DISASTER RESEARCH 428

May 13, 2005

Nominations Sought: 18th UN Sasakawa Award for Disaster Reduction
Nominations Sought: 2005 Prakash Prize for Excellence
Call for Papers: ASA Annual Meeting
2005 Nicholas C. Mullins Award Student Essay Competition
Information Request: Virtual Emergency Operation Centers
Call for Proposals: Sociologists for Women in Society Fact Sheets
Lightning Safety Awareness Week
New Quick Response Reports from the Natural Hazards Center
Some New Web Resources
Conferences and Training
Jobs, Jobs, Jobs

1) Nominations Sought: 18th UN Sasakawa Award for Disaster Reduction

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2005 United Nations (UN) Sasakawa Award for Disaster Reduction. The intent of the award is to reward individuals and institutions from around the world who contributed, through innovative practices and outstanding initiatives, to reducing the risk and vulnerabilities of communities to natural hazards. Administered by the UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, the Laureate and recipients of Certificates of Distinction and Merit will be selected by the UN Sasakawa Jury, composed of representatives from five continents.

The total approximate value of the award is $50,000, which will be shared between the Laureate and the certificate recipients. In addition to the financial prize, the Laureate will be presented with the UN Sasakawa Award for Disaster Reduction crystal trophy. The award presentation ceremony will take place on the International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction, October 12, 2005.

Once nominated, candidates must complete nomination forms and submit them by July 29, 2005. Find out more about candidate and nominator eligibility and access nomination forms at http://www.unisdr.org/eng/sasakawa/2005/nomination-sasakawa-award-english-2005.pdf. For more information about the award, visit http://www.unisdr.org/eng/sasakawa/sk-about-eng.htm or e-mail rosec@un.org.

2) Nominations Sought: 2005 Prakash Prize for Excellence

The Shamsher Prakash Foundation is soliciting nominations for the 2005 Shamsher Prakash Prize for Excellence in the Practice of Geotechnical Engineering. Eligible nominees are young practicing engineers (less than 45 years old), specialists in geotechnical engineering and/or geotechnical earthquake engineering, from anywhere in the world. The candidates should also have made significant independent contributions to practice and show promise of excellence. The prize consists of $1,100 and a plaque.

Nominations are due by July 31, 2005. They will be reviewed by a judging committee of international experts from Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom, Spain, and the United States. The winner will be announced by December 31, 2005. For more information, visit http://www.yoga10.org/ or contact Sally Prakash at sallyp@umr.edu.

3) Call for Papers: ASA Annual Meeting

During the American Sociological Association’s (ASA) Annual Meeting, to be held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, August 13-16, 2005, the Committee on Disasters of the International Sociological Association will hold two paper sessions focusing on the social science aspects of disasters. One of the sessions will focus on the social and economic outcomes and implications of the Indian Ocean Tsunami. For this session we welcome all contributions but would like to highlight the research carried out through quick response or reconnaissance field trips in Southeast Asia. The thematic area for the second session is open. Send all paper submissions by June 30, 2006, to Havidán Rodríguez, Disaster Research Center, University of Delaware 87 East Main Street, Newark, DE 19716; e-mail: havidan@udel.edu.

4) 2005 Nicholas C. Mullins Award Student Essay Competition

The Nicholas C. Mullins Award is awarded each year by the Society for Social Studies of Science (4S) for an outstanding piece of scholarship by a graduate student in the field of science and technology studies (STS). The prize consists of a check for $1,000, a plaque, and partial travel expenses to the 2005 Annual Meeting of 4S.

The competition is for graduate student papers in the field of science and technology studies, including unpublished papers, published articles, and dissertation chapters. It is recommended that dissertation chapters be adapted so as to make them “stand-alone.” The work may not be older than two years at the time of submission. A graduate student can only make one submission a year.

