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The John D. Solomon Fellowship for Public Service is the first student fellowship in New York City government devoted specifically to emergency management. This program provides the opportunity for up to seven graduate students in New York City-area universities to have a nine-month paid fellowship (approximately 20 hours per week) in an agency of New York City government, including OEM, that is charged with helping the City be prepared for all types of emergencies. Each fellow will receive a $4,000 stipend, will be assigned an agency mentor, and will participate in special programs with other fellows.
Sponsored by OEM, the John D. Solomon Fellowship Program was established by the family and friends of the late John D. Solomon, who was an accomplished journalist on homeland security and other public policy issues and who was devoted to public service. An active member of his local Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and a passionate advocate of emergency preparedness and resiliency, John originated "In Case of Emergency, Read Blog — A Citizen's Eye View of Preparedness." In recognition of his many contributions, in 2011, OEM created the John D. Solomon CERT Award for Exemplary Service in Emergency Preparedness Education and in 2012, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) established the national John D. Solomon Preparedness Award.
Participating Agencies
- The NYC Office of Emergency Management (OEM) is the main New York City agency charged with preparing and educating New Yorkers about emergencies and helping City, state and federal agencies coordinate their responses.
- The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, one of the largest public health agencies in the world, has critical responsibilities in any emergency that threatens the health of New Yorkers from bioterrorism to viral epidemics.
- The NYC Department for the Aging, responsible for protecting the health and safety of the City's 1.3 million older adults, is on the front lines in reaching low-income and the vulnerable elderly during times of emergency.
- NYC Service was created by Mayor Bloomberg in 2009 to drive volunteer activity to where New York City's needs are greatest. In the areas of emergency preparedness its goal is to nurture volunteer activities to increase business, individual and household "readiness."
- The NYC Digital Project-NYC Digital, launched in 2011 by Mayor Bloomberg, provides opportunities for New Yorkers to engage with City government digitally and for City government to engage with New Yorkers through Facebook, Foursquare, Tumblr and Twitter, which are key channels during emergencies.
- The NYC Department of Youth & Community Development, which is joining as a participating agency for 2013, was established in 1996 to provide the City of New York with high-quality youth and family programming.
- The NYC Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs, which is joining as a participating agency for 2013, promotes the well-being of immigrant communities by recommending policies and programs that facilitate successful integration of immigrant New Yorkers into the civic, economic, and cultural life of the City.
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Eligibility & Selection Criteria
Who's Eligible
Graduate students who will be entering their first or second year in fall 2013 and who are specializing in the following fields:
- Public Health
- Public Safety
- Communications
- Journalism
- Emergency Management
- Social Work
- Community Organizing
- Law
- Engineering
- Education
- Business
Selection Criteria
Fellows will work on projects that involve collaborating with many individuals in their own agencies, in other City agencies, with community organizations and New Yorkers. Therefore, in addition to academic achievement and prior work experience, the selection process will take the following into consideration: - Fluency in using major social media platforms, especially for marketing and communications;
- First-hand knowledge of New York City's neighborhoods and its community based organizations;
- Experience writing for a wide audience;
- Experience in working collaboratively and communicating clearly;
- Commitment to New York City and serving the public;
- The ability to speak at least one foreign language (is desirable).
Please note that New York City residency is not required for this fellowship. Additionally, students enrolled at universities within the New York City metropolitan area, including Long Island, New Jersey and Connecticut, may apply for this fellowship.
To apply:
The application period for the 2013-14 academic year is now closed. Please check back for the next application period.
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Webinar for John D. Solomon Fellowship Applicants
On April 11, OEM hosted a webinar on the John D. Solomon Fellowship for Public Service for the 2013-14 academic year.
Click here to access the webinar
John D. Solomon Fellowship Webinar (in PDF)
John D. Solomon Fellowship Webinar (PowerPoint document)
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Inaugural Class of 2012-2013
Introducing the 2012-2013 John D. Solomon Fellows:
| Michelle Johnson is a MPA candidate in Emergency and Disaster Management at Metropolitan College and a vice president of the International Association of Emergency Managers Student Association. She has worked as Disaster Action Team Member for the American Red Cross in New York City. Michelle is a Fellow at the NYC Office of Emergency Management, focusing on engaging OEM's nonprofit, private, and government partners to prepare their staffs and volunteers for potential disasters and will help further the preparedness program using the tools of social media.
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| Katie Mischik is a MA candidate at Pace University's Public Safety and Emergency Planning Program, has been an intern with the Office of Emergency Management, assisting with the redesign of NYC Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) procedures manual and the development of evaluation tools for CERT. She received a B.A. in Environmental Studies from Pace University. Katie is a Fellow at the NYC Department for the Aging, where she assists in the comprehensive review of current emergency plans and procedures of the 400 community partners of the Department, concentrating on senior centers, home care agencies, and home delivered meal program.
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| Luis Palacios is a MPS candidate at New York University's Interactive Telecommunications Program at Tisch School of the Arts, where he is specializing in data representation, data journalism, and civic media and engagement. Luis is a Fellow at NYC Digital, providing content for several of the City's social media channels, ensuring New Yorkers are well informed and prepared for emergency situations. He also created the first Spanish Twitter account for City government, in an effort to inform and reach an even wider audience. Luis received a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin and spends his weekends attending hackathons around the City.
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| Alexandra Theran is pursuing her MPA in Emergency and Disaster Management at Metropolitan College of New York. She has also taken FEMA independent study courses and attended New York State training courses on operations of the New York State Emergency Operations Center. She received a B.F.A. in Theater Arts from Boston University. Alexandra is a Fellow in the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, working to modify Biological Agent response plans by analyzing and reviewing best practices and coordination with external agencies. |
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John D. Solomon Fellows Blog
John D. Solomon Fellows chronicle their experiences through the program's blog.
Learn more
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