Jacksonville, AL - Emergency management graduate student Jody Hodge was recently elected to serve as secretary of the national student council for the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM). Hodge is currently the president of the University's IAEM student chapter.

"Being on the IAEM national student council will allow me to learn more about IAEM and its student programs," Hodge said. "I also believe this opportunity will help the JSU-IAEM chapter and JSU students in the emergency management program."

IAEM is "a non-profit educational organization dedicated to promoting the 'Principles of Emergency Management'." IAEM has more than 5,000 members around the world, including students from various countries.

"I was not at all surprised to hear of Jody's recent appointment to the national student council," said Stacey Mann, assistant professor in the Department of Emergency Management and student adviser to JSU-IAEM. "He has been instrumental in revitalizing the University's chapter of IAEM and is dedicated to making the chapter outstanding for his fellow students. I admire his dedication to the field of emergency management and his passion for making a difference."

Emergencies, whether natural or manmade, can happen anytime and without warning. Preparing students to successfully enter the emergency management field is the goal of the JSU Institute of Emergency Preparedness and its undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs.