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The IAEM Scholarship Commission awarded scholarships to four students in emergency management, disaster management, and related programs for the 2024-2025 school year. Congratulations to this year’s IAEM Scholarship recipients.
Sarah Hayes Oklahoma State University
Sarah Hayes was selected as the recipient of the special Dr. E.L. Quarantelli Scholarship for Doctoral Research Students. She is a Ph.D. candidate in Emergency Management at Oklahoma State University. Sarah plans to graduate in 2027. Sarah is the assistant director of community preparedness for Johnson County (KS) Emergency Management, as well as the training and exercise coordinator, PIO, and intern coordinator. Her research, which focuses on the regulatory, organizational, and human factors contributing to ammonium nitrate disasters, tackles one of the most pressing and complex challenges in emergency management. In Johnson County, Sarah has revitalized and rolled out its Partners in Preparedness Program, strengthening relationships with schools, businesses, and nonprofits throughout the county. She also launched two new efforts: the Girls in Emergency Management Program, which encourages young women to consider careers in public safety, and a Youth Preparedness Program that adapts FEMA’s STEP curriculum for use in local K-12 schools. She received a $10,000 IAEM scholarship.
Stephanie King University of Central Florida
Stephanie King, the first awardee of the IAEM–Women in the Field of Emergency Management Scholarship for the highest scoring woman graduate student, is earning a Ph.D. in Public Affairs with a certificate in Emergency Management at the University of Central Florida. She plans to graduate after the Fall 2026 session. She was a law enforcement officer for 13 years in central Florida. Her doctoral dissertation examines the influencing factors on females in police leadership through the lens of social exchange theory and intersectionality. Stephanie presented her research at the 2025 Public Administration Research Conference. Additionally, she is a coauthor of a peer-reviewed article in the Journal of Public Affairs Education. She received a $4,000 IAEM Scholarship funded by WTFem).
Jason Fuller is earning an Ed.D. in Leadership Studies with a concentration in Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management at Louisiana State University, Shreveport. He is the seventh and eighth recipient of the Samuel Henry Prince IAEM Scholarship for part-time graduate students, which is partially funded by IAEM-Canada, receiving this award in 2024 and again this year. He serves as a senior emergency management specialist for New Hanover County, North Carolina, and expects to graduate in 2027. Prior to his work in emergency management, Jason was a Battalion Chief at Leland Fire/Rescue. He was named the 2025 EdD Disaster Preparedness & Emergency Management Graduate Student of the Year at LSUS and is a member of the Executive Board of the North Carolina Emergency Management Association. Jason also holds an MPA from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. He received a $3,000 IAEM Part-time Graduate Student Scholarship.
Gregory Godish, CEM Columbia Southern University
Gregory Godish is pursuing a Ph.D. in Emergency Management at Columbia Southern University, with plans to graduate in December 2028. He serves as an adjunct professor at Rowan University and is the assistant bureau chief of the Emergency Response Bureau at the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management (NJOEM). Greg has been with NJOEM for over 13 years and currently manages four operational units with forty-two personnel. He plays a key role in maintaining operational readiness and ensuring that all civilian and enlisted staff meet division training and administrative standards. Greg has also been a dedicated member of the Washington Township Fire Department since 1993, volunteering around 50 hours per month. He received a $3,500 IAEM Full-time Graduate Scholarship.
Yvonne Dadson University at Albany, SUNY
Yvonne Dadson is working toward her Ph.D. in Information for Risk in Emergency Management and Security at the University of Albany, SUNY, with plans to graduate in May 2026. She serves as a graduate research assistant in the Extreme Events, Social Equity, and Technology (E2SET) Laboratory. Her research focuses on emergency management crisis informatics, digital vulnerability, and the ethical application of technology to support at-risk communities during disasters. She has presented at leading conferences such as ISCRAM and HCI International and has received honors including “Best Research Paper” and “Best Poster” awards. Yvonne has volunteered with FEMA’s Higher Education Symposium and participated in local outreach efforts to educate high school students about disaster preparedness and cybersecurity. She was awarded the 2025 Coastal Hazards, Equity, Economic Prosperity, and Resilience (CHEER) Hub Summer Scholar position. She received a $2,500 IAEM Full-time Graduate Scholarship.
Tyler Cady, AEM University of North Carolina, Wilmington
Tyler Cady, the ninth recipient of the Robert C. Bohlmann, CEM, Scholarship for Service in Emergency Management, is pursuing a B.S. in Public Health at the University of North Carolina, Wilmington. He is expected to graduate in Spring 2027. He earned an Associate of Applied Science in Emergency Management from Cape Fear Community College (CFCC) in 2024. His professional background includes roles as a public safety instructor, EMT, hazmat technician, COVID-19 relief staff, and day resource manager. During his time in the United States Air Force, Tyler served honorably as a firefighter and received an honorable discharge in 2020. He also served as the president of the Student Veteran Organization at CFCC. He was awarded a $4,000 IAEM Undergraduate Student Scholarship.
Ian Varada Hernandez America Military University
Ian Hernandes is pursuing a B.A. in Emergency and Disaster Management with a minor in Security Management at American Military University, planning to graduate in Spring 2026. He currently works to ensure operational preparedness and continuity of operations in a high-security environment. Additionally, he volunteers as a transportation specialist for the American Red Cross and as a Greyshirt for Team Rubicon. Ian supports the Chesapeake Community Emergency Response Team locally by aiding community resilience education and preparedness campaigns. He recently completed a crisis management internship with Erudyne, Inc., where he focused on business continuity initiatives, risk communication plans, and private sector readiness planning. He received a $3,000 IAEM Undergraduate Scholarship.
Aleah Miller North Dakota State University
Aleah Miller is pursuing a B.S. in Disaster Resilience and Emergency Management at North Dakota State University, along with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in economics. She plans to graduate with her B.S. degree in May 2027. Additionally, she is a student-athlete, participating in cross country and track year-round. Through an NDSU class, Aleah worked with the New American Consortium, a nonprofit in Fargo, helping with grant writing. During Summer 2025, she interned at the West Fargo Emergency Management Office. She is active in the Emergency Management Student Association, the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She received a $2,000 IAEM Undergraduate Scholarship.
Download a chart of past recipients of IAEM Scholarships.
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