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NYC EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT HOSTS GRADUATION CEREMONY FOR JOHN D. SOLOMON FELLOWSHIP FOR PUBLIC SERVICE GRADUATES

 

May 17, 2024 — New York City Emergency Management Commissioner Zach Iscol and First Deputy Commissioner Christina Farrell presided over a graduation ceremony for the nine graduate students who completed the 2023-2024 John D. Solomon Fellowship for Public Service. The 12th annual graduation ceremony was held Monday, May 13, at the agency's headquarters in Brooklyn.

The nine fellows, who are graduate students from New York University, Columbia University, Baruch College, and, the Metropolitan College of New York completed a nine-month fellowship focused on emergency management at five City agencies and the American Red Cross in Greater New York.

“The John D. Solomon Fellowship for Public Service empowers the next generation of public servants to develop leadership skills, gain insights from field experts, and build foundations for careers in public service.” said NYC Emergency Management Commissioner Zach Iscol. “We are proud of our graduates and honored to uphold John D. Solomon's legacy. He was a tireless advocate for a more resilient city, and his work continues to positively impact New Yorkers. We extend our gratitude to the Solomon family for their generosity in honoring John's memory through this fellowship. Their investment in future public servants embodies John's belief in the power of community and collaboration. This fellowship has been an invaluable resource for our city, fostering leaders who will continue to build a safer and more resilient New York for all.”

The family and friends of the late John D. Solomon, an accomplished journalist who focused on homeland security and other public policy issues, established the John D. Solomon Fellowship for Public Service in 2012. A devoted public servant and active member of his local New York City Community Emergency Response Team (NYC CERT), John was a passionate advocate of emergency preparedness and resilience.

“Congratulations and thank you, 2023-24 John D. Solomon Fellows. Your passion for public service inspires us, your extraordinary dedication and talent benefits all New Yorkers,” said James Solomon, brother of the late John D. Solomon. “Our heartfelt gratitude to New York City Emergency Management on having reached a major milestone: more than 100 graduates of the John D. Solomon Fellowship. These alumni are already civic leaders, including at 17 City government organizations and 10 national health and hospital systems. What a moving, impactful expression of John's belief that 'emergency preparedness should be viewed as a responsibility of citizenship in the 21st century.”

“Every year we are honored to welcome graduate students from around the country to be part of this fellowship, many foster lifelong connections with their fellows and agency representatives,” said Assistant Commissioner of Public Private Partnerships Ira Tannenbaum. “The John D. Solomon Fellowship for Public Service is an introduction to roles in public service, and to the countless ways everyday New Yorkers assist in various emergencies.”

During the nine-month fellowship program, fellows represented their respective agencies, undertaking various individual and agency-directed projects. The 2023-2024 class of fellows went beyond the call-of-duty, assisting New Yorkers during one of their most challenging times. Fellows also engaged with businesses and organizations throughout the pandemic, helping to support their emergency planning.

The New York City Emergency Management Department administers the John D. Solomon Fellowship for Public Service, the first student fellowship in New York City devoted specifically to emergency management. To date, the program has welcomed more than 88 fellows over 10 years into 14 different New York City agencies and organizations, representing close to