The Emergency Management Student Association (EMSA) is a group of students who are interested in learning about innovative ways to prepare, mitigate, respond, and recover in the unfortunate event of a disaster.
All members of this organization share one common goal and belief - that with innovation and practical application of emergency management knowledge and practice we all can make a difference in the lives of others.
This organization is eager to broaden its horizons just as the field of emergency management is doing. Emergency management utilizes a multi-hazard approach to disasters. Similarly EMSA would like to adopt a “multi-major” approach to our organization. It is strongly felt by the organization members that different view points are the key to creating well-rounded and innovative ideas. The organization eagerly accepts any and all students regardless of their chosen major who wish to learn more about emergency management and who share the same passion of making a difference in the lives of others.
EMSA History
The International Emergency Management Student Association (IEMSA) is the student component of the International Emergency Management Association (IAEM). IAEM is the largest professional organization of emergency managers in the country with over 3,000 members.
The NDSU Chapter of IEMSA was founded in 2004 by students for students. The organization's name on campus is the Emergency Management Student Association (EMSA). Emergency management program graduates Kent Theurer, Ryan Brown, and Emily Fast applied for the association charter and did the hard work of developing the organization from recruiting members to writing the organizations by-laws.
Since its inception, EMSA has been active in developing the professionalism of emergency management students and serving the community.
Current Leadership
Elections for leadership positions in EMSA are held in April of each year. The executive council members for the 2012-2013 academic year are as follows:
President: Tim Fresonke
E-mail: timothy.fresonke@my.ndsu.edu
Vice President: Andrew Puckett
E-mail: Andrew.Puckett@my.ndsu.edu
Secretary: Katlyn.Nap
E-mail: Katlyn.Nap@my.ndsu.edu
Treasurer: Paige Beck
E-mail: Paige.Beck.2@my.ndsu.edu
Congress of Student Organizations Representative: Garrett Hittle
E-mail: garrett.hittle@my.ndsu.edu
Upcoming Events
EMSA Meeting Schedule
2013 Spring Meetings
All meetings are at 4pm in Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse Room 24.
To Be Announced
- EMSA held their first meeting of the semester August 30th at 2pm.
Projects and Activities
Annual Preparedness Expo
The NDSU Emergency Management Student Association hosts an Annual Preparedness Expo focussed on educating students and faculty on hazard awareness and preparedness. Organizations participating in the event included: NDSU Extension Service, Clay County GIS, Fargo Cass Public Service, ND State Climate Office – NDSU, Fargo Fire Department, National Weather Service, Sanford Health, American Red Cross, NDSU UP & SO, Red River Radio Amateurs, FM Ambulance, Fargo-Cass Emergency Management, Lutheran Disaster Response, Fargo Police Department, Ready Campus Initiative, NDSU Department of Emergency Management, Emergency Management Student Association. More than 300 students were able to learn how to ready themselves for this year’s flu season, tips for creating a preparedness plan, and much more.
Speaker Series
EMSA offers a Professional Speaker Series each semester where professionals involved in emergency management speak about their role(s). The speaker series is an opportunity for students and those involved in emergency management to interact and exchange ideas. The involvement from the professionals in EMSA has given students networking opportunities and on the job knowledge. These professionals come from areas within government, private sector, and volunteer agencies. Past speakers include Dave Rogness-Cass County Emergency Management, Marijo Peterson- Red Cross, Fargo Police Department, Fargo Fire Department, and Jason Schluter- CEM/AEM.
Movie Nights
EMSA holds movie nights during the semester for students to learn more about disasters and to discuss how emergency management was involved in the movie. Movie nights are also a time to get to know other students within EMSA outside of the classroom in a fun, relaxed environment. Movie nights are open for any student to attend. Past topics for movie nights include flooding, pandemics, tornados, earthquakes, and tornados.
Who Can Join
Any NDSU student!
Benefits of Membership
IEMSA membership offers many opportunities:
• program scholarship exclusively for EMSA members
• networking with other students in the program
• making connections with professionals in the emergency management field
• serving the community
• getting valuable training towards your CEM
• learning how to navigate the job market
• funding for the annual IAEM conference
• experience working in a nonprofit organization
• officer positions available — President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer
• looks great on a resume!!!!!
This list isn’t all IEMSA has to offer — the sky is the limit. Because it is student-driven organization, members can take it in any direction they want.
Students interested in the major are encouraged to become part of IEMSA right from the start!
How to Join
If you are interested in joining EMSA, show up at a meeting (meeting times and locations are posted in the news and events portion of the website) or contact EMSA President Kevin Helland (kevin.helland.1@ndsu.edu). To become an official member of EMSA on campus, you will have to pay membership dues of $10 per semester.
If you want to stay up-to-date about what EMSA is doing or learn about upcoming activities, you can join the EMSA email list by searching “Emergency Management Student Association” in OrgSync and requesting to join!
IEMSA
EMSA is the NDSU chapter of the International Association of Emergency Managers Student Region. To become a member of the broader organization, IAEM, students must pay annual membership dues of $30 and register. If you would like to learn more about what the student region of IAEM is up to, check out their webpage!
For More Information
Keep track of EMSA members, topical discussions, and event announcements through the organization's Facebook group at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/NDSU-EMSA/171718719553804
For more information about EMSA or to be placed on our e-mail list please contact blake.nelson.2@ndsu.edu.
