RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. (April 9, 2008)--Dr. Mary Ann Rollans, dean of the Arkansas Tech School of Community Education and Professional Development, and Major Gen. William Wofford, a 1971 Arkansas Tech graduate, have been invited to present papers at the Shanghai World Expo and City Management Control International Forum on April 21-23 in the People’s Republic of China.
The forum will bring leaders from a variety of fields together to discuss disaster prevention and recovery methods. The conference invitation states that the conference is intended to “formulate new ideas and better strategies to benefit modern cities around the world in security and emergency management technology.”
Rollans’ paper for the conference is entitled “Improving Disaster Preparedness through Technology, Training and Information Transfer between China and the United States.”
Wofford’s presentation is entitled “Military Support to Civil Authorities during Emergencies and Catastrophic Disasters.”
Rollans has been part of the Arkansas Tech Emergency Administration and Management (EAM) degree program since it was first implemented in 1997. Arkansas Tech was the first university to receive accreditation for its emergency management program from the Foundation on Higher Education in Disaster/Emergency Management and Homeland Security.
“This is an exceptional opportunity to extend the visibility of Arkansas Tech University into a broad, international market,” said Rollans. “Professionals and corporate representatives from England, France, Japan and Russia have been invited to participate in the discussions along with the delegates from China and the United States.”
Wofford serves as Adjutant General for the Arkansas National Guard and is a member of the Governor’s Cabinet. He will be inducted into the Arkansas Tech Hall of Distinction on May 10.
“This is a terrific opportunity to help develop the understanding that military capabilities, although organized and equipped for a wartime mission, are ideally suited to support civil authorities during disaster consequence management,” said Wofford. “It is a privilege to have been invited to this conference.”
