Strategic Risk Communication

• Communications directors and PR managers responsible for communicating about risk across their organizations and externally
• Risk communication and country risk teams developing communication strategies before challenges or incidents arise
• Public information officers at health, environmental, and food safety regulatory agencies in the U.S. and Europe
• Risk management leaders at pharmaceutical, chemical, biotech, and energy companies operating in highly regulated environments
• Health, emergency, and public safety managers communicating hazards to the communities they serve
• Executives, operations leaders, and project managers who oversee or coordinate risk communication without formal training in the field
• Technical specialists, analysts, marketers, and professionals in advocacy, education, and public lands whose roles include communicating about risk

• Strategic Risk Communication Certificate from Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
• 48 Professional Development Hours (4.8 CEUs)

Strategic risk communication helps people, organizations, and communities navigate uncertainty, make informed decisions, and respond effectively to complex challenges. From public health and environmental hazards to cybersecurity, misinformation, and emerging technologies, effective communication calls for more than sharing information; it requires understanding audiences, demonstrating trustworthiness, developing evidence-informed messages, and adapting to changing conditions.

In this certificate, Professor Katherine McComas and Professor Dominic Balog-Way guide you through the foundations and practice of communicating risk strategically. You will define communication goals, evaluate how different audiences perceive risk, develop and evaluate audience-informed messages, and assess communication effectiveness in dynamic environments. Through research-based frameworks, international case studies, practical activities, and applied course projects, you’ll build the skills needed to communicate about risk thoughtfully, respond to evolving challenges, and serve as a more effective and trustworthy communicator.

The courses in this certificate program are required to be completed in the order that they appear.

This program includes two years of access to the Leadership Symposium!

These highly interactive virtual events span multiple days and explore today’s most pressing topics. Symposium sessions offer exclusive opportunities to engage in real-time discussions with your eCornell community, applying insights from your courses to real-world scenarios. Through reflections and small-group discussions, you’ll deepen your learning, broaden your perspective, and expand your professional network.

Symposium events are held throughout the year, providing ongoing opportunities to stay engaged, gain fresh perspectives, and strengthen your skills. Once enrolled, you’ll receive access to the Symposium networking site and details about upcoming sessions. You can participate in as many as you’d like to make the most of your experience, though attendance is not required to complete your program.