emergency and crisis management Archives | University of Central Florida News Central Florida Research, Arts, Technology, Student Life and College News, Stories and More Tue, 07 Apr 2026 16:00:13 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 /wp-content/blogs.dir/20/files/2019/05/cropped-logo-150x150.png emergency and crisis management Archives | University of Central Florida News 32 32 UCF Graduate Programs Climb in U.S. News’ 2026 Rankings, Reflecting Strength in Serving National Needs /news/ucf-graduate-programs-climb-in-u-s-news-2026-rankings-reflecting-strength-in-serving-national-needs/ Tue, 07 Apr 2026 13:01:22 +0000 /news/?p=152125 As 鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 graduate programs continue to rise, they reinforce the university 麻豆精品 S檚 role as a national leader preparing professionals to tackle society 麻豆精品 S檚 most urgent challenges.

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UCF continues our upward momentum in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report Graduate Programs Rankings, earning 14 recognitions in the top 50. From emergency management and counseling to nursing and aerospace engineering, 鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 rise highlights a university-wide focus on faculty excellence, hands-on learning, and preparing graduates to lead in high-impact careers across critical workforces.

Two people posing for a photo in an emergency operation center
Boardman Endowed Professor of Environmental Science and Public Administration Christopher Emrich (left) and founding Director of UCF’s Emergency and Crisis Management Program Claire Connolly Knox (right) in the university’s Emergency Operations Center.

The National Leader in Emergency and Crisis Management

UCF earned the No. 1 Homeland/National Security and Emergency Management Graduate Program ranking in the nation for the聽 third consecutive year.

At the forefront of this year’s ranking is the College of Community Innovation and Education (CCIE)’s online emergency and crisis management program, signaling 鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 long-standing leadership in programs that keep people safe from disasters of all kinds.

麻豆精品 S淭o maintain the U.S. News No. 1 ranking of graduate programs in homeland security and emergency management is truly a team endeavor, 麻豆精品 S Associate Professor of Public Administration Yue ‘Gurt’ Ge says. 麻豆精品 S淚t reflects our nationally and internationally renowned faculty in education and research, our stellar students and alumni 麻豆精品 S who have become the backbone of the emergency management profession in Florida and beyond 麻豆精品 S and our signature staff members and advisory board representing government, nonprofit, and business sectors across Central Florida. 麻豆精品 S

That strong connection to practice is central to the program 麻豆精品 S檚 success. Faculty research influences policy nationwide, while students gain real-world insight through close partnerships with emergency managers at the local, state and federal levels. Graduates leave prepared to respond to complex crises, from natural disasters to public health emergencies, at a time when the need for highly trained professionals continues to grow.

Sejal Barden, left, and a student sit across from each other in matching blue armchairs in a counseling room as they engage in conversation.
Sejal Barden helps counselor education students gain real-world counseling experience through initiatives like Project Harmony and the UCF Community Counseling and Research Center.

A Top-10 School Preparing Student Counselors

UCF’s College of Community Innovation and Education also earned the No. 9 ranking for Student Counseling and Personnel Services Graduate Programs in the nation.

Recognition for CCIE’s student counseling聽 graduate program reflects 鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 high-touch faculty mentorship model and its emphasis on integrating research, service, and professional preparation.

For Benoit Aubin, a first-year doctoral student in counselor education, that support has been transformative. A former firefighter and medic, Aubin now works as a mental health clinician for his former fire station while serving as a graduate research assistant with 鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 Marriage and Family Research Institute (MFRI).

With guidance from Department of Counselor Education and School Psychology Chair and MFRI Executive Director Sejal Barden, Aubin has conducted clinical research focused on trauma and relationship stress among first-responder couples. His work has already contributed to a funded grant, conference presentations, a published book and the development of a training program 麻豆精品 S achievements he credits to a highly supportive learning environment.

麻豆精品 S淯CF knows how to prepare us to compete professionally, 麻豆精品 S Aubin says.

Acute Care Nurse Practitioner DNP students demonstrate skills in the health assessment lab during the opening tour of the Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion in Lake Nona.
Acute care nurse practitioner DNP students demonstrate skills in the health assessment lab during the opening tour of the Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion in Lake Nona.

A 34-Spot Rise in Advanced Nursing Education

UCF’s College of Nursing jumped 聽34 spots to No. 37 for Doctor of Nursing Practice Graduate Programs in the nation 麻豆精品 S the highest ranking in the college 麻豆精品 S檚 history.

UCF’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program (DNP) improved ranking reflects a continued investment in academic rigor, faculty expertise and hands-on clinical training designed to address the nation 麻豆精品 S檚 growing need for nurse practitioners.

Graduates from the DNP program consistently outperform national first-time pass rates on nurse practitioner certification exams. They also often receive job offers before they even complete their degrees, according to Christopher Blackwell 麻豆精品 S00 麻豆精品 S01MSN 麻豆精品 S05PhD, director of 鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner program. All full-time faculty hold at least one doctoral degree, more than half remain actively practicing clinicians and many are nationally recognized fellows. Through partnerships with healthcare organizations across Central Florida students gain applied experience alongside expert preceptors in varied clinical settings.

