Dr. Karyn Melligan
Assistant Professor of Emergency Management and Coordinator of Emergency Management Graduate Program
About Dr. Karyn Melligan
Dr. Karyn Melligan is an Assistant Professor and the Program Coordinator for the graduate Emergency Management program. Dr. Melligan has more than 20 years of experience in Emergency Management, beginning her career as a wildland firefighter with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. As an Emergency Management and Homeland Security consultant, she specialized in assisting clients in obtaining Federal Emergency Management and Homeland Security grants and evaluating emergency operations plans. Dr. Melligan is a subject matter expert with the Homeland Defense & Security Information Analysis
Center, Editor in Chief of the Journal of Disaster Resilience and Emergency Management and has taught a wide range of Emergency Management and Homeland Security courses.
Hobbies /Interests
When not teaching, Dr. Melligan enjoys traveling, spending time with her family, renovating her
historic home, and volunteering with the American Red Cross on a Disaster Action Team.
Teaching Philosophy
I believe that learning happens in that place just beyond one’s comfort zone, where I like to meet
my students. Today’s students, as future homeland security and emergency management
professionals, will face situations where lives will depend on their ability to make split-second
decisions with no obvious right answer. Therefore, it is incumbent upon me to inspire critical
thinking and help my students to develop their skills as both a scholar and a practitioner.
Education
Education
Ph.D. in Public Safety Leadership, Capella University
M.A. in Emergency and Disaster Management, American Military University
M.A. in Homeland Security-Counterterrorism, American Military University
M.A. in Criminal Justice, American Military University
B.A. in Business Administration, National University
Awards
Golden Key International Honor Society
Invitation only academic International Honor Society based solely on their academic achievements.
Epsilon Pi Phi Honor Society
The scholastic honor society recognizes academic achievement among students in the field of emergency management, homeland security, disaster research and science, criminal justice, and continuity management disciplines.
San Diego Women in Business Award
Professional Activities
Homeland Defense & Security Information Analysis Center SME
International Association for Intelligence Education
International Association of Emergency Managers
American Society for Public Administration
National Emergency Management Association
International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM)
American Society for Public Administration (ASPA)
National Emergency Management Association (NEMA)
Epsilon Pi Phi Honor Society
Golden Key International Honor Society
INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE
2011 – Emergency Management & Homeland Security Consultant Present EP2R
2007 – Wildland Firefighter I
2011 California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection
CERTIFICATES & ADDITIONAL EDUCATION
2022 International Association of Emergency Managers (anticipated) Associate Emergency Manager (AEM) –Currently working towards completion of requirements for certification
2020 Certificate in Homeland Security & Cybersecurity, University of Colorado.
2020 Certificate in University Teaching – University of Hong Kong
1997 California Western School of Law, San Diego CA, Completed 54 graduate-level units of legal studies including Ethics, Torts, Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, Civil Procedure, Contract Law, Property, Advanced Contract Law, Constitutional Law, Evidence, Community Property, and Sports & Entertainment Law
Recent Publications
2020 Melligan, K. (2020). The Vulnerability of the United States Electrical Power Grid. Journal of Applied Business and Economics, 22(7), 155-163.
2020 Harwood-Melligan, K. (2020). Silencing America: The First & Fourteenth Amendment Under Attack. ProQuest. American Military University
2019 Harwood-Melligan, K. (2019). The Rise of Female Terrorism: Women Who Become Terrorists. ProQuest. American Military University
2017 Harwood-Melligan, K. (2017). On the Fire Line: The Lived Experiences Of California Female Inmate Firefighters. ProQuest. Capella University
2013 Harwood-Melligan, K. (2013). Homegrown Terrorism Impact on Emergency Management. ProQuest. American Military University
