Amber Lynn Scott
Assistant Professor, University of Kentucky | Ph.D., USC |
High-Reliability Teams Researcher | U.S. Navy Veteran
New: Download my Dissertation here!
My Research
My research focuses significantly on organizational communication and small group/team communication, with a primary emphasis on investigating high reliability organization (HRO) and high reliability team (HRT) communication. HROs/HRTs are designed to safely operate in high-risk environments and unpredictable conditions (i.e., military, fire departments, hospitals), and yet every year catastrophic failures and deaths occur. Uncovering how communication shapes how HROs and HRTs deal with these risks and crises is the heart of my current research foci.
My Education
May 2017
M.A., Communication Studies University of Oklahoma
Expertise: Organizational Communication
Advisor: Ryan S. Bisel, Ph.D.
November 2020
M.A., Communication
University of Southern California
Expertise: Groups, Organizations and Networks; Media, Culture and Community
Advisor: Michael Cody, Ph.D.
May 2023
Ph.D., Communication Studies
University of Southern California
Expertise: Organizational Communication; High-reliability teams and organizations
Advisor: Patricia (Patti) Riley, Ph.D.
My Experience
I am an expert in team communication, with a focus on high reliability organizations (HROs) and teams (HRTs). This expertise is reflected in my article Reviewing High Reliability Team (HRT) scholarship: A 21st century approach published this fall in Small Group Research. In addition to my research expertise in team communication, I also am an expert in crisis and risk communication. Much of this expertise was gained as a practitioner of journalism, public relations, and crisis communications for over a decade.
US Navy Blue Angels - Communications and Safety
My foundational knowledge and understanding of high-reliability organizations and teams is rooted in my experience as a safety officer and crisis communicator for one of the world's oldest, premier flight demonstration teams.
Pentagon - Strategic Comms.
White House - Social Aide
I oversaw multiple international crisis response efforts from the Pentagon, including the U.S. Navy Blue Angle jet crash in 2016 and both the USS Fitzgerald and USS McCain ship crashes in 2017. I also worked as a White House Social Aide in 2017.
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE)
I recently published my initial findings for a first-of-its-kind high-reliability team research project with CALFIRE aerial firefighting teams. Read more here.