麻豆精品 S淭he incredible amount of support I 麻豆精品 S檝e received from 鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 nursing professors and the opportunities to make an impact through my research and clinical practice solidified that I made the best choice in my graduate degree, 麻豆精品 S says Mimi Alliance 麻豆精品 S21, a family nurse practitioner doctoral student who provides care and conducts research on the UCF Mobile Health Clinic.

Some of that training is anchored in the college 麻豆精品 S檚 Helene Fuld Health Trust STIM Center, an internationally recognized simulation facility that strengthens clinical skills and decision-making before students enter patient-care environments. The STIM Center, as well as 鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 nursing programs, are housed in the Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion, which opened in Lake Nona in Fall 2025 thanks to generous state and industry support 麻豆精品 S a proof point of UCF’s ability to solve real-world issues.

Two researchers working in a lab with green light
Postdoctoral scholar and alum Rachel Hyvotick ’24MS ’25PhD (left) working with Trustee Chair Professor Kareem Ahmed in the UCF HyperSpace Center.

Building on a Legacy of Aerospace Engineering Excellence

As Florida 麻豆精品 S檚 Technological University, UCF continues to build on our strength in technology-driven fields by ranking No. 38 for Aerospace Engineering Graduate Programs in the nation.

The UCF College of Engineering and Computer Sciencesaerospace engineering graduate program ranking reinforces the university 麻豆精品 S檚 legacy in a field deeply tied to Florida 麻豆精品 S檚 Space Coast and NASA’s recent Artemis II launch.

麻豆精品 S淚t is gratifying to see the hard work and exciting research of our faculty and students recognized by our peers, 麻豆精品 S says Associate Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Jeffrey Kauffman, noting that since launching the aerospace engineering doctoral program in 2019, UCF has steadily climbed in rankings while program enrollment has grown to more than 100 doctoral students.

Fueling that growth are advances in hypersonic flight, space exploration and defense research, with 鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 HyperSpace Center serving as a catalyst for interdisciplinary collaboration. Faculty success in securing competitive federal research funding has strengthened infrastructure and expanded opportunities for both graduate and undergraduate students.

The result is a vibrant research environment where students engage directly in cutting-edge projects and build industry connections well before entering the workforce.

Across disciplines, 鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 growth in the U.S. News & World Report’s graduate rankings reflects a shared commitment to student success 麻豆精品 S driven by faculty who mentor closely, curricula that align with real-world needs and an institutional culture focused on impact. As 鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 graduate programs continue to climb, they reinforce the university 麻豆精品 S檚 role as a national leader preparing professionals to tackle society 麻豆精品 S檚 most urgent challenges.

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UCF_Emergency Management_2025 Sejal Barden-MFRI Sejal Barden helps counselor education students gain real-world counseling experience through initiatives like Project Harmony and the UCF Community Counseling and Research Center. UCF_College of Nursing_Grad Students Acute Care Nurse Practitioner DNP students demonstrate skills in the health assessment lab during the opening tour of the Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion in Lake Nona. UCF_HyperspaceCenter_2025 Postdoctoral scholar and alum Rachel Hyvotick '24MS '25PhD (left) working with Trustee Chair Professor Kareem Ahmed in the UCF HyperSpace Center.
From Engineering to Counseling, Graduate Programs Highly Ranked by U.S. News Propel UCF Alumni to Thrive in Career /news/us-news-graduate-programs-rankings-2025-best-colleges/ Tue, 08 Apr 2025 13:07:16 +0000 /news/?p=145969 U.S. News & World Report ranks 13 UCF graduate programs in the top 50 nationally 聽 麻豆精品 S and alumni in those programs laud Knight Nation 麻豆精品 S檚 world-class faculty.

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While pursuing a doctoral degree in aerospace engineering at UCF, Tommy Genova 麻豆精品 S20MS 麻豆精品 S20PhD worked alongside Professor Kareem Ahmed, one of the world 麻豆精品 S檚 foremost researchers in hypersonics and combustion. He played a leading role in designing and measuring outcomes of combustion experiments and collaborated regularly with engineering partners from GE and other companies.

Genova credits Ahmed, as well as renowned professors Jayanta Kapat and Subith Vasu, for helping to propel him to a highly successful career. He now works as the lead engineer of combustion at GE Aerospace, one of the nation 麻豆精品 S檚 aviation and aerospace component manufacturing companies.

麻豆精品 S淚 attribute most of my success to the degree I got from UCF, 麻豆精品 S Genova says. 麻豆精品 S淭he technical skills I built and connections I made in my graduate studies and research have been invaluable to get me to the point I 麻豆精品 S檝e gotten to in my career.

