September 13, 2002—Dr. Luis M. Proenza, president of The University of Akron, Lt. Gov. Maureen O’Connor, and Dale W. Shipley, executive director of the Ohio Emergency Management Agency (OEMA), have agreed to create a partnership to develop emergency management and homeland security policies.
Proenza, O’Connor and Shipley signed an agreement to combine the efforts of The University of Akron with work at the Ohio Department of Public Safety and OEMA so that research can be focused to develop and establish effective policies for disaster agencies, businesses and industries.
The University of Akron is one of only a few universities nationwide with an emergency management program, and it is the only program in the nation accredited by the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress. The three-month-old Center for Emergency Management and Homeland Security Policy Research at The University of Akron has become the home for that academic program and expertise.
Historically, little academic research and analysis have been conducted on emergency management and homeland security policy or procedures to guide elected and appointed officials.
Toward that end, the University and OEMA will contribute resources and expertise to improve and enhance emergency management in the state through research, policy and procedure analysis and development, and preparation of post-emergency reviews. The results will be disseminated and used to develop emergency management policies and to enhance emergency management throughout the United States.
For more information, contact the University of Akron.
