Tulane School of Professional Advancement (SoPA) is pleased to announce the Emergency & Security Studies Showcase, a new webinar series for Spring 2021, which will feature in-depth conversations and perspectives relevant to the current field of emergency and security management and homeland security.
Thursday, January 28 at 6:00PM CST
Join us on Thursday, January 28 at 6:00PM Central time for our first event of the series, Emergency & Security Studies Showcase: Emergency Management in Private Industry and the Medical Field.
Dr. Michael Wallace, Program Director and Professor of Practice in Emergency & Security Studies, will lead an engaging conversation with Mark Dupuis, Chief of Security and Emergency Preparedness for Ochsner Health System, and Bradley Hubbard, Senior Emergency Response Specialist for Shell Oil Company.
Miss the session? Watch the video here.
Wednesday, March 10 at 6:00PM CST
Whether you are earning your degree in homeland security, security management, or emergency management -- or changing careers later in life – navigating a successful route towards meaningful job placement can be intimidating. Learn tips and best practices for pursuing your career goals from a panel of professionals in the emergency and security fields.
Tulane SoPA’s panel of experts will draw upon significant experience from work within all levels of government, nonprofit organizations, private sector agencies, consultancies, and interagency networks. These leaders all have deep experience in hiring and managing professionals, giving them unique and relevant insight and lessons learned in career progression for emergency and security professionals. You will hear from Kaitlyn Weitzel, the Emergency Preparedness Manager for the Secure Community Network (SCN), Steve Recca, Director, University and Agency Partnership Program for the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) Center for Homeland Defense and Security, and Steven Kuhr, Manager of Emergency Management for Colorado Springs Utilities.
Miss the session? Watch the video here.
Wednesday, April 28 at 6:00PM CST
Learn about the impact of education for those who plan to become homeland security, security management, and emergency management professionals. Our panel of experts represent governmental and private sector agencies as both operators and leaders who know firsthand the critical role a relevant education plays for preparing prospective employees as they enter these fields, or as they approach advancement opportunities within their organizations.
Our panelists have earned degrees that enhanced their own skills and capabilities, allowing them to serve as leaders in the education and training of others. Attendees will learn about the impact of degree, program, and course selections, how to leverage an academic program’s relevance, when to explore university outreach and capstone opportunities, and where to seek out internships and volunteer positions that will contribute to an employment candidate’s marketability and successful job placement.
Kaitlyn Weitzel currently serves as the Emergency Preparedness Manager for the Secure Community Network (SCN), the official safety and security organization of the Jewish community in North America. In her role, Kaitlyn works to develop and implement a best practice emergency preparedness program for the North American Jewish community. Immediately prior to joining SCN, she served as an Emergency Response Coordinator for the Cook County (IL) Department of Public Health (CCDPH) where she developed public health emergency preparedness programs for nearly 30 municipalities in northern Cook County.
Kaitlyn has had the privilege of having a diverse career in the homeland security and emergency management field which allows her to see emergency management through a variety of different lenses. In addition to her tenure at CCDPH, Kaitlyn has served her home state of Illinois in multiple capacities including positions with the Village of Oak Lawn Emergency Operations Center and the Cook County Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. Kaitlyn has also served as a member of the Propaganda Analysis Team at the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism(START).
Kaitlyn received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology from Eckerd College and Master of Science Degree in Biodefense with a concentration in Homeland Security and Terrorism from George Mason University.
Steve Recca directs the University and Agency Partnership Program for the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) Center for Homeland Defense and Security, and concurrently serves as the Humanitarian Assistance Program Advisor with the Pacific Disaster Center. Steve’s previous positions include security policy assignments with the Central Intelligence Agency, State Department, Department of Defense, and in academia. He teaches Intelligence, Homeland Security, and Human Security courses at the University of Denver, University of Colorado, and University of Alaska, and is a Trustee for Marian University.Steve also is on the Review Boards for four additional peer-reviewed journals: Homeland Security Affairs, Journal of Climate Security and Resilience, Journal of Security, Intelligence, and Resilience Education, and Pracademic Affairs.
Steven Kuhr is Manager of Emergency Management at Colorado Springs Utilities, a large public power and water utility serving Colorado Springs and the Greater Pikes Peak Region. Steve leads enterprise-wide programs consisting of emergency operations and operational continuity planning and leads emergency operations during emergencies and disasters. Steven enjoys four decades of public safety, emergency management, and homeland security experience in multiple sectors including a local government, a major urban area, state government, and the private sector. Steven earned a Master of Science in Homeland Security Management from Long Island University and a Bachelor of Science in Emergency Management Administration from the State University of New York. Steven maintains a popular social media presence moderating discussion groups in the HS/EM domains.
