August 13, 2024, 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. MDT
Becoming a Hazards and Disaster Professional: Steps for Students
Webinar Description:
Because jobs in fields such as emergency management and hazard mitigation often require both practical experience and educational qualifications, students who augment their formal education with hands-on training will have advantage in the job market.
This webinar will explore strategies for students interested in disaster risk reduction and hazard mitigation practice or practice-based research. Join speakers as they offer knowledge and guidance on how to integrate experiential learning into academics; discuss aspects such as service-based projects, practice-focused research, and internships; and offer other valuable insights for students who want to actively contribute to building resilient communities.
This webinar was made possible by a collaboration between the National Hazard Mitigation Association and the Natural Hazards Center.
Speakers:
Grace Olenzak, Pennoni Associates
Vanessa Moreno, Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs
Sierra Perna, Florida State University
Natural Hazards Center Overview Slides
Moreno Presentation Slides
Perna Presentation Slides
Grace Olenzak is an associate transportation engineer at Pennoni Associates in Philadelphia. Her work focuses on public and private infrastructure, including water and sewer facilities, roadway and park drainage, stormwater management, and subsurface utility design. Olenzak graduated from The George Washington University with a bachelor’s in civil engineering in 2020 and a master’s in engineering management with a focus in crisis, emergency, and risk management in 2021. She serves on the board of directors for the National Hazard Mitigation Association, a non-profit organization dedicated to reducing the impacts of disasters and improving resilience nationwide.
Vanessa Moreno joined the training branch of the Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs (DEMA) in 2012, where she manages the internship program, as well as a number of emergency management-related programs. Before joining DEMA, she worked in the MBA Online Program at Arizona State University. She began her career in education and training at Walt Disney World and continued on to Valencia Community College in Orlando, Florida, where she ran the online adjunct faculty education program. Moreno is originally from Colorado Springs, Colorado and now lives in Fountain Hills, Arizona.
Sierra Perna is an academic program specialist in the emergency management and homeland security program at Florida State University. She has been with the program for five years in a variety of roles. Currently, her position focuses on student success and support, including student internships, career advising, and student outreach. In addition, Perna is responsible for the instruction of Professional Pathways in Emergency Management course and helps oversee the Disaster Intelligence Analysis Lab, a student-led open source intelligence lab. Perna holds a bachelor’s degree in international affairs from Florida State University and undergraduate certificates in emergency management and homeland security, unmanned aircraft systems, and U.S. intelligence studies. She completed a master’s degree in public administration in 2022.
Continuing Education Credits:
This webinar is eligible for one contact hour of emergency management training within the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) certification program. For more information about continuing education credits and how to earn them, please click here.