Auburn Campus Safety associate director, emergency management partner graduate from state public safety leadership academy

Article body

Auburn University's Department of Campus Safety and Security associate director Susan McCallister recently graduated from the second annual Alabama Public Safety Leadership Academy. Also graduating was Rita Smith, public information officer of the Lee County Emergency Management Agency, or EMA.

The Department of Campus Safety and Security and the Lee County EMA routinely work together to create training exercises, test emergency sirens around campus and act as backups for each other in times of crisis.

The academy was created in 2015 through a joint effort of the Alabama Fire College, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and Alabama Emergency Management Agency. The academy helps provide information and training for current and future public safety leaders across Alabama.

The nine-month interdisciplinary experience covered topics such as public finance and budgeting, communications and media relations, ethics, coordination of major events, human resource management, legislative process and governmental affairs and strategic management. Courses were held once a month in different locations throughout the state, to include the Auburn University campus, in an effort to expose participants to leaders in the field and showcase innovative programs.

Each graduate received a proclamation from Gov. Kay Ivey and a numbered challenge coin. Campus Safety and Security interim executive director Chance Corbett graduated from the inaugural academy class in 2016.

Related Media

Auburn University is a nationally ranked land grant institution recognized for its commitment to world-class scholarship, interdisciplinary research with an elite, top-tier Carnegie R1 classification, life-changing outreach with Carnegie’s Community Engagement designation and an undergraduate education experience second to none. Auburn is home to more than 30,000 students, and its faculty and research partners collaborate to develop and deliver meaningful scholarship, science and technology-based advancements that meet pressing regional, national and global needs. Auburn’s commitment to active student engagement, professional success and public/private partnership drives a growing reputation for outreach and extension that delivers broad economic, health and societal impact.