The intended readership for the papers is a general STS audience. All papers must be submitted in English. The paper should not exceed 10,000 words, including notes and references. According to the rules, longer papers will be “punished” in the evaluation procedure, i.e., they do not have to be read in their totality. Papers should be typed double-spaced. The evaluation of papers is executed blindly by a jury of STS scholars. To facilitate blind review, the author’s name, address, e-mail address, and institutional affiliation should be included only in a cover letter or e-mail, so they can be detached from the distributed copies.

The deadline for submission is June 1, 2005 (papers received after that date will be considered for next year’s contest). Submission of the paper via e-mail to varma@unm.edu is strongly encouraged. Alternatively, three paper copies may be mailed to Roli Varma, MSC05 3100, School of Public Administration, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, ATTN: 4S Nicholas C. Mullins Award Jury. The Nicholas C. Mullins Award winner will be publicly announced at the 2006 Annual Meeting of 4S. The winner is expected to attend this meeting.

5) Information Request: Virtual Emergency Operation Centers

Jeannette Sutton is a research associate here at the Natural Hazards Center. She is investigating doing a study about virtual EOCs (VEOC) and is interested in talking with anyone who knows about specific city governments that are utilizing the VEOC for emergency management. If your city is considering using the VEOC, or if you are aware of a city that has chosen to utilize the VEOC, please contact her at suttonj@colorado.edu or (303) 492-2150.

6) Call for Proposals: Sociologists for Women in Society Fact Sheets

The Sociologists for Women in Society (SWS) is seeking proposals from individuals (graduate students especially encouraged) interested in compiling fact sheets. These fact sheets will be distributed to SWS members quarterly via the “Network News” and will be made available on the SWS Web site. The purpose of these fact sheets is to aid people in the streets and trenches of our communities educating and working for social justice. Four fact sheets will be distributed during the 2005-2006 academic year. Proposals on the following four topics will be considered:

Gendered Impacts of Disaster
Girls and Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math
Gendered Consequences of War
Gender and Aging

Fact sheets are intended to be useful sources of information for teaching, social action, and other areas where succinct, accessible information is needed. To that end, it is important that facts sheets be concise (two-four pages), easily readable, and manageable. In addition, fact sheets should include current data (tables are helpful), important activist and/or community organizations, sources for further information, suggested reading (for instructors, practitioners, students), videos, and teaching applications.

In addition, authors of fact sheets will be required to provide a list of relevant activist organizations to which to send the fact sheets.

Persons interested in submitting a proposal should send a one-page letter of intent by June 3, 2005, that includes the topic to be addressed, the type of information to be included, expected length of fact sheet, and qualifications for addressing the proposed topic to Tracy E. Ore, SWS Social Action Committee, Saint Cloud State University, Department of Sociology, 353 Stewart Hall, 720 Fourth Avenue South, Saint Cloud, MN 56301; e-mail: teore@stcloudstate.edu (electronic submissions strongly encouraged).

Fact sheets will be produced quarterly. A timeline for completion of each is to be negotiated upon acceptance of proposals. SWS will pay an honorarium of $500 for each fact sheet upon its completion.

7) Lightning Safety Awareness Week

The National Weather Services’ fourth annual National Lightning Safety Awareness Week will be celebrated June 19-25, 2005. View the schedule, download fact sheets and posters, watch video clips, and more at http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/week.htm.

8) New Quick Response Reports from the Natural Hazards Center

The following Quick Response reports have been posted on the Natural Hazards Center’s Web site at http://www.colorado.edu/hazards/qr/qrrepts.html.

QR175 Europe’s Flood Disaster of August 2002: Vienna’s Evolving Flood Mitigation Projects, by Jane Preuss. 2005.

In the wake of the devastating floods in northern Europe in August 2002, Vienna, Austria, was largely spared. This research examined the mitigation strategies in place in Vienna and how they contributed to reduced levels of damage. The researcher concluded that the success of these strategies can be attributed to the multidisciplinary and cooperative approach utilized in the city’s floodplain restoration project.

QR176 An Urban Nightclub Multicasualty Shooting: Lessons Learned in Critical Incident Stress Management, by Mary Myers and Stacy Muffet-Willett. 2005.