Like Genova, the U.S. News & World Report Best Graduate Schools rankings recognize the high quality of 鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 aerospace engineering graduate program, which advanced seven spots and now is among the top 40 in the nation.

Overall, 13 UCF graduate programs rank among the top 50 in the nation. Among public universities, nine programs in engineering and computer science rank in the top 50.

鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 emergency and crisis management program聽 ranks No. 1 in the nation, counselor education is No. 9 and nonprofit management is No. 15.

UCF is the ideal home for graduate students looking to advance their careers and gain new skills in those fields and many others. In addition to working alongside world-class faculty, students benefit from the university 麻豆精品 S檚 location in Orlando and strong partnerships with industry.

The city is home to many leading engineering firms, a world modeling and simulation hub and the hospitality capital of the world, as well as a short drive from the Space Coast.

Orlando also is one of the most dynamic regions in the country, securing the No. 1 ranking among the 30 most populous metro areas in job growth, population growth and GDP growth. In 2024, Orlando led the nation in employment expansion, driven by thriving industries such as healthcare, tech and financial services.

A UCF education combines the strong advantages of Orlando with world-class faculty like Ahmed, Vasu and Kapat who bring strong industry and academic experience into classrooms and research labs.

麻豆精品 S湵涔 麻豆精品 S檚 rise in U.S. News & World Report 麻豆精品 S檚 Best Graduate Schools rankings reflects our strategic commitment to becoming a national leader in engineering, 麻豆精品 S says Michael D. Johnson, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. 麻豆精品 S淎cross our academic enterprise, we are investing in exceptional faculty, expanding research capabilities and deepening industry partnerships 麻豆精品 S all with the goal of preparing our students to excel in high-impact careers and to help address the world 麻豆精品 S檚 most pressing challenges. 麻豆精品 S

Nation 麻豆精品 S檚 Top Pipeline to Aerospace Industry

Advances in engineering rankings at Florida 麻豆精品 S檚 Premier Engineering and Technology University have come as the university has launched a bold faculty hiring initiative to prepare leaders for the future of industry.

UCF also has consistently been ranked by Aviation Week Network as the No. 1 provider of talent in the nation to aerospace and defense companies.

For GE, Genova is far from the only example of that strong talent pipeline. He says his division of GE has hired many UCF graduates who are making substantial contributions to the company.

麻豆精品 S淯CF has invested a lot into its aerospace engineering program, and it has shown, 麻豆精品 S he says. 麻豆精品 S淭here is a lot of exciting research going on that make it an attractive destination for someone interested in the aerospace field. This is not only evident from the strong growth of the program, but the increased number of UCF graduates in the field. 麻豆精品 S

麻豆精品 S淕raduate school at UCF was a challenge but rewarding. The course work was quite informative and helpful in understanding aerospace concepts at a deeper level. 麻豆精品 S 麻豆精品 S Nik Patel 麻豆精品 S19MS, alum

Many UCF aerospace engineering graduates go on to prominent roles at NASA and 麻豆精品 S at a time when private spaceflight is rapidly growing 麻豆精品 S the nation 麻豆精品 S檚 leading private spaceflight companies.

Nik Patel 麻豆精品 S19MS worked in Tarek Elgohary 麻豆精品 S檚 lab on his path to a master 麻豆精品 S檚 degree in aerospace engineering. He completed a co-op at NASA 麻豆精品 S檚 Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which led to a full-time job as flight director and mobility subject matter expert for the Mars Curiosity Rover.

麻豆精品 S淓ventually, I was recruited by Blue Origin to work on their lunar lander program as the verification and validation lead for mission operations systems, 麻豆精品 S Patel says. 麻豆精品 S淚 have been here at Blue Origin for three years now and we are quite excited to see the lander land in the coming future. I am now working as one of the leads on the lunar mission. 麻豆精品 S

麻豆精品 S淔rom the master 麻豆精品 S檚 classes, I learned the soft skills required to do my job. For example, balancing multiple priorities, communicating with teams efficiently and focusing on the entire system of an aerospace project, 麻豆精品 S Patel says.

Helping Students through UCF Counselor Education Program

Emily Ferrand 麻豆精品 S20 graduated from the counselor education program with a focus on school counseling. The program now ranks No. 9 in the country after moving up three spots this year.

Ferrand says she learned a lot in the graduate program, particularly from senior lecturer Stacy Van Horn and Associate Professor J. Richelle Joe. Ferrand has worked five years at Horizon West Middle School, including three years as the school 麻豆精品 S檚 lead counselor.

麻豆精品 S淯CF knows how to produce really solid counselors. The professors are really supportive, and they don 麻豆精品 S檛 shy away from giving feedback, which is really important, 麻豆精品 S Ferrand says. 麻豆精品 S淚f I 麻豆精品 S檓 not doing something well, then I want someone to let me know that, so I can continue to grow and become a better counselor. 麻豆精品 S

麻豆精品 S淚 麻豆精品 S檓 still friends with some of the people in my master 麻豆精品 S檚 program, and I see them flourishing as counselors, too. It 麻豆精品 S檚 a really great program, and I would always recommend it to anyone who asks, 麻豆精品 S she says.

