AUGUST
Closing the Opportunity Gap: Ensuring Equitable Access to Essential Resources

SEPTEMBER
The Essentials of Change Management: Guiding Communities Toward Resilience

OCTOBER
Understanding Decisions: How Individuals, Organizations, and Political Systems Shape Resilience

NOVEMBER
Building Shared Meaning: Communication Approaches for Multi-Sector Resilience Efforts

DECEMBER
Putting It All Together: Showcasing Resilience in Action

Resiliency Academy Archives

Climate and Hazard Mitigation Planning

SPRING AND FALL 2024

The 2024 Resiliency Academy responded to updated FEMA Local Mitigation Planning requirements by helping communities understand and integrate climate change impacts into Hazard Mitigation Plans. Through a virtual webinar series, participants explored projected climate impacts across Virginia and gained practical tools, data sources, and approaches to incorporate climate information into local planning. The Academy strengthened local capacity to meet federal requirements while advancing more proactive, data-informed mitigation and resilience strategies.

Components of a Resilient Community

SPRING AND FALL 2022

The 2022 Resiliency Academy explored the foundational components of a resilient community, with a focus on economic activity, community action, infrastructure and buildings, and ecosystem services. Through a virtual learning series, participants examined how these interconnected elements support long-term resilience and community well-being. The Academy emphasized practical strategies and cross-sector perspectives to help communities strengthen systems, align efforts, and advance resilience planning and action.

Funding Resiliency Programs

SPRING 2021

The Spring 2021 Resiliency Academy focused on helping communities identify and access funding to advance resilience initiatives. Through a three-part virtual series, participants explored financing options for flood-prone communities, resilient buildings and energy systems, and economic recovery, jobs, and justice. The Academy equipped local leaders and practitioners with insights into funding tools and strategies to support equitable, long-term resilience outcomes.

Four Resiliency Planning Guides

Fall 2020

The Fall 2020 Resiliency Academy featured a four-part webinar series highlighting leading resiliency planning tools to help communities strengthen their capacity to withstand and recover from severe disturbances and ongoing stressors. The series focused on practical approaches for maintaining critical functions, protecting community vitality, and supporting informed, proactive resilience planning across sectors.