Honoured to Be Elected Full is the central topic of this scientific publication.
It is with great pride and sincere gratitude that I share a milestone which represents one of the most significant moments of my academic career: I have been elected Full Professor of Disaster Risk Management at the Faculty of Security Studies, University of Belgrade.
For me, this appointment is much more than an academic promotion. It is a reminder that every lecture delivered, every student mentored, every research project completed, every scientific paper published, and every international collaboration has value only when it contributes to something far greater than an individual career.
When I embarked on this journey 18 years ago, I could never have imagined where it would lead. My ambition was never to accumulate publications or citations. Rather, it was to generate knowledge that helps societies better understand risk, strengthen disaster preparedness, and build more resilient communities.
Looking back with deep gratitude, I have been privileged to contribute through:
- More than 350 scientific publications and 30 books
- 6,840 Google Scholar citations (H-index: 41)
- Participation in more than 12 national and international research projects
- Presentations at more than 150 international scientific conferences
- More than 400 peer reviews for leading international scientific journals
- Supervision of more than 130 bachelor’s theses, 50 master’s theses, and 4 doctoral dissertations, as well as service on more than 40 master’s and doctoral examination committees
I have also had the privilege of teaching and collaborating with several distinguished institutions, including the University of Belgrade, the University of Vienna, Montanuniversität Leoben, FH Campus Wien – University of Applied Sciences, the Faculty of Organizational Sciences, the Academy of Applied Studies Belgrade, and the National Defence School “Vojvoda Radomir Putnik.”
Alongside my teaching and research activities, I have the privilege of serving as Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Disaster Risk Management and the International Journal of Contemporary Security Studies. I have also had the honour of founding the Scientific-Professional Society for Disaster Risk Management, the International Institute for Disaster Research (IIDR), and ProSafeNet, with the mission of strengthening international collaboration between researchers and practitioners.
None of these achievements is the work of one individual.
They belong to the mentors who believed in me, the colleagues who challenged me to become better, the students who inspired me every day, the collaborators from around the world who became friends, and, above all, to my family, whose unconditional support has been the foundation of every step I have taken.
Being elected Full Professor does not mark the end of a journey.
Rather, it marks the beginning of a new chapter—one that carries an even greater responsibility: to continue advancing science, educating future generations of researchers and professionals, strengthening international collaboration, and contributing to safer and more resilient communities.
To young people who are just beginning their own journey, I would like to say this: the path will not always be easy. There will be uncertainty, obstacles, fatigue, and sacrifice. Yet it is precisely through these challenges that knowledge, perseverance, and character are forged. Do not give up when the road becomes difficult, because those are often the moments when you grow the most. Believe in your work, remain persistent, stay courageous, and remember that every step forward—no matter how small—brings you closer to your purpose.
Thank you to everyone who has been part of this journey.
Being awarded the title of Full Professor is a great honour. The responsibility that comes with it lasts a lifetime.