UCF has also been recognized as a top 40 Best Education School, improving 30 spots in 5 years.

UCF Emergency Management Remains No. 1 in the Nation

Lauren Gros 麻豆精品 S22 is an alumna of the master 麻豆精品 S檚 in emergency and crisis management program, which equips students with the knowledge and skills needed to practice as highly trained emergency management professionals.

The emergency management program at UCF continues to rank No. 1 in the nation, with graduates who have outstanding training and knowledge courtesy of highly skilled faculty.

麻豆精品 S淭he program 麻豆精品 S檚 stellar reputation and national ranking made it an obvious choice for pursuing these goals, 麻豆精品 S Gros says. 麻豆精品 S淥ne of the highlights was working at Seminole County Emergency Management, an opportunity made possible by the university 麻豆精品 S檚 strong connections. 麻豆精品 S

Gros now works as a professional staff member in the U.S. House of Representatives 麻豆精品 S Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, which has emergency management as part of its jurisdiction.

麻豆精品 S淯CF equipped me with a robust foundation in emergency management and public administration, which I apply daily in my career, 麻豆精品 S Gros says. 麻豆精品 S淚 麻豆精品 S檇 enthusiastically recommend UCF to anyone considering a career in emergency management. 麻豆精品 S

Other UCF programs ranked highly in the public affairs category include:

  • Nonprofit Management 麻豆精品 S No. 15
  • Public Management and Leadership 麻豆精品 S No. 21
  • Public Finance and Budgeting 麻豆精品 S No. 27
  • Public Affairs 麻豆精品 S No. 46

Three Health Programs Rank Among Top 50 Nationally

When Jeff Schmidt evaluated where he wanted to pursue his Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree, he focused on programs 麻豆精品 S academic excellence, cost and location.

UCF ranks No. 42 in the nation for graduate physical therapy programs. The cohort graduating in 2024 had a 100% employment rate.

麻豆精品 S淚t was clear UCF met all of those criteria, 麻豆精品 S he says. 麻豆精品 S淒uring the interview process I realized a fourth item would be just as important: the faculty. It was immediately clear how caring, supportive, down-to-earth the UCF DPT faculty are. This really resonated with me, and I knew right away I wanted to be a part of this program. I could see myself growing significantly as a student and as a person over the next three years under their guidance 麻豆精品 S and I was absolutely right. 麻豆精品 S

Today, Schmidt is a senior physical therapist at AdventHealth Sports Med & Rehab. He treats patients with neurologic conditions at a rehabilitation clinic and also serves as a mentor within AdventHealth 麻豆精品 S檚 neurologic residency program and a clinical instructor for DPT students. He also collaborates with his Ph.D. mentor Ethan Hill and the UCF Strategies for Therapeutic Rehabilitation and Optimization for Neuromuscular Growth (STRONG) Lab to examine the effects of blood flow restriction on resistance and walking training for people with multiple sclerosis.

麻豆精品 S淭he UCF DPT program is highly ranked because of its exceptional faculty, rigorous curriculum, clinical focus and emphasis on research, 麻豆精品 S Schmidt says. 麻豆精品 S淚n my experience working with UCF DPT students and new graduates, their readiness to excel in the physical therapy field is evident. This is a direct result of the program 麻豆精品 S檚 commitment to facilitating academic and professional excellence. 麻豆精品 S

鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 healthcare management program ranks No. 41 in the country, and speech language pathology is No. 48.

Matt Atkins 麻豆精品 S20 麻豆精品 S22MHA earned a 产补肠丑别濒辞谤 麻豆精品 S檚 in health services administration and master 麻豆精品 S檚 in health administration. He credits his UCF education with helping him become executive director of Spring Haven Senior Living in Winter Haven, Florida 麻豆精品 S where he successfully leads of a team of more than 100 people who care for more than 200 residents.

麻豆精品 S淚 have had an extensive relationship with the faculty that didn’t just end once I walked across the stage at commencement, 麻豆精品 S he says.聽 麻豆精品 S淭he biggest thing that sets [鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 faculty] apart, [which] is obvious as soon as you walk into a classroom and start interacting with [them], is they 麻豆精品 S檙e all about developing their students and impacting their future. 麻豆精品 S

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UCF Emergency Management Professor Inducted as National Academy of Public Administration Fellow /news/ucf-emergency-management-professor-inducted-as-national-academy-of-public-administration-fellow/ Thu, 14 Nov 2024 15:00:36 +0000 /news/?p=143884 Claire Connolly Knox is the fifth School of Public Administration faculty member to be honored as an academy fellow.

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Each year, the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) inducts a new cohort of academic and industry professionals in the public administration field to serve as academy fellows. The 2024 cohort comprises 42 inductees 麻豆精品 S and , professor of emergency and crisis management, is one of them.

