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Fortifying the future: Wilder School homeland security and emergency preparedness program
As natural and environmental disasters like hurricanes, wildfires and floods have intensified in frequency, the effects of these impacts are felt more than ever. Rising cyber attacks and other threats to domestic security also demand robust crisis planning and response.
Ranked as the No. 6 program in the nation of its kind by U.S. News & World Report, faculty, staff and alumni of the Wilder School’s Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness program are rushing in to meet these challenges head-on.
That’s something Evan Hirsh (’22 HSEP) learned firsthand during his three internships. With the Virginia State Police Unsolved Violent Crimes and Cold Cases unit, Hirsh dived into cold case homicide investigations, honing his research, investigative and analytical skills. As a student, he tackled terrorism, political extremism, cybersecurity, human trafficking and more.
But it was an internship with the U.S. Department of Defense’s Defense Intelligence Agency that ultimately paved the way for his current job as an intelligence analyst with Booz Allen Hamilton — secured before he graduated. Hirsh’s education at the Wilder School laid the foundation for his success in real-world crisis management, connecting his classroom learning to critical on-the-job skills.
“It was through this internship that I met so many people that would have a real impact on where I could go in my career, and I still talk with them today. They still have an interest in where I end up in life, which is really powerful. The networking opportunities and security clearance set me up for a successful interview.”
– Evan Hirsh (’22 HSEP)
Students in the HSEP program don’t just gain knowledge; they build a network of relationships that endure well past graduation.
Faculty have established internship and employment opportunities with the nation’s most prominent organizations. A short list of top employers includes the FBI, the CIA, the NSA, the Secret Service, the Federal Reserve, the U.S. Armed Forces intelligence divisions, FEMA, the Department of Homeland Security, the State Department, Capital One, Dominion Energy and more. Richmond’s proximity to state and national agencies ensures that students stay where the action is. Later on, graduates regularly reach out to their former classmates to discuss job opportunities and cross-disciplinary issues and changes, and secure resources.
In addition to an incredible array of internship opportunities, HSEP undergraduate students have other unique opportunities. Many students are members of Eta Lambda Sigma, the nation’s first professional Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness fraternity. Its members visit leading employers, hear from experts in the field, and engage in a variety of social activities. Additionally, each year, the HSEP program brings a keynote speaker to address students.
Recent speakers have included FEMA head Deanne Criswell; Kathi Lynn Austin, a global arms trafficking investigator; and Shannon Foley Martinez, a deradicalized former neo-Nazi. Additionally, the HSEP program has a unique exchange program with the Abu Dhabi-based university the Rabdan Academy.
The HSEP program coursework is not only comprehensive but continues to evolve to meet emerging challenges, with a forward-leaning approach to keep students at the leading edge of their fields. Faculty, many of whom hold active roles in the public and private sectors, bring a wealth of experience to each class. For example, Larry Prokop, M.S., conducts intelligence analysis for the FBI and integrates real-world scenarios into his teaching, giving students an insider’s perspective on the complexities of national security.
Professor Will Pelfrey, Ph.D., a leading voice in the HSEP program, emphasizes the diverse backgrounds that students bring to the table.
“Our students have tremendous experience, drawn from work in public safety, fire, policing, emergency management, public health and other fields,” Pelfrey notes. “Our graduate students are thrust into crisis settings and work with people from other disciplines. It is imperative that our graduates speak the language of disciplines other than their own. We cultivate student-driven, cross-disciplinary learning intentionally.”
– Will Pelfrey, Ph.D.
Among the diverse and evolving coursework offered in the HSEP program is the impactful Human Trafficking 375 course, led by associate professor Maureen Moslow-Benway, M.A., the HSEP program chair. This course leverages Richmond’s history and current geography to invite students to grapple with real-world challenges and solutions. Moslow-Benway, deeply committed to empowering her students, explains: “After all, we are educating students and inspiring them to combat the exploitation of some of society’s most vulnerable and marginalized people.”
As a national leader, the HSEP program isn’t resting on its laurels. From continual introduction of new courses in response to emergent topics to acclaimed research of vital influence for policymakers to top internships and employment for students, we’re ensuring safety and readiness to find solutions to the most dire challenges of our world.
Online master of arts program
From emergence as the nation’s first Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (HSEP) program in 2005, after nearly 20 years, the program continues to evolve, adapt and explore new innovations.
The program equips leaders with the theoretical and practical knowledge to meet ever-evolving threats from natural disasters, terrorist threats, cyber attacks and more. Students cultivate these principles to lead organizational, social, political, ethical and economic advancements in disaster studies and homeland security.
The 36-credit curriculum, which can be completed entirely online, develops a thorough understanding of all aspects of homeland security, including emergency management, cybersecurity, intelligence and critical infrastructure protection. Combining traditional emergency preparedness and national security programs creates stronger opportunities for alumni as they emerge ready for dozens of career fields. Classes showcase interactive elements, learning tools, resources and case studies. Each class is regularly updated and reviewed by online learning experts as well as faculty instructors.
The program’s online flexibility and expert faculty cultivate the skills and experience to elevate careers, with a personalized curriculum designed around their key interests and focus areas. Combined with a physical presence in Richmond, Virginia, and proximity to Washington, D.C., students benefit from unique access to industry expertise and internship opportunities in the national epicenter of policy and action.
Vital research for critical issues
Wilder School HSEP faculty produce key insights to facilitate awareness and transform outcomes at the intersection of academia and applied practice. In addition to authoring extensive research, they serve as key experts to influence policy and best practices. A current project with the Virginia Department of Emergency Management provides education for locally elected and appointed officials to help flatten the emergency management learning curve of new mayors, city council members and county leaders. From consulting across all levels of government to supporting initiatives with nonprofits and private-sector organizations, their work is transforming our world.
Associate professor Hans Louis-Charles, Ph.D., is dedicated to enhancing community resilience, focusing on the most vulnerable. His work addresses the nexus of physical, built and human environments. Recently, he presented his findings to the Congressional Disaster Equity and Building Resilience Caucus at the U.S. Capitol, advocating for funding and capacity building in low-resource, high-vulnerability areas, aiming to shift disaster management toward prioritizing human security.
Assistant professor Brie Haupt, Ph.D., trains emergency management leaders through a lens of cultural competency. Through her work, she’s aimed at rerouting disconnects in communication during crises, for both educators and practitioners. She also serves as the co-chair of the Emergency Management and Homeland Security section of NASPAA. This summer, Haupt was honored with the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Award at the Federal Emergency Management Agency Higher Education Symposium.
On the homeland security front, associate professor David Webber, Ph.D., is dedicated to understanding the motivations of terrorist and extremist ideologies. His work is helping deradicalize former extremists by understanding the social motives that influence their actions and beliefs. Webber has extensively researched the motivations of terrorist groups including German neo-Nazis, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in Sri Lanka, and Islamist fundamentalism and extremism in the Philippines, Mali and Indonesia.
Associate professor Christopher Whyte, Ph.D., is a leader in international cybersecurity and serves as a top voice in exploring ways to prepare policymakers to better understand and make informed decisions about cyber threats, both domestically and abroad. Whyte’s work seeks to confront popular myths and misconceptions — including “cyber doom” in the media, a delicate balancing act to dispel fear while anticipating threats.
“Our HSEP faculty research creates tremendous outcomes that directly impact our trifold mission of academic excellence, student education, and policy and community impacts. Across so many critical areas, they demonstrate their influence, relationships and expertise to develop and catalyze solutions to some of the greatest challenges of our times.”
– Wilder School Dean Susan T. Gooden, Ph.D.