Charna R. Epstein

Charna R. Epstein is the Chief Operating Officer at the University of Chicago Urban Education Institute (UEI). Prior to her work at UEI, Charna spent over ten years working in emergency and disaster management, primarily as the Director of Crisis Prevention, Resettlement and Disaster Recovery at Heartland Alliance for Human Needs and Human Rights. Charna also worked in Chicago government for three years and as a fellow at FEMA Region V. Among a number of awards, she was the recipient of the 2011 Red Cross Hero Award for disaster relief and preparedness work. Charna holds a M.Sc. in Threat and Response Management (2009), a M.A. in Social Service Administration (2005), both from the University of Chicago; and a B.A. from Brandeis University (1999).