NAPA fellows are tapped to provide insight and experience to address current and emerging issues in government, from overseeing academy projects and lending expertise to providing guidance and contribution to discourse on government.

麻豆精品 S淭he 2024 class of academy fellows reflects a wide range of professional experience, including dedicated civil servants and accomplished academics, 麻豆精品 S says Terry Gerton, president and CEO of NAPA. 麻豆精品 S淭hese 42 leaders will be an enormous asset to the academy in the years ahead, and we look forward to working with all of them to help create a bright future for our country. 麻豆精品 S

Fellows are selected based on a rigorous review of an individual 麻豆精品 S檚 contributions to the field of public administration and policy. The Fellows Nominating Committee makes its recommendations to nearly 1,000 existing fellows, who then vote on which candidates to induct. Those currently serving in the academy include former cabinet officers, members of Congress, governors, mayors, state legislators, prominent scholars, executives, nonprofit leaders and more. A new cohort of academy fellows is inducted annually during NAPA 麻豆精品 S檚 fall meeting.

Knox is one of only 24 NAPA fellows in Florida 麻豆精品 S a distinction she says she finds both rewarding and humbling. As a first-generation college student hailing from coastal Louisiana, Knox says she doesn 麻豆精品 S檛 take any of her educational or research-based accomplishments for granted. Knox, who also serves as the academic program coordinator for 鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 emergency and crisis management master 麻豆精品 S檚 program, is the fifth professor in the to be named a NAPA fellow. Her induction to the academy follows those of in 2015, 聽in 2020, Pegasus Professor聽聽in 2021 and in 2023.

麻豆精品 S淭o have this amazing honor is extremely humbling, and I could not have done this without the support of friends, family, mentors and colleagues who have guided me on the path that got me to where I am now, 麻豆精品 S she says. 麻豆精品 S淪o much of my research and mentorship approach has been focused on lifting up the next generation. … This academy allows us the opportunity to work with the elite of public administration 麻豆精品 S from all levels of government and academia 麻豆精品 S to tackle wicked problems by pushing for good governance through the study and practice of public administration. 麻豆精品 S

Knox says that one of the greatest responsibilities that comes with being a fellow is providing recommendations for consideration by federal government.

Grant Hayes, dean of the UCF College of Community Innovation and Education, says Knox 麻豆精品 S檚 expertise in emergency management will be a valuable contribution to the NAPA fellowship.

麻豆精品 S淚 am pleased that Dr. Knox has been invited to join an elite group of academy and industry professionals in public administration, reflecting her dedication to conducting impactful research and informed advocacy, 麻豆精品 S Hayes says. 麻豆精品 S淭his strong commitment to engaging in transformative research aligns well with our college 麻豆精品 S檚 central mission of collaborating with community stakeholders to create innovative solutions to complex … issues. 麻豆精品 S

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Into the Heart of a Crisis /news/into-the-heart-of-a-crisis/ Mon, 27 Apr 2020 15:31:13 +0000 /news/?p=108755 The inaugural class of 鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 master 麻豆精品 S檚 program in emergency and crisis management is graduating having already gained varied experiences from the biggest crisis of our lifetime.

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Few of us, if we 麻豆精品 S檙e honest, paid full attention to the actions of task forces or crisis and emergency managers 麻豆精品 S until mid-March. Now, the world practically turns on their every move. At a most coincidental time, UCF is about to graduate its first three students from the Masters of Emergency and Crisis Management (MECM) program. They happen to be at the leading edge of an oncoming wave.

麻豆精品 S淏ecause the program is so young, we can adjust the lessons to reflect whatever is going on in real time. 麻豆精品 S – Claire Connolly Knox, director of the program.

麻豆精品 S淪tudents are attracted to the program because they 麻豆精品 S檝e been directly impacted by recent disasters 麻豆精品 S , the BP oil spill, the Pulse Nightclub massacre, and now the pandemic, 麻豆精品 S says Claire Connolly Knox, director of the program. 麻豆精品 S淚nterest has taken off almost exponentially. 麻豆精品 S

Both the 产补肠丑别濒辞谤 麻豆精品 S檚 and master 麻豆精品 S檚 programs in emergency management launched in Fall 2018. Initial projections of 20 students taking up the major by 2020 has been raised to 150 for the coming fall. And U.S. News and World Report聽ranked 鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 MECM program No. 2 in the nation.

The first three graduates, and Knox, provide a wide-lens picture of who is at the heart of emergency and crisis management.

The Director

It takes only a few seconds before Knox 麻豆精品 S檚 passion for the environment can be heard clearly. A minute later, the Louisiana Cajun accent also sneaks in.