These researchers conducted a case study of the critical incident stress management (CISM) services provided to responders and the population affected in the Columbus, Ohio, area following the nightclub shooting in December 2004. What they found was that primary victims and witnesses were overlooked in the provision of CISM care. They concluded that, although CISM has come a long way over the years, severe gaps still exist in the system in meeting the needs of the diverse populations involved in critical incidents.

9) Some New Web Resources

[Below are some new or updated Internet resources we've discovered. For an extensive list of useful Internet sites dealing with hazards, see http://www.colorado.edu/hazards/resources/.]

http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/homesec/RL32863.pdf
This report from the Congressional Research Service is a guide to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill for fiscal year 2006. It summarizes the status of the bill, its scope, major issues, funding levels, and related congressional activity, and will be updated as events warrant.

http://www.nyc.gov/html/oem/pdf/seniors_disabilities_english.pdf
http://www.nyc.gov/html/oem/pdf/rny_smallbiz.pdf
As part of its ongoing effort to help all New Yorkers better prepare for emergencies, the New York City Office of Emergency Management has released Ready New York for Seniors and People with Disabilities and Ready New York: Emergency Planning for Small and Mid-Sized Companies.

http://www.unisdr.org/ppew/tsunami/ppew-tsunami.htm
This new section of the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction Platform for the Promotion of Early Warning Web site provides information on developments pertaining to the organization of a tsunami early warning system for the Indian Ocean. It also contains a concise summary of information on tsunamis and links to other tsunami Web sites. At the moment the main focus of tsunami early warning activities is on the Indian Ocean region, but the site will also highlight endeavors in other tsunami-prone regions of the world.

http://www.oxfam.org.uk/what_we_do/issues/conflict_disasters/bn_tsunami_women.htm
This report from aid agency Oxfam International about the impact of the Indian Ocean tsunami on women shows that up to four times as many females as males may have been killed by the tsunami and examines some of the reasons why and what can be done to address the disproportionate impact on women in general.

http://www.eeri.org/lfe/clearinghouse/sumatra_tsunami/presentation.html
The Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI) has released “The Great Sumatra Earthquake and Indian Ocean Tsunami,” a comprehensive PowerPoint presentation that is intended for use by individuals who are giving presentations to their colleagues, community groups, EERI student chapters, and others. It was developed to explain the origins of the earthquake and ensuing tsunami and to document the damage they caused. It also includes slides on past tsunamis in the United States as well as a discussion of tsunami risk reduction methods.

http://ioc.unesco.org/indotsunami/mauritius05/mauritius05_outcome.htm
The result of the Second International Coordination Meeting for the development of a tsunami warning and mitigation system for the Indian Ocean held in April in Mauritius, the Mauritius Declaration posted here complements the Paris Communiqué issued in March and further outlines the way forward toward the development of a tsunami warning system for the region.

http://www.adrc.or.jp/publications/Srilanka_survey/en/Index.html
The Asian Disaster Research Center conducted a field survey on the awareness of disaster risk in the Galle district of Sri Lanka to identify the current situation and characteristics of the community’s capacity to respond to natural disasters. The survey was conducted for the purpose of proposing strategy for dissemination of disaster knowledge and raising public awareness for reducing negative impact of natural hazards. The results are available here.

http://www.iscram.org/
Papers presented at the recent ISCRAM2005 meeting (the second International Conference on Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management) are available online. Site registration is required to access the papers.

http://www.phppo.cdc.gov/phtn/stress-05/default.asp
This webcast from the National Center for Environmental Health/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry and Public Health Training Network deals with the physical, emotional, and mental stressors first responders face when called to a technological disaster. It gives practical coping strategies and resources for dealing with stress.

http://www.climatechange.gc.ca/english/
This Web site from the government of Canada addresses climate change issues and features the recently released Moving Forward on Climate Change: A Plan for Honouring our Kyoto Commitment.

http://sciencepolicy.colorado.edu/sparc/
The Science Policy Assessment and Research on Climate (SPARC) conducts research and assessments, outreach, and education aimed at helping climate science policies better support climate-related decision making in the face of fundamental and often irreducible uncertainties. It is a joint project of the University of Colorado’s Center for Science and Policy Technology Research and the Arizona State University’s Consortium for Science, Policy, and Outcomes and is sponsored by the National Science Foundation.

