Syracuse University’s New Year resolution was to become more secure. And it did just that by hiring David Pajak.

Pajak was appointed to the new position of chief emergency management officer on Jan.1. The job was created in light of recent national security problems.

‘Ever since Hurricane Katrina in August 2005, which affected Tulane University and other Gulf Coast universities and the tragedy at Virginia Tech in April 2007, most if not all colleges and universities have placed a greater emphasis on emergency management, including the appointment of a dedicated position,’ Pajak, who will continue to be the university’s director of risk management, said.

Louis G. Marcoccia, SU’s chief financial officer and chair of the Emergency Preparedness Committee, said the new position reinforces an already well-adjusted risk management team at SU.

‘We are reasonably well-prepared, but it made sense to assign someone for coordination and oversight,’ Marcoccia said. ‘We’re not changing our structure or committee but instead assigning a monitor or assessor to make sure we’re well coordinated across campus.’

The new CEMO position provides the university with an enhanced risk-management program, but not without a wide array of responsibilities for Pajak.

‘In my continuing role, my job in managing risk involves working with teams in the identification, measurement, implementation of plans and monitoring of risks that may have a legal, financial, reputational, compliance or operational impact on the university,’ Pajak said.

This emergency management approach is an integral part of the university’s risk management program, Pajak said.

Pajak’s job also requires him to do some work outside the immediate SU community.

‘I will also be the primary contact with the County of Onondaga Office of Emergency Management, and I will evaluate emergency management best practices in higher education and apply them to SU wherever appropriate,’ Pajak said.

Although it sounds like a tall order, Pajak’s credentials and experience give him full support from the SU community.

‘Dave has been at the university for several years now,’ SU Communications Director Kevin Morrow said. ‘He is very accomplished and highly respected.’

‘He has tremendous contacts within the university as well as emergency management recourses across the country,’ Morrow said.

Pajak also hopes to work on a proficient text message alert system for SU students and faculty.

‘Syracuse University’s Campus Crisis Alert Notification System will help the university communicate more quickly and efficiently to students, faculty and staff to provide information and instructions during a critical incident,’ Pajak said.

Obtaining the new position was made easier for Pajak because he comes from the SU community. But Marcoccia suggested it was his passion that secured his place in the SU Risk Management team.

‘Risk management is something very near and dear to his heart,’ Marcoccia said.

Published on January 13, 2008 at 12:00 pm