Spencer Schargorodski – Class of 2011 – meeting President Obama at FEMA headquarters
Tell us about a memory or reflection related to the concentration.
My overall experience with the Emergency and Environmental Concentration at the University of Delaware was very positive. The ability to learn how society reacts, responds and recovers from a disaster is very useful in my current job and provides a “leg up” on other young professionals searching for jobs. The wide range of experience the professors have at DRC, from engineering, to collective behavior, to ICS/NIMS, I feel as though I have received a well-rounded education. One positive experience was the hands on nature of the program. In one of the courses we evaluated a disaster exercise that the Nursing department hosted. The realistic nature of the exercise allowed me and my classmates the ability to take what we have learned in the classroom and apply it to the evaluation.
Where were you placed for your practicum?
I was placed at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Headquarters in Washington D.C. in their Directorate of Contingency Operations and Homeland Security. Not only did I learn about the military and the role of USACE in emergency response, at the conclusion of my practicum I was brought on as a “career conditional” employee. This means that they helped to pay for my graduate degree and upon completion was placed in a federal career path in emergency management.
What has been your academic, employment, or volunteer path since graduation?
I am currently working as the USACE Assistant Liaison Officer to FEMA HQ. This is an exciting and unique position where I am able to help influence policy as well as planning at both organizations. During disasters, I report to the National Response Coordination Center (NRCC) where I serve as an Assistant Team Leader carrying out FEMA mission assignments. To date, Hurricane Sandy was the longest deployment, working 12 hr shifts for three weeks straight.
I have also completed the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) level II training in Fairfax, Va. This volunteer path enabled me to get hands on first responder experience.
Lastly, I am in my last semester at the George Washington University Master’s program studying Engineering Management and concentrating in Crisis, Emergency, and Risk Management.
Why was the concentration valuable to you?
This concentration provided the foundation of my emergency management knowledge. Soon after enrolling in disaster courses I became fascinated by the complex and rapidly evolving field. In addition to learning from a variety of experienced professors, I also networked through the IAEM chapter at UD and through DRC events.