Center’s Blog
Use this page to stay up-to-date on COVID-19, homeland security emergency management, campus safety, job resources, career pathways, upcoming webinars, scholarships, Washington State news and more.
Coe-HSEM Virtual Site Review – 2020
October 29, 2020 - The HSEM Center of Excellence hosted the first-ever “Virtual Site Review” by the State Board for Community and Technical College (SBCTC). Each Center is visited once in a three-year cycle to learn how the Center is currently working to understand and improve the relationship between [...]
Veteran’s Day Special Edition Confluence
With Respect, Honor, and Gratitude: Thank You Veterans For this special edition of Confluence, our Center would like to take a moment to thank and honor the men and women who serve and protect our country. It is important to not take our freedom and safety for granted. [...]
In Other News… – November 2020
In Other News (Or Let’s Get Back to Governing) By Jim Mullen Emergency Management, Once Removed Nov 10, 2020: “Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler today delivered recommendations to create a statewide disaster resilience office to Gov. Jay Inslee, the Legislature and other state leaders, as recommended by the Disaster Resiliency Work Group. “ [...]
A Word to Emergency Managers About 2020
A Word to Emergency Managers About 2020 By Jim Mullen Emergency Management, Once Removed Note to Readers: This commentary first appeared in the National Emergency Management Association’s (NEMA) October edition of Ready Nation: People. Since I had the privilege of serving as both a local and state emergency management [...]
Honoring the Legacy of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Honoring the Legacy of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg By Kellie Hale "I would like to be remembered as someone who used whatever talent she had to do her work to the very best of her ability." — Ruth Bader Ginsburg Ruth Bader Ginsburg (RBG) was a trailblazer for women’s [...]
Cybersecurity Month: Do Your Part! #BeCyberSmart
By Kellie Hale The National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) deemed October as Cybersecurity month to highlight the broad effort to make sure Americans understand how to stay safe and secure in an online environment. This year’s theme is “#BeCyberSmart”, is crucial [...]
“How to Be an Antiracist”- Discussions within our Criminal Justice Programs
“How to Be an Antiracist”, Ibram X. Kendi – Discussions within our Criminal Justice Programs By Mary Weir “Antiracist: One who is supporting an anti-racist policy through their actions or expressing an anti-racist idea.” (Kendi 2019, 13). “An antiracist idea is any idea that suggests the racial groups are [...]
Welcome Brianna Rockenstire!
Welcome Brianna Rockenstire, Director for Center of Excellence Information and Computing Technology (ICT) The Center of Excellence for ICT provides research and reports on industry trends, current and future workforce demand, industry perceptions of the CTC system and its graduates, and emerging technology developments. Additionally, the Center works to [...]
Mental Wellness and Resiliency Workshop
Mental Wellness and Resiliency: Adjusting to Life and Addressing Challenges During Turbulent Times Registration for this course is free! Feeling fatigued? Are you more impatient than normal? Are you finding it hard to balance working from or just being at home? You're not alone. These are all signs that your mental [...]
About Us – October 2020
About Us By Jim Mullen Emergency Management, Once Removed Black slaves once were counted in the Census as 3/5 human beings, a “compromise” that inflated slave states’ population, boosting their representation in Congress (and the Electoral College). In 1876 Rutherford B. Hayes ascended to the Presidency after a disputed [...]
Confluence News Magazine: September Edition (2020)
Confluence serves as an intersection where we share events, interests, and important information about our Center and the state’s all-hazard emergency management pathway programs.
Happy 5th Year Anniversary of Jim Mullen’s blog, Emergency Management, Once Removed
By Kellie Hale At our 2015 Educators and Practitioners Summit, which celebrated the Center’s 10th year since its formation, Jim Mullen was one of our keynote speakers. I was amazed by Jim’s ability to tell a story. After the Forum, I knew I needed to get Jim to be [...]
Introducing Lorraine Churchill
Please join us in welcoming Lorraine Churchill as a contributing podcaster to the Center of Excellence! We met Lorraine at the annual Washington State Emergency Management Association (WSEMA) conference and asked her to join us as an Advisory Board member for the Center, a role she has proudly held [...]
Happy National Hispanic Heritage Month!
From September 15 to October 15, the United States recognizes and celebrates the contributions and influences of Hispanic Americans through their history, culture, achievements. Originally referred to as Hispanic Heritage Week back in 1968 when it was first established. Twenty-years later, it was expanded to a month-long celebration in [...]
Disasters Don’t Wait for Anyone: Be Prepared! Plan Accordingly
By Kellie Hale September is recognized at National Preparedness Month (NPM). It was launched back in 2004 by FEMA through the organizations Ready Campaign as a way to promote disaster planning for families and communities. With COVID-19 continuing to impact our nation, it is the perfect opportunity to be involved [...]
HSEM Institute: Future Workshops
Our Center will focus on expanding the training and education activities available through the HSEM Institute. These trainings will provide professional development opportunities for faculty, industry professionals, and students. Trainings will be in the All-Hazards Emergency Management fields (Criminal Justice, HSEM, Occupational Health and Safety, EMT/EMS, Fire Command/Fire Services [...]
Rising Star Award: Past Recipient Response – Shane Moore
I am truly grateful for the opportunities and experience that I was able to gain while working for the Center of Excellence for HSEM. I believe this award to be one of many extensions of empowerment that the Center provides to everyone that they touch. For me it was [...]
“Whither Emergency Management?” – September 2020
“Whither Emergency Management?” Emergency Management, Once Removed By Jim Mullen Prompted by a series of racially charged incidents involving the use of force by police, the Seattle City Council is intent on reducing or “redirecting” SPD’s budget resources. Among the Mayor’s counter - proposals is the transfer of the [...]
Rising Star Award
“In November of 2019, I established the Rising Star award at the Center to recognize and honor individuals in the all-hazard emergency management profession who have assisted his or her community in a positive and productive way. The Center has always been focused on student success and helping people [...]
Exploration Guide for All Hazard Emergency Management Careers
HSEM Center - Our History In the aftermath of 9/11, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) developed standards for planning, responding to, and recovering from similar terrorist attacks. Through Homeland Security Presidential Directive 8 (HSPD-8) the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and the Incident Management System (ICS) was [...]
“In the Wrong Hands” – August 2020
"In the Wrong Hands" By Jim Mullen Emergency Management, Once Removed It is long past time to restructure or eliminate the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Reservations expressed at its inception about the potential abuses of power that such an agency might commit were ignored. Post 9/11, such [...]
Work Plan Summary
Activity 1: Diversity within the Community and Technical Colleges System – Recovering and Eliminating Systemic Racism and Implicit Bias The State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) new vision statement, “Leading with racial equity, our colleges maximize student potential and transform lives within a culture of belonging that [...]
Strategic Planning Summary
Our Center had its Strategic Planning Session this year in a span of four meetings with its Advisory Board members, Senior Fellows, and staff members. We would like to thank Mark Todd who facilitated our sessions and helped format the structure of the meetings, which provided a wonderful and [...]
Wizard of Oz: Leadership with Sincerity
By Linda Crerar John Lewis, the U.S. Congressman from Atlanta, Georgia, sadly died on July 17, 2020 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. Lewis was a civil rights activist who marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the1960s for equality, justice, and peace. Throughout his life, Lewis [...]