CDRE Past Events
CDRE Activities and Events from Previous Years
Please see below some of our past events such as Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), graduation, speaker events, conference attendances and presentations, etc.
Congratulations Spring 2026 MSEM Graduates
CERT TRAINING SPRING 2026
The Millersville University's CDRE hosted its spring semester 2026 Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training Feb. 21, 28 and Mar. 1 at Blue Rock Fire Company. Twenty students participated in this training which included team-building activities: CPR, first aid, light search and rescue, fire extinguishing basics. The different sections were covered by Millersville University faculty members and professionals in the field of Emergency Management and Emergency Response.
Please check back soon for the fall 2026 offering dates.
THE MILLERSVILLE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND CDRE HOSTED A LECTURE BY MR. JUDSON FREED AT MILLERSVILLE UNIVERSITY ON APRIL 20, 2026
On April 20th, Millersville University Emergency programs and CDRE will be hosting Ramsey County, Minnesota, Director of Emergency Management & Homeland Security Judd Freed. The event included a lunch-and-learn for Millersville University students and a talk titled, "Converstions from the Front Line of One of America's Most Densely Populated Counties," at 7:00 pm in Myers Auditorium, McComsey Hall, Millersville University of Pennsylvania.
Judson M. Freed, MA CEM has been involved in progressively responsible roles in Emergency Management, Homeland Security and Crisis and Risk management for more than 30 years. He holds a bachelor's degree in History from the University of Minnesota and a Master of Arts in Security Studies (Homeland Defense and Security) from the Naval Postgraduate School. In 2003, he was appointed Director of Emergency management and Homeland Security for Ramsey County, Minnesota in 2003.
Judson's current position (November, 2026) involves consulting on policy and emergency mangement/security-safety issues for Crisis and Risk Advisors, LLC). In Academia, he is a Professor of Emergency Management / Emergency Services for the Universities of Millersville / Idaho State.
Feel free to contact Mr. Judson Freed via email at Judson.Freed@millersville.edu.
skywarn training at millersville university hosted by NOAA'S NWS meteorologist john bowen (Spring 2026)
On April 1st, Millersville University students, community members, first responders and emergency managers partook in a National Weather Service (NWS) SKYWARN training co-sponsored by the Center for Disaster Research and Education (CDRE).
Instructed by John Bowen, a Meteorologist for NOAA's National Weather Service (NWS) for the Central Pennsylvania Office, participants were trained on the science fundamentals of severe weather and identification strategies for thunderstorms, tornadoes, hail, and high winds. Trained individuals support NWS meteorologists in issuing accurate warnings and promoting aware, safe community members.
This training program will be offered again in spring 2027.
Millersville Faculty and Alumni Lead Plenary Sessions at PEMA Symposium (Spring 2026)
Drs. Duane Hagelgans and Dennis Merrigan both gave plenary presentations at PEMA’s First Annual Symposium. In addition, there were several other Millersville MSEM graduates who presented, including Sarah Schmidt and Taylor Griffiths, who are both Preparedness Specialist for Constellation Energy, and David Boucher, Ph.D, a PEMA emergency management supervisor.
Merrigan led off the symposium on Monday, March 30th with his plenary, Pretzels to Ph.D, the road to a Pracademic, which told his story of early struggles in school as a child to earning his PhD.
Hagelgans was the Plenary on Tuesday, March 31st with his presentation: Leadership from Lincoln to Last week.
The symposium runs from March 30th through April 2nd at the Farm Show in Harrisburg and was open to all emergency managers in Pennsylvania.
IAEM Conference 2025
This past year, 8 current students from the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) student club at Millersville had the opportunity to attend the 73rd annual IAEM conference in Louisville, KY, from November 15th - November 19th.
At the conference, these students had the following opportunities:
- Attend conference sessions on topics relating to emergency management
- Meet and network with global professionals
- Attend an EMEX that showcases multiple career/internship opportunities within the field
- Toured the Louisville Metro Emergency Operations Center (EOC)
Three students, Brendan Calv, Grace Smith, and Paige Scott, had the opportunity to create and present a poster regarding emergency management topics. Brendan Calv received a silver ribbon award, and Paige Scott received a bronze ribbon award.
