Dr. Halima Phillips-Smith

Dr. Halima Phillips-Smith is a passionate advocate for emergency preparedness in underserved communities, with a career dedicated to supporting populations most vulnerable to disaster impacts.

She currently serves as Program Manager of Mass Sheltering for the California Department of Social Services (CDSS), overseeing operations across San Diego and Imperial Counties. In this role, she leads planning, coordination, and response efforts to ensure safe, accessible sheltering for communities affected by emergencies.

Her field experience includes critical roles in major disaster responses. In San Diego, she contributed to recovery efforts following the 2024 flooding. She later supported response operations during the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires, working in the Emergency Operations Center to coordinate sheltering for displaced residents. Across both response and recovery, Dr. Phillips-Smith has consistently worked to ensure impacted communities have the immediate resources needed to survive disasters and the long-term support necessary to rebuild.

Dr. Phillips-Smith earned her Bachelor of Arts (2015) and Master of Science (2017) from National University. She was inducted into the Order of the Sword and Shield National Honor Society and served as president of her alumni association. In 2026, she earned her PhD in Emergency Management from Capella University.

Her dissertation, "Bridging the Gap: Exploring Disaster Preparedness, Challenges, and Community Engagement for Senior Citizens in Southern California," examines critical gaps in preparedness among elderly populations and highlights the need for stronger local outreach to ensure vulnerable communities can access life-saving information and resources.

Dr. Phillips-Smith also holds extensive certifications in emergency management, incident command, mass care, and disaster recovery, including advanced training through FEMA and the California Specialized Training Institute.