Frances Edwards is a professor of political science and director of the Master of Public Administration program. She is deputy director of Mineta Transportation Institute’s National Transportation Safety and Security Center. She holds a doctoral degree in public administration from New York University. She is a certified emergency manager with over 20 years of experience in California. Her research focuses on issues related to seismic safety, emergency management, homeland security, continuity of operations for government and businesses, and global supply chain security.