10) Conferences and Training

[Below are some recent announcements received by the Natural Hazards Center. A comprehensive list of upcoming hazards-related meetings and training is available from our Web site: http://www.colorado.edu/hazards/conf.html.]

2005 Disaster Resistant Universities (DRU) Conference. Host: University of North Carolina at Wilmington (UNCW). Wilmington, North Carolina: May 19-20, 2005. The 2005 DRU Conference is an opportunity to bring together the schools and universities designated by FEMA as Disaster Resistant Universities. It will provide an opportunity for representatives from DRUs all over the country to meet, network, and learn about best practices in disaster resistance. For more information, contact Suzanne Blake, UNCW, (910) 962-7874; e-mail: blakes@uncw.edu; https://busaff.uncw.edu/ehs/dru_conference_2005/.

SAR 05. Organizer: National Association for Search and Rescue (NASAR). Oakland, California: May 25-28, 2005. For more information, contact NASAR,(703) 222-6277, (877) 893-0702; e-mail: conference@nasar.org; http://www.nasar.org/nasar/conferences.php?id=130.

Psychosocial Aspects of Catastrophic Disasters: Preparing Healthcare Professionals for New Challenges in the Medical Arena. Sponsor: Homeland Defense Journal. Washington, DC: June 1-2, 2005. This conference will bring together leading national experts in the fields of psychiatry, psychology, medical planning, and disaster preparedness to help federal, state, local, and private stakeholders become better informed and ultimately help shape their organization’s role in the medical preparedness and consequence management missions. For more information, contact Pamela Greenstein, Market Access International, 4301 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1003, Arlington, VA 22203; (703) 807-2744; e-mail: pgreenstein@marketaccess.org; http://www.marketaccess.org/event_socialaspects.asp.

International Association of Fire Chiefs’ International Hazardous Materials Response Teams Conference. Hunt Valley, Maryland: June 2-5, 2005. For 22 years this conference has been a source of information for hazmat and homeland security personnel. This year’s event is designed to educate, entertain, and engage. Attendees will include hazmat technicians, training officers, company-level officers, firefighters, emergency medical services providers, chief-level officers, special rescue team professionals, and government agency employees. For more information, visit http://www.iafc.org/conferences/hazmat/.

Public Health Homeland Security Summit 2005. Organizer: The Performance Institute. Arlington, Virginia: July 7-8, 2005. Attendees will have the opportunity to explore valuable tactics, training, and emergency medical response innovations. This event is designed and tailored to meet the critical education needs of the public health community, highlighting key elements of crafting incident management systems for medical affiliates. Topics will include the future of the National Incident Management System (NIMS), interstate emergency planning, effective public communication, public health grants, creating emergency training systems, and more. For more information, contact The Performance Institute, 1515 North Courthouse Road, Suite 600, Arlington, VA 22201; (703) 894-0481; http://www.performanceweb.org/Centers/Law_Enforcement/Events/L169/L169.htm.

RSPSoc 2005: Measuring, Mapping, and Managing a Hazardous World. Organizer: The Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry Society (RSPSoc). Portsmouth, United Kingdom: September 6-9, 2005. This conference will cover the use of photogrammetry and remote sensing in measuring, mapping, and managing today’s wide range of hazards. Day one of the conference will be held as a joint event with the National Environment Research Council (NERC) and includes the NERC Earth Observation Conference 2005. Sessions are planned on global-scale hazards and climate change, ocean-atmosphere changes, meteorological hazards, flood hazards, the coastal zone, disaster relief, slope instability, soil erosion, wildfires, and more. For more information, contact Richard Teeuw, University of Portsmouth; e-mail: richard.teeuw@port.ac.uk; http://www.rspsoc.org/.

