Crisis-Ready: How Adelphi’s Emergency Management Program Prepares Leaders for Any Challenge

Adelphi alumna credits online MS in Emergency Management with equipping her to lead through pandemics, security crises and daily operational challenges.

When the pandemic struck, Erin Donohue, MS '23, found herself sitting in the hospital command center at Cohen Children's Medical Center at Northwell Health making critical decisions about patient safety, media communications and operational procedures. She had already spent years working in operations and communications-first at Adelphi University, then at Northwell-and had completed her graduate certificate in Adelphi's emergency management program years earlier. But the challenges of managing an unprecedented healthcare crisis made her realize she needed deeper expertise to advance her career and lead effectively.

"I was in the middle of this pandemic working a job that I absolutely love, and the need to learn how to be more responsive really pushed me into finishing my master's in emergency management," Donohue says.

Donohue had started the program back in 2013 while working in media relations at Adelphi, drawn to emergency management because of personal connections to the field. "I come from a family of police officers and my husband is a 9/11 first responder, so the program really tied into my upbringing," she says. She completed her graduate certificate before leaving in 2015. Five years later, with a global health crisis underway, she returned to Adelphi to finish her Master of Science in Emergency Management at the College of Professional and Continuing Studies.

The degree being online made it possible. "It was so flexible, and a lot of the classes were asynchronous," she says. That flexibility helped her balance coursework with managing a demanding hospital role and family responsibilities, while navigating the pandemic alongside everyone else.

Interdisciplinary Courses Offer Broad Emergency Management Experience

The emergency management program's interdisciplinary curriculum draws on multiple Adelphi University schools-including the College of Nursing and Public Health, College of Arts and Sciences and Robert B. Willumstad School of Business-to provide an all-hazards planning approach applicable across industries. She studied leadership and human resources, statistics and research methods, emergency planning and response strategies, and the legal and ethical considerations behind every crisis decision.

"Oh, I loved the leadership class," Donohue says. "It taught me all about different types of leadership and what kind of leader I am. It had a human resources angle to it, and I think that has parlayed into the work that I do now as a leader, as somebody who manages people."

One reason the curriculum addressed her on-the-job needs so effectively was the caliber of faculty. Many professors had frontline experience managing major planned and unplanned events, including the former deputy inspector of the Joint Terrorist Task Force during the September 11 attacks.

"We've got really good senior adjunct faculty who have been around for a long time and are very supportive of the students," says Terry Cooper, DHSc, clinical assistant professor and director of the emergency management program.

Online Courses With a Personal Connection

Though courses were 100 percent online, Donohue's connection to her professors was as strong as it would have been in person. "I had very engaged professors in the emergency management courses," she says. "They made themselves available for virtual meetings, and they were very responsive to emails and setting up group chats. They understood how to use technology to advance the student." Faculty used their real-world experience to guide discussions during online classes, often sharing how they would have handled situations students were analyzing.

The curriculum also provides hands-on experience through a capstone project. Students can complete a research project addressing a real-world emergency management problem or an internship in the field. Donohue chose to work alongside Northwell's emergency management team. "That really put me in real-world situations as part of my education," she says.

The education helped Donohue take the next step in her career. When she returned to finish her degree, Donohue was a project manager. Today, she's director of hospital operations, managing multiple departments and strategic initiatives. In addition to emergency management, she oversees front-desk operations, coordinates with security on patient protection protocols, manages media relations and creates communications for thousands of staff members.

That versatility makes emergency management valuable, according to Donohue. "Don't think of it just as homeland security or FEMA or the police department," she says. "It's a very versatile degree, and the things you learn really dovetail into a lot of different careers."

Cooper agrees. "Emergency management is an umbrella," he says. "It can really direct interested students to any career path." Graduates assume roles as emergency management directors and consultants, public safety directors, hazard mitigation officers, homeland security officers, risk managers and business continuity managers across industries-from healthcare and education to government and private sector organizations.

"The degree itself really taught me critical thinking," Donohue says. "It was because of how layered that curriculum was."

And when the next crisis comes, she'll be ready.

About the MS in Emergency Management Program

Adelphi's online Master of Science in Emergency Management was recognized by OnlineU as one of the most affordable online emergency management programs in the United States. Learn more about the program.