Emergency Management Committee

The Emergency Management Committee provides recommendations on all matters pertaining to Western’s emergency management efforts.

Tasks include:

  • Periodically reviewing Western’s efforts related to emergency hazard identification and analysis, and other mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery activities
  • Reviewing all after-action reports for most major incidents and exercises
  • Reviewing and assisting with updates to emergency‐related plans and materials, including the Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan
  • Making recommendations to the President via the Vice President for Business and Financial Affairs regarding institutional needs for strengthening emergency preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery
  • Reviewing emergency management elements with local and/or state agencies and making recommendations to achieve the most effective coordination between the University and broader disaster response initiatives
  • Reviewing efforts to strengthen departmental and individual preparedness within the campus community

The committee reports to the President through the Vice President for Business and Financial Affairs, but may provide recommendations or concerns directly to individuals and department through the Emergency Management & Business Continuity office.

Membership

Committee members are from departments with emergency management responsibilities and include one or more representatives from each division, as shown below on the committee roster. 

Chair

The committee is chaired by the director of Emergency Management & Business Continuity.

Term of Membership

Most committee members participate by virtue of their positions at Western and the terms of membership are the duration of the position. At‐large faculty members serve for three‐year terms. Student members are as appointed by the Associated Students’ Board.

Meetings

The Emergency Management Committee meets several times a calendar year. All documents regarding the Emergency Management Committee are maintained by the Emergency Management & Business Continuity office. 

Background

Western’s Emergency Management Committee originated as the Earthquake Preparedness Committee in the late 1980’s and was re‐formed as the Emergency Response Committee from 1994 to 1999. The President re‐convened the Emergency Management Committee during the fall of 2005.

Amendments to the Charter

Charter amendments may be recommended by the Emergency Management & Business Continuity office director to keep the committee in compliance with regulatory changes required for emergency management activities.

Committee members may also initiate a charter amendment. A proposed amendment requires approval by 75 percent of the voting members.

Recommended amendments are presented to the Vice President for Business and Financial Affairs and become effective upon approval of the President.

Committee Members

Name Title, Department
Monica Jackson (Chair) Director, Emergency Management and Business Continuity
Darin Rasmussen Assistant Vice President, Risk, Safety, Ethics & Resilience
John Fauver Director, Environmental Health and Safety
Mark Brovak Sr. Director/COO, WWU Foundation
Janelle Leger Associate Dean, College of Science and Engineering
Katy Potts Assistant Vice President for Security & Chief of Police
Vacant Associated Students Representative
Liz Parkes Associate Vice President, Human Resources
Sophie Snyder Associated Students Board At Large Position
Steve Hollenhorst Associate Vice President, Facilities Development & Operations
Dr. David Hansen Associate Medical Director, Student Health Center
Andrea Roger Chief Procurement Officer/Director, Business Services
Leonard Jones Director, University Residences
Becky Kellow Assistant Director, Treasury Services
Chuck Lanham Vice Provost for Information Technology/Chief Information Officer, Academic Affairs
Chris Miller Director, Enterprise Infrastructure Services/Information Security Officer
Rebekah Paci-Green Director, The Resilience Institute of College of the Environment
Paul Mueller Director, Risk Management
Vacant Faculty Senate Representative
David Sattler Professor, Psychology Department, Faculty Senate Representative
Michael Sledge Executive Director, Student Life
Jennifer Sloan Assistant to the AVP, Risk, Safety, Ethics & Resilience
Terence Symonds Associate Director, University Residences - Facilities
John Thompson Assistant Director, University Communications and Marketing
Mike Ulrich Controller/Director, Financial Services
Vacant Deputy Chief

For more information about the Emergency Management Committee, please contact the committee chair by clicking on their name in the table above.