Dr. Sepi Yalda spoke at IAEM's EMBark series, a session focused on guiding emerging professionals in our field. She spoke on how the emergency management field has evolved over the past 20 years, the future of our field, and the power of pivoting. She also spoke about Millersville University's partnership with a private weather technology company, Climavision. Their partnership has perpetuated ClimaVision's mission to enhance forecasting accuracy and emergency preparedness. Their partnership stands as a testament to how collaboration can revolutionize the world and efficency of emergency management.
In addition, Dr. Duane Hagelgans serves as the conference chair this year, working to create a collaborative, social, professional, and informative conference environment for all attendees.
Learn more about the IAEM club at Millersville and how to join.
IAEM 2025
Pictures from the IAEM 2025 Conference!
Dr. Sepi Yalda Served as a Keynote and Invited Panel Member at the 8th Annual Emergency Management and Homeland Security Conference-KEMA 2025
Dr. Yalda presented an invited keynote talk at the PAVOAD meeting at the KEMA Conference on September 28, 2025 titled "Stepping Up Our Collaboration Game in the Face of Weather Impacts". She also participated as an invited panelist on the panel titled "EM and Academic Convergence Annual Session" on September 29, 2025.
CDRE Serving as a Community Partner at Two Events in September and October of 2025
On Saturday, September 13th, CDRE participated as a community partner at the Prepare Lancaster event sponsored by the Lancaster County Emergency Management Agency. CDRE also served as a community partner providing volunteers and a table at the Lancaster County Department of Public Safety Point of Dispensing (POD) exercise on October 1, 2025. The Exercise Plan (ExPlan) provided senior leaders, observers, media personnel, and players from participating organizations information they need to observe or participate in the exercise. It included an exercise overview, objectives and aligned capabilities, roles and responsibilities, logistics, schedule, and communications plans.
Dr. Duane Hagelgans and IAEM Region 4 at KYEM Conference
On September 2nd-5th, 2025, IAEM region 4, along with IAEM conference committee chair and our very own Dr. Duane Hagelgans traveled to the Kentucky Emergency Service Conference (KYEM) in Louisville, Kentucky. Region 4 had a booth at the event and engaged with 350+ attendees, sharing infromation on the benefits of IAEM membership, certification and the annual conference that will be held on November 14th-20th, 2025 also in Louisville.
KYEM 2025
Pictures from KYEM Conference
Dr. Duane Hagelgans on TN2P Podcast
On Friday, April 18, 2025. Dr. Duane Hagelgans was invited to be on the TN2P Podcast, a show about learning and leadership in emergency management. In this episode, Dr. Duane Hagelgans discusses the importance of professional development and professional associations, focusing on the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM). The host, Daniel Scott, and Dr. Hagelgans dive into their personal experiences, highlighting how joining such associations and participating in training programs have impacted their careers.
Dr. Yalda and other Millersville University Officials Discuss Disaster Preparedness and Planning with the Philippines Education Secretary Sonny Angara
On 16 October 2024, Philippines Education Secretary Sonny Angara engaged in meaningful discussions with the delegations of Millersville University of Pennsylvania led by President Dr. Daniel A. Wubah and Thames International President Joel Santos and Dr. Sepi Yalda (Director of the Center for Disaster Research and Education). The meeting aimed to establish strategic partnerships and among the key topics discussed were strategies for Disaster Risk Reduction Management System. The Meeting was also attended by Dr. Marc Harris, Dean of the College of Science and Technology, DepEd Usec. Willy Cabral, Asec. Georgina Yang, and Asec. Malcolm Garma.
CDRE certifies 24 Students to be CERT Volunteers
Over the course of the past 2 weekends, Millersville Center for Disaster Research and Education (CDRE) trained and certified 24 students to be Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) volunteers. CERT is a program created by FEMA to train community members and its volunteers about disaster preparedness and what they can do in their communities to help respond to disasters before emergency personnel arrive. CERT trains its volunteers in basic disaster preparedness, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. Millersville CDRE offers training every fall and spring, with sign-ups released early each semester.
To learn more about the CERT training program, click here.
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