About
Creating the next generation of homeland security and emergency preparedness experts.
The L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs believes that academia must accept responsibility for developing scholars, professional policy analysts and informed government decision-makers. Our faculty members bring their nationally recognized scholarship and practical work experience in the fields they teach. The school’s proximity to Washington, D.C., means you will glean valuable knowledge from the national epicenter of policy and action. Based in Richmond, Virginia, students benefit from VCU’s legacy within the community and cutting-edge insights as the first HSEP program in the nation.
Blend theory with practice at the intersection of national defense, emergency management, law enforcement and policy management.
Learn to manage the complexities of disaster planning and response in the nation’s pioneering program.
Develop advanced competencies in leadership, expository writing and oral presentation.
Enroll in a program located in Virginia’s capital and based 90 minutes outside of Washington, D.C.
Why choose a master’s in HSEP at VCU?
VCU’s Master’s in HSEP acknowledges the interdependencies of homeland security and emergency preparedness organizations and agencies. Our unique, interdisciplinary program prepares you to collaborate in a variety of settings and scenarios. Your specialized training is critical for recovery and resiliency. With a focus on academic excellence and social equity, VCU creates tomorrow’s leaders for public good.
Learn from experts in emergency management
“This program has given me the opportunity to learn from experts, learn the language of emergency management, and get connected with industry leaders, worldwide.”
Keith Dowler
Cybersecurity Business
Continuity Manager, Capital One
Meet a diverse group of people
“A highlight of this program for me has been having the opportunity to meet people from all over the country.”
Maribel Street McNutt
Regional Emergency
Management Coordinator – Charlottesville-UVA-Albemarle
A convenient degree program
“The convenience to get my degree from a great program is what brought me to VCU’s Online HSEP program.”
Shakinah Gilmore
Management and Program Analyst
Meet our faculty
Curtis Brown
Curtis Brown most recently served as the Chief Deputy State Coordinator at the Virginia Department of Emergency Management. He has homeland security and emergency management policy experience at the federal, state and local levels.
Maureen Moslow-Benway
While serving as a Special Agent with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, Maureen Moslow-Benway was selected twice as the Officer Agent of the Year for Southeast Asia and the Southeastern U.S. She was also honored as the Counterintelligence Agent of the Year for the Department of Defense.
William Pelfrey Jr.
William Pelfrey’s work addresses issues of programmatic effectiveness within the context of public safety, particularly revolving around law enforcement agencies.
David Webber
David Webber utilizes a mixture of social psychological experimental methods, field surveys in at-risk locations and qualitative analyses to examine the factors involved in the radicalization and deradicalization processes of violent extremists.
Christopher Whyte
Christopher Whyte’s research interests include a range of international security topics related to the use of information technology in war and peace, political communication and cybersecurity policy.
Sarah Raskin
Sarah Raskin is a medical anthropologist who examines social, contextual, structural and ethical determinants of health problems and health care access and use among historically marginalized populations.
Brie Haupt
Brittany ‘Brie’ Haupt specializes in competency-based education, cultural competence and crisis communication and emergency management.
Hans Louis-Charles
Hans Louis-Charles is an expert in disaster management as it relates to individual and collective behavior in disaster, disaster vulnerability and environmental justice.
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