{"id":148128,"date":"2025-07-08T09:00:33","date_gmt":"2025-07-08T13:00:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/148128///news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/148128//www.ucf.edu/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/148128//news/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/148128//?p=148128"},"modified":"2025-07-16T12:16:34","modified_gmt":"2025-07-16T16:16:34","slug":"ucf-emergency-management-professor-public-administration-alum-honored-for-public-service-contributions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/148128///news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/148128//www.ucf.edu/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/148128//news/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/148128//ucf-emergency-management-professor-public-administration-alum-honored-for-public-service-contributions/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/148128//","title":{"rendered":"UCF Emergency Management Professor, Public Administration Alum Honored for Public Service Contributions"},"content":{"rendered":"

For Claire Connolly Knox and Kathryn Valentine /news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/148128/u201916, emergency management is more than a career. It/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/148128/u2019s a calling /news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/148128/u2014 and one that/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/148128/u2019s earned them statewide recognition./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/148128/n

To celebrate the accomplishments of emergency management professionals, the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) and the Florida Disaster Foundation recently hosted their inaugural Awards Ceremony Gala, a new component of Florida/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/148128/u2019s Training for Emergency Management (FTEM) symposium. Connolly Knox and Valentine were among the professionals recognized for their work in public service./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/148128/n

Connolly Knox, a professor in the College of Community Innovation and Education/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/148128/u2019s School of Public Administration, received the Campus Impact Award. This accolade honors emergency management educators, professors, university programs and campus clubs whose accomplishments have improved their community while helping students and early professionals forge their career paths in emergency management or homeland security./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/148128/n

Connolly Knox says she is honored to have received the award and proud to contribute to a field that plays a vital role in community resilience and public service./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/148128/n

/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/148128/u201cTo be recognized for my contributions to the emergency management discipline and profession with this award by practitioners I hold in high esteem is an honor I do not take lightly,/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/148128/u201d Connolly Knox says. /news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/148128/u201cI have great respect for the profession and those who serve their community. As a former practitioner, I do my best to bridge theory with practice to improve the study and practice of emergency management./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/148128/u201d/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/148128/n

Connolly Knox/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/148128/u2019s contributions to the emergency management field are many. With over 15 years of research, teaching and service, she has created evidence-based learning opportunities for students. She helped build UCF/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/148128/u2019s No. 1 nationally ranked master/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/148128/u2019s in emergency and crisis management program while mentoring students and junior faculty. Connolly Knox also built and sustained community partnerships throughout the U.S. and led national initiatives and research teams./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/148128/n

Connolly Knox says some of the most rewarding parts of her work include collaborating with emergency management practitioners to create unique learning opportunities for students, along with mentoring students as they either enter or advance in the field./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/148128/n

/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/148128/u201cTo see students have that /news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/148128/u2018aha/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/148128/u2019 moment when concepts and theories connect with the activity in the emergency operations center still gives me goosebumps,/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/148128/u201d Connolly Knox says. /news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/148128/u201cHelping them transition from student to professional is also very rewarding. Whether it/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/148128/u2019s landing their dream job across the country, receiving a promotion or completing their professional certification, celebrating their successes never gets old. These are not just my students and alumni /news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/148128/u2014 they are forever my /news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/148128/u2018kids./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/148128/u2019 /news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/148128/u201d/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/148128/n

Valentine /news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/148128/u2014 a mitigation manager for Seminole County Government and a graduate 色花堂/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/148128/u2019s bachelor in public administration program who minored in emergency management and homeland security, and leadership studies /news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/148128/u2014 was honored with the Miles Anderson Heart of Mitigation Award. This award recognizes an individual or organization for a notable mitigation achievement in the state of Florida. In emergency management, mitigation actions help to reduce or eliminate the loss of life and property by lessening the impact of disasters./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/148128/n