It’s a change that’s time has come. NDSU’s Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Emergency Management is being reorganized.
The unit is being divided into the new Department of Emergency Management and the Department of Sociology and Anthropology. The State Board of Higher Education approved the change June 17.
A brief look at history explains why this has come about.
The emergency management program was formed about 10 years ago with approximately six students. It was added to sociology and anthropology in 2003, and through the ensuing years became a model of success. “We grew to 20, 30, 50 students and added the first emergency management doctoral program in the country,” explained Daniel Klenow, who heads the new department. “We began to realize we were a national program. We have or have had students from Illinois, Pennsylvania, Maine, Ohio, Minnesota, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Utah, Michigan, Wisconsin – you get the picture. This program has national attention, and we’re getting bigger.”
Emergency management faculty also saw more activity recruiting students, mentoring and research. The growth in the number of students, combined with the complexities of forming a new field of study and additional student demands, called for a stand-alone department.
“When we developed emergency management, it really was a sub-set of sociology,” said Gary Goreham, who chairs the Department of Sociology and Anthropology. “It was a practical, pragmatic way of showing the value of sociology in another setting; that sociology could be important in dealing with disasters. But, as we look around our department, it’s quite evident that emergency management is a child ready to be on its own.”
Goreham cites the strong relationships among faculty in the sister sciences, and expects close ties to continue.
“On the one hand, we’re saddened as they leave because they are very good friends and colleagues. But on the other hand, we are excited to see a new discipline born. It’s an applied area that will clearly be of benefit to the world,” Goreham said.
At the same time, Goreham is excited about the potential for the restructured Department of Sociology and Anthropology. “We’ve got good people and good things happening,” he said. “We’ve always had good students, but right now I’ve got one of the best groups ever. And they just keep coming.”
Meantime, Klenow also sees great opportunity for the new Department of Emergency Management as he looks to the future. With 50 to 55 majors now, Klenow indicates that number could rise to 100.
“This program is a tremendous enhancement to the university, and it has been very well received in Fargo, at the state level and by the Federal Emergency Management Agency,” Klenow said. “We are working with humility and pride to move this department forward. We have tremendous students and our faculty members are really top drawer.”