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Emergency Manager, Massachusetts State House
Boston, Massachusetts, USA
I fell into an internship the summer before my Senior year of college for my hometown’s Office of Emergency Management. My undergrad was in Homeland Security and Psychology so Emergency Management certainly was not where I pictured myself being but I’m incredibly thankful luck was on my side.
I’m most proud of representing IAEM Region 1. The work we do everyday is paramount to bringing Emergency Management into the general person’s zeitgeist. Its incredible to say that we offer regular webinars, develop new programming, partner to offer FEMA courses, and offer opportunities for networking and mentoring in a low stress/stress free environment.
A lot of times its hard to feel like you’re part of the crew. I find that myself being a woman in EM I am constantly dealing with a sense of Imposter Syndrome. Regardless of the good work I do and the representation on behalf of women and people my age, I don’t always feel like “one of the guys” in Emergency Management. That personally has been my biggest roadblock in the industry.
Work hard and remind yourself that you can love Emergency Management while also not letting it consume your life. It sometimes feels like a fine line to walk.
Emerging technology is a HUGE topic in the field right now. There are so many opportunities to improve existing technologies like GIS, heat mapping, Virtual EOCs, etc and I am incredibly excited to see where those and all of the technologies end up.
I recently read “The Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes – and Why” by Amanda Ripley. It was fantastic! I love learning about the brain and how it applies to our community in preparedness and response. This was a fantastic and refreshing read though I’m pretty sure I’m late to the party on this one.
Try everything. Yes, being a jack of all trades is a double edged sword but especially if you’re just starting out, don’t be afraid to play around in EM. What I love about the field is that it is made up of all these quirky niche sub sectors and backgrounds. You’d be remiss if you didn’t at least explore some of them.
I use my LinkedIn a ton to try to stay connected. I have a lot of really brilliant and hardworking EMs as well as other professionals on there that are always sharing positivity and new ideas. It keeps me engaged and on top of what’s going on in the professional world.
Remove unnecessary alerts from your phone. Don’t have popups for personal emails. Set timers for social media apps so that it automatically kicks you out at a certain time. It allows me to disconnect from whatever is happening at work, on social media, and just be present with the people that invigorate and rejuvenate me.
I used to teach ballroom dance to kids.
Engage with our LinkedIn group. Volunteer! Volunteers can review resumes, facilitate or speak at events, join the grants committee, be interviewed for the 10Q series and so much more. We invite organizations (public and private) to join us as a host and/or sponsor too. Reach out to learn more.
To increase the representation of women at every level of emergency management in order to achieve the industry’s objectives of building resiliency and of effective and equitable planning, response and recovery.
To provide easily accessible resources and content that supports women as they explore, engage, and grow in emergency management careers.
Engage women in the emergency management and disaster response industries in order to support professional development and the industry’s objectives of building resiliency and of effective planning, response, and recovery.
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