ESRI Homeland Security GIS Summit. Denver, Colorado: September 12–14, 2005. This summit will focus on GIS tools, datasets, and partnerships that can support organizations in the areas of emergency preparedness and public safety. It will feature current efforts and initiatives and future requirements for operational best practices. Anyone with responsibilities in safety, budget planning/funding, policy development, partnerships, GIS data, imagery, or other government, nongovernmental, or private sector knowledge experts are encouraged to attend. Abstracts are due May 27, 2005. For more information, e-mail hssummit@esri.com; http://www.esri.com/events/homeland/.

Technical Conference on the Federal Building and Fire Safety Investigation of the World Trade Center (WTC) Disaster. Sponsor: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Gaithersburg, Maryland: September 13-15, 2005. The objective of this conference, which is open to the general public and technical experts from industry and academia, is to present the technical foundation for the NIST recommendations for improving building and fire codes, standards, and practices and to solicit feedback on the Draft NIST Investigation Report from the technical community outside of the investigation team, with an emphasis on spurring action on recommendations. For more information, contact Teresa Vicente at (301) 975-3883; e-mail: teresa.vicente@nist.gov; http://wtc.nist.gov/media/Sept13ConferenceAnnouncement.htm.

Eighth Annual Conference on Innovations in Disaster Mental Health. Rapid City, South Dakota: September 22-24, 2005. This conference will examine research strategies and methodology in disaster psychology in an effort to promote innovative approaches and collaborative agreements that will yield more definitive results. Its goal is to assemble a group of experts in the field of disaster and trauma research to discuss the ways in which they have successfully implemented their research protocols. Poster abstracts are due by August 19, 2005. For more information, contact the Disaster Mental Health Institute, The University of South Dakota - SDU 114, 414 East Clark Street, Vermillion, SD 57069; (605) 677-6575, (800) 522-9684; e-mail: dmhi@usd.edu; http://www.usd.edu/dmhi/conference.cfm.

18th Emergency Preparedness Conference: Community Resilience; A Future for All. Sponsors: City of Burnaby, City of Vancouver, Insurance Bureau of Canada, Justice Institute of British Columbia, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada, Ministry of Health Services, Emergency Social Services, Provincial Emergency Program, University of British Columbia, Royal Canadian Mounted Police “E” Division. Vancouver, British Columbia: October 4-7, 2005. This conference will emphasize community resiliency in the face of disasters through community involvement and planning by building on the action plan that delegates developed at last year’s conference. The goal of the action plan was to provide tools that will help communities become disaster resilient. The program will include six workshops: Public Awareness and Education, Psychosocial Impact on Responders, Volunteer Management, Community Health Care Resources, Critical Infrastructure, and Community Emergency Programs. For more information, contact the Emergency Preparedness Conference, 900 Heatley Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia V6A 3S7, Canada; (604) 665-6097; e-mail: info@epconference.ca; http://www.epconference.ca/.

IAEM 2005 Annual Conference and EMEX. Sponsor: International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM). Phoenix, Arizona: November 12-16, 2005. The purpose of this annual conference is to provide a forum to discuss current trends, topics, and the latest tools and technology in emergency management and homeland security, and to advance IAEM committee work. Sessions encourage stakeholders at all levels of government, the private sector, public health, and related professions to exchange ideas on collaborating to protect lives and property from disaster. Members of IAEM, disaster professionals, and other officials with a role in homeland security and emergency management are invited to attend. For more information, contact the IAEM, 201 Park Washington Court, Falls Church, VA 22046; (703) 538-1795; e-mail: info@iaem.com; http://www.iaem.com/events/annual/intro.htm.

2005 Society for Risk Analysis (SRA) Annual Meeting. Orlando, Florida: December 4-7, 2005. There are three supporting goals for this year’s annual meeting, which are (1) to take advantage of the meeting location in Florida to touch upon “local” topics that have broad implications or analogies, (2) to continue the internationalization of the SRA, and (3) to encourage a more interdisciplinary orientation in the technical program. The 25th anniversary of the SRA also presents an opportunity to examine the changing role of risk analysis in societal and private decision making. Abstracts are due June 3, 2005. For more information, contact the SRA, 1313 Dolley Madison Boulevard, Suite 402, McLean, VA 22101; (703) 790-1745; e-mail: sra@burkinc.com; http://www.sra.org/events_2005_meeting.php.