麻豆精品 S淕rowing up in the coastal wetlands, I understood how fragile our relationship is with nature, and the impact it can have when it breaks down. The wetlands are the first line of defense against hurricanes. 麻豆精品 S

Still, she had no idea how bad it could be. While studying for her master 麻豆精品 S檚 in public administration at Florida State University in 2005, Hurricane Katrina devastated her beloved Bayou State. The scrambled response became a series of tragic lessons learned 麻豆精品 S communication, collaboration, basic preparedness. The aftermath also kick-started Knox on a path that drew her to UCF, in a region with more than its share of crises and at a school willing to adopt new ideas.

麻豆精品 S淏ecause the program is so young, we can adjust the lessons to reflect whatever is going on in real time. That 麻豆精品 S檚 essential in this dynamic and complex profession, 麻豆精品 S she says.

At the moment, she and other program faculty are literally creating new teaching modules derived from the ongoing COVID-19 experience. The team in the MECM curriculum includes some of the most published and cited scholars in this discipline, as well as an advisory board of practitioners from every sector. Knox also points to a group just as valuable: the students.

麻豆精品 S淪omething other than fancy titles and hats is driving them, 麻豆精品 S she says. 麻豆精品 S淚t 麻豆精品 S檚 their hearts. They make the program real because of their own experiences. 麻豆精品 S

The Security Specialist

Jaime Garcia first recognized a whole new world opening in his field of expertise, ironically the same day he had to close himself off.

Jamie Garcia is an intern at Osceola County Office of Emergency Management and a part-time security guard to Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom.

On March 16, Garcia was thinking about graduation, job prospects, and finishing up his internship with the Osceola County Office of Emergency Management. At the door of the county building, he was asked if he 麻豆精品 S檇 been in any crowds the previous weekend. As a then part-time security guard at the Magic Kingdom, Garcia had. He spent the next 14 days in quarantine watching the news. What he saw and heard from Ecuador, where he was born and raised, only emboldened his reasons for pursuing his MECM.

麻豆精品 S淧eople were dying, the morgues were full, and they didn 麻豆精品 S檛 know what to do because there had been no planning, 麻豆精品 S says Garcia. 麻豆精品 S淗ere, even though I didn 麻豆精品 S檛 like being quarantined, I knew there was a good reason. The contrast proves why we need good people making decisions before and during a crisis. 麻豆精品 S

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麻豆精品 S淗e said helping people was always the right thing to do. 麻豆精品 S

As a teenager, Garcia coordinated a group of classmates to collect food and clothes for families following a mudslide. After moving to Charlotte, North Carolina, he took a group of security colleagues to deliver water to evacuees in the Superdome following Hurricane Katrina.

麻豆精品 S淲e have so many blessings in the U.S., but that made me realize we can never take them for granted. 麻豆精品 S

All of these experiences led Garcia to enter the MECM program when it launched in 2018. 麻豆精品 S淚t 麻豆精品 S檚 a continuation of what I love doing, 麻豆精品 S he says. 麻豆精品 S淲e discuss how things are always changing and how to prepare for anything. 麻豆精品 S

At work he 麻豆精品 S檚 been in discussions about crises like water contamination or a second outbreak of COVID-19.

麻豆精品 S淲e 麻豆精品 S檙e also preparing for the possibility of severe weather later this week. 麻豆精品 S

The Meteorologist

It 麻豆精品 S檚 8:30 a.m. and Maureen McCann is in full stride. A meteorologist for Spectrum News 13, she 麻豆精品 S檚 already been on the air 20 times this morning to give weather updates. In the midst of Central Florida 麻豆精品 S檚 singular focus on COVID-19, McCann needs to find a way to alert us that, yes, a severe storm is a distinct possibility in the next 72 hours. Weather events pay no attention to lockdown orders.

Maureen McCann is a meteorologist for Spectrum News 13 and is among the first graduates of UCF’s Master’s of Emergency and Crisis Management program.

麻豆精品 S淥ur motto is, 麻豆精品 S楧on 麻豆精品 S檛 be scared, be prepared, 麻豆精品 S 麻豆精品 S 聽she says. 麻豆精品 S淭hat 麻豆精品 S檚 true in any emergency situation 麻豆精品 S the virus, the weather, a severe storm. The more I know about crisis management, the better I can communicate preparedness to viewers. 麻豆精品 S

麻豆精品 S淲atching the meteorologists on TV made me less scared, 麻豆精品 S she says. 麻豆精品 S淚 decided that 麻豆精品 S檚 what I wanted to do 麻豆精品 S warn people and calm them at the same time. 麻豆精品 S

After earning a 产补肠丑别濒辞谤 麻豆精品 S檚 degree from Cornell University, McCann 麻豆精品 S檚 television career led her around the country. Whether she was in Austin or Denver, something about Central Florida intrigued her. Specifically, the storms. When she moved here in 2013, she also had an unfinished master 麻豆精品 S檚 degree. The launch of 鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 MECM in 2018 seemed fortuitous.