11) Jobs, Jobs, Jobs

_________________________________
Project Manager
City of Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications

The City Of Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) is seeking qualified candidates for the position of project manager. OEMC coordinates the city’s efforts to develop and implement programs for manmade and natural emergency or disaster mitigation/ prevention, preparedness, response and recovery. Project managers plan, write, and execute complex and technical citywide initiatives, departmental programs, and special projects related to preparedness for and response to homeland security incidents and other natural and manmade emergencies. Areas of activity include planning and coordinating citywide special events, multiagency training and exercises, hazardous material and bioterrorism programs, volunteer programs, and public information campaigns.

Project manager responsibilities include the following:

Management, planning, and coordination of citywide special events and homeland security initiatives
Coordination between OEMC and other departments and agencies from all levels of government as well as private and nonprofit agencies to ensure coordination during planning and response
Supervision of emergency management coordinators
Additional related duties as required

Benefits:

Full medical benefits
Dental and vision benefits after first year of employment
Pension plan

Minimum Qualifications:

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, public administration, or a related field
MBA, MPP, MPA is preferable and or five years of project management/supervisory experience

Interested candidates should contact Melinda Masterson at mmasterson@cityofchicago.org or (312) 743-1328.

_________________________________
Emergency Management Coordinator
City of Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications

The City Of Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) is seeking qualified candidates for the position of emergency management coordinator (EMC). The OEMC coordinates the city’s efforts to develop and implement programs for manmade and natural emergency or disaster mitigation/prevention, preparedness, response and recovery. Under direction, EMCs plan, write, and execute complex and technical citywide initiatives, departmental programs, and special projects related to preparedness for and response to homeland security incidents and other natural and manmade emergencies. Areas of activity include planning and coordinating citywide special events, multiagency training and exercises, hazardous materials and bioterrorism programs, volunteer programs, and public education campaigns.

Emergency management coordinator responsibilities include the following:

Response to major emergencies 24/7 to coordinate multiagency response and recovery efforts
Planning and coordinating citywide special events and homeland security initiatives
Coordination between the OEMC and other departments and agencies from all levels of government as well as private and nonprofit agencies to ensure coordination during planning and response
Additional related duties as required

Benefits:

Full medical benefits
Dental and vision benefits after first year of employment
Pension plan

Minimum Qualifications:

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, public administration, or a related field
MBA, MPP, MPA is preferable, but not necessary; and/or five years of project management/operations experience

Specialties sought:

Manager of volunteers
Exercise coordinator
Threat and vulnerability coordinator
Technical hazard specialist (HAZMAT)
Local emergency planning committee
MMRS (Metropolitan Medical Response System) coordinator
Writer/communications

Interested candidates should contact Melinda Masterson at mmasterson@cityofchicago.org or (312) 743-1328.

_________________________________
Risk Engineer (Natural Hazards)
National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, Wellington, New Zealand

The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) is a research organization dedicated to creating and delivering innovative and unrivaled science-based services and products that enable people and businesses to make the best use of the natural environment and its living resources and derive benefit from them in a sustainable manner.

The key function of this position will be to undertake research and consulting services for NIWA’s clients and to assist with development of new services to enhance NIWA’s long-term growth strategy in the field of risk and natural hazard engineering. A significant component of this position will involve managing and contributing to the NIWA component of a joint initiative with the Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences to develop and apply a tool to consistently assess the impacts of multiple natural hazards on both the built and human environment.

The risk engineer will be working with a small team of engineers and scientists and will be actively involved with the technical development of the hazard and risk components of projects including liaising and coordinating the work programs with counterparts in the Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences.

NIWA is looking for a chartered professional engineer with considerable experience in natural hazard risk assessment and management, preferably in the fields of flood, coastal, and/or wind hazard risk. Knowledge of building and infrastructure damage and behavior under extreme hazard loadings would be beneficial. Applicants must have the ability to project manage a multidisciplinary team, have clear and concise communications skills, be conscientious, and have the ability to interact and communicate positively with a wide range of people.

Applications are due by June 3, 2005. A position description, online application, and further information about NIWA can be found at http://www.niwa.co.nz/about/jobs/.

_________________________________
Department Head, Emergency Administration and Management
Arkansas Tech University, Russellville, Arkansas

Arkansas Tech University has offered a bachelor of science degree in emergency administration and management since 1997, and due to the growth of the undergraduate program is now proposing to add a master of science degree in emergency management and homeland security. As the result of this expansion, the program is adding a new position of department head to oversee both the undergraduate and graduate degrees. The department head will answer directly to the dean of the School of Community Education and Professional Development, which is under the direct supervision of the vice president for academic affairs.

The position will be a full-time, twelve-month position available August 2005 and will carry the opportunity for faculty tenure. An earned doctorate from an accredited institution and experience in higher education are required; ABD with validated completion date will be considered. A graduate degree in a field related to emergency management is preferred; however, degrees in other relevant areas will be considered (e.g., business administration, adult education, educational leadership, higher education administration, public policy and administration, criminal justice, organizational behavior, educational administration, information technology, political science, etc.).

The candidate must have a proven record of successful management of an organizational unit or enterprise and progressively responsible and innovative leadership with current experience related to the distance delivery of programs and coursework is highly desirable. Competence in building collaborations in diverse communities and a commitment to team building are preferred traits to support a proven record of excellence in teaching, research, and scholarship.

Required duties of the position will include management and communication skills, such as program planning and scheduling, problem solving, data and materials development, student and faculty advising and evaluation, developing and assessing program outcomes, oversight for training and technical assistance to state/federal agencies and private stakeholders, knowledge of new technologies and methods for integration into program and curriculum development. Preferred duties will include specialized research into best practices in fields related to emergency or crisis management, attracting external funding and grant writing, and maintaining currency with respect to national and international developments affecting homeland security issues.

Salary for the twelve-month contract will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. Program information, curriculum, and course syllabi are available at http://commed.atu.edu/. Review of applications will begin in mid-June 2005 and continue until the position is filled. The application should include a statement of qualifications, vita, copies of transcripts, e-mail address, and contact information for three references. Submit applications to Mary Ann Rollans, Dean, Arkansas Tech University, School of Community Education, 402 West O Street, Dean Hall 110, Russellville, AR 72801-2222; (479) 968-0234; fax: (479) 968-0205; e-mail: maryann.rollans@mail.atu.edu.

_________________________________
Assistant Professor, Emergency Administration and Management
Arkansas Tech University, Russellville, Arkansas

Arkansas Tech University invites applications for a tenure-track assistant professor beginning August 2005 for the baccalaureate degree and proposed master of science degree in Emergency Management and Homeland Security.

A master’s degree in a discipline related to disaster and crisis management is required with a doctorate or ABD with validated completion date preferred. Candidates must have experience related to business continuity, emergency preparedness operations, economics of disaster, security management, mitigation, and training utilizing simulations and modeling. Preferred qualifications include higher education experience and the delivery of Web-based coursework. The instructional load will include teaching undergraduate and graduate courses as qualified and the administration, monitoring, and assessment of students on campus and in off-site externship activities.

Salary for a nine-month contract with optional summer assignments will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. Program information, curriculum, and course syllabi are available at http://commed.atu.edu/. Review of applications will begin in mid-June 2005 and continue until the position is filled. The application should include a statement of qualifications, vita, copies of transcripts, e-mail address, and contact information for three references. Submit applications to Mary Ann Rollans, Dean, Arkansas Tech University, School of Community Education, 402 West O Street, Dean Hall 110, Russellville, AR 72801-2222; (479) 968-0234; fax: (479) 968-0205; e-mail: maryann.rollans@mail.atu.edu.

Questions for the readership and contributions to this e-newsletter are encouraged. Questions and messages should be indicated as such and sent to hazctr@colorado.edu.

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