麻豆精品 S淚 liked that it 麻豆精品 S檚 a fresh program and the instructors are willing to adjust so we can collaborate on real-time events. 麻豆精品 S

She and her cohorts have gleaned lessons from hurricanes Irma, Maria, Michael and Dorian. Even the meteorologist has had her light-bulb moments.

麻豆精品 S淚 麻豆精品 S檓 a scientist with an opportunity to communicate directly with people who will be impacted by an event. That 麻豆精品 S檚 a form of emergency management in itself.

麻豆精品 S淎nother big takeaway is the need to network before a disaster, not during. My network has expanded through the program to include security, conservation, a first responder. The boots on the ground 麻豆精品 S that 麻豆精品 S檚 an interesting perspective. 麻豆精品 S

The Paramedic

Chris Goodson is catching his breath. He 麻豆精品 S檚 just finished a workout near his neighborhood on the south side of Chicago, and now he 麻豆精品 S檚 foraging for what we 麻豆精品 S檝e all come to know in recent weeks as a PPE kit. A risk and safety specialist for Superior Ambulance, he 麻豆精品 S檚 waiting to find out where he 麻豆精品 S檚 needed next.

麻豆精品 S淚 like to be on the move, 麻豆精品 S Goodson says.

Chris Goodson is a paramedic in Chicago and a soon-to-be graduate of UCF’s Master’s of Emergency and Crisis Management program.

He 麻豆精品 S檒l transfer COVID-19 patients to rehab facilities or to McCormick Place, which FEMA has set up as a field hospital downtown. 麻豆精品 S淭he situation we 麻豆精品 S檙e facing isn 麻豆精品 S檛 one that I enjoy, but the chaos is putting my education into practice. 麻豆精品 S

His winding route involved uprooting from his home to enter a brand-new graduate program 1,200 miles away at UCF. 麻豆精品 S淚 麻豆精品 S檓 glad I took the chance, 麻豆精品 S he says. 麻豆精品 S淟eaders in Central Florida have been at the forefront of disasters in terms of coordination, action, protocols, leadership. I 麻豆精品 S檇 like to use those lessons here at home. 麻豆精品 S

Goodson grew up in 麻豆精品 S淭he Hole, 麻豆精品 S the most oppressive section of Chicago 麻豆精品 S檚 notorious Robert Taylor Homes public housing project. Gunshots became everyday noise. 麻豆精品 S淧olice might come or they might not. At some point I thought, 麻豆精品 S楥hris, you could provide the help. 麻豆精品 S 麻豆精品 S

After high school, he completed two years at Eastern Illinois University before enlisting in the Army, spent time in Afghanistan, delivered aid to Haiti, helped the recovery following Hurricane Sandy, and eventually moved to Roseland in the south-side of Chicago as a paramedic. At UCF he learned about cultural competency as a central concept in crisis management. Back home, it 麻豆精品 S檚 more than a concept.

麻豆精品 S淗ospitals near my neighborhood are underfunded and understaffed. More black people are dying because of underlying health conditions, a lack of resources, and slow response. You have to know how things work at the local level to effectively help. 麻豆精品 S

Goodson plans to take a grant writing class to round out his credentials. In five years, he sees himself in a role with FEMA or a local governing body. But for now, he 麻豆精品 S檚 checking his gloves and mask. He doesn 麻豆精品 S檛 know where he 麻豆精品 S檒l be 20 minutes from now. And that 麻豆精品 S檚 just fine with Goodson. He 麻豆精品 S檚 ready for anything.

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UCF Claire Connolly Knox-3 Associate Professor of Public Administration Claire Connolly Knox. UCF Jamie Garcia UCF mcma-3 UCF mcma-2
27 UCF Graduate Programs Ranked Among the Top 100 in the Nation /news/27-ucf-graduate-programs-ranked-among-the-top-100-in-the-nation/ Tue, 12 Mar 2019 15:04:52 +0000 /news/?p=95247 Emergency management, nonprofit management and counselor education among the top programs included in U.S. News & World Report 麻豆精品 S檚 2020 guide to the Best Graduate Schools.

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Twenty-seven UCF programs were nationally ranked today in the top 100聽of their fields by聽U.S.聽News & World Report, and 35 graduate programs total were included in the publication 麻豆精品 S檚 2020 Best Graduate Schools edition. This is a record number of programs ranked for the university.

麻豆精品 S淭he new rankings reflect our focus on student success and faculty excellence and puts us one step closer to reaching our goal of becoming a 21st-century university committed to fueling the talent, ideas and innovation that will drive our community and state forward. 麻豆精品 S

The list shows the university 麻豆精品 S檚 upward trajectory in the number of programs on the top 100 list; there were 18 programs ranked in 2017. The rankings measure the quality of 800 schools 麻豆精品 S faculty, research and students, and are based on peer and expert opinions.

麻豆精品 S淔rom our growing academic reputation to our successful athletic programs, the University of Central Florida has made impressive gains over the last decade, 麻豆精品 S says Elizabeth A. Dooley, provost and vice president for academic affairs. 麻豆精品 S淭he new rankings reflect our focus on student success and faculty excellence and puts us one step closer to reaching our goal of becoming a 21st-century university committed to fueling the talent, ideas and innovation that will drive our community and state forward. 麻豆精品 S

鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 top-ranked program this year, Emergency and Crisis聽Management, tied for No. 7, above programs at Texas A&M University, American University and George Washington University. The program is under the direction of Associate Professor Claire Connolly Knox, who says the course builds on the strength of the faculty, advisory board and alumni who mentor students.

麻豆精品 S淓ffective emergency and crisis management is vital for every community, 麻豆精品 S Knox says. 麻豆精品 S淪ince 2016, four聽hurricanes 麻豆精品 S Matthew, Irma, Maria聽and Michael 麻豆精品 S and three聽mass casualty events聽 麻豆精品 S Pulse nightclub,聽Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School and Fort Lauderdale Airport 麻豆精品 S斅爃ave greatly impacted Florida communities. There is an聽increasing need for聽emergency management specialists聽to expand聽their knowledge, skills and abilities through an advanced degree so they can聽more ethically manage emergencies and crises. 麻豆精品 S

The next highest UCF rankings are the Nonprofit Management at No. 8 (moving up from 12) and聽Counselor Education at No. 9 (moving up from 10).

Other programs ranked in the top 50 are:聽Optics and Photonics (No. 12), Elementary Education (No. 22), Public Administration (No. 23), Criminal Justice (No. 26), Industrial Engineering (No. 36) and Health Administration (No. 46).

UCF programs with the biggest point-gain improvements this year were in nursing. 鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 master 麻豆精品 S檚 nursing school ranked No. 61 overall, moving up 26 points, and the Doctor of Nursing Practice ranked No. 72, improving by 29 points.

Other programs in the top 100 are:
Computer Engineering (No. 52)
Communication Sciences and Disorders (No. 53)
Electrical Engineering (No. 53)
Overall best public administration graduate school (No. 53)
Materials Science and Engineering (No. 57)
Physics (No. 61)
Environmental Engineering (No. 63)
Civil Engineering (No. 65)
Mechanical Engineering (No. 65)
Social Work (No. 70)
Overall best graduate engineering school (No. 75)
Overall best graduate education school (No. 78)
Computer Science (No. 82)
Overall medical research school (No. 88)
Part-time MBA (No. 89)

This was the first time in the top 100 for the part-time MBA, which includes both the UCF Evening MBA and the UCF Part-time Professional MBA.

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U.S. News & World Report: 25 UCF Programs on List of Top 100 Graduate Schools /news/u-s-news-world-report-25-of-ucfs-graduate-schools-in-top-100/ Tue, 27 Mar 2018 19:30:04 +0000 /news/?p=81564 Twenty-five UCF programs were ranked in the top 100聽of their fields by the recently released U.S. News & World Report 麻豆精品 S檚 Best Graduate Schools of 2019, a total gain of three programs from last year.

UCF has experienced an upward trend in the number of programs on the top 100 list. There were 18 programs ranked in 2017 , followed by 22 in 2018.

鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 top-ranked program this year is Emergency Management and Homeland Security, which is ranked No. 6 in the nation. The ranking category is new this year for the magazine. The university 麻豆精品 S檚 program is in the School of Public Administration under the direction of Claire Connolly Knox.

The next highest UCF rankings were Counselor of Education at No. 10,聽and Nonprofit Management and Optics & Photonics, both聽at No. 12.

Other programs this year ranked in the top 50 were:聽Public Management and Leadership (23),聽Criminology (26), Public Budgeting and Finance (29), Public Policy Analysis (34), Health Administration (38), Industrial Engineering (39), Public Administration (44), and Materials Engineering (50).

The biggest point-gain improvement in the rankings was Physics, which moved up 24 points to No. 61. Materials Engineering jumped 21 points, and Public Administration advanced 19 points.

Other programs in the top 100 were: Computer Engineering (53), Communication Sciences and Disorders (53), Electrical Engineering (55), College of Engineering & Computer Science (75), Mechanical Engineering (75), Civil Engineering (76), Environmental Engineering (76), Computer Science (82), Medical Research (86), Nursing (87), Social Work (88), and College of Education & Human Performance (89).

In addition to Emergency Management and Homeland Security,聽there were three other programs that appeared in the top 100 for the first time: Public Finance and Budgeting, Public Management and Leadership, and聽Public Policy Analysis. Those are all new specialty categories in the magazine 麻豆精品 S檚 rankings.

U.S. News & World Report 麻豆精品 S檚 rankings in business, education, engineering, law, medicine and nursing are designed for prospective students looking to continue their education and advance their careers. More than 800 institutions are reviewed based on peer and expert opinions about the quality of programs and statistical data that measures the quality of a school 麻豆精品 S檚 faculty, research and students.

View the full list of 鲍颁贵 麻豆精品 S檚 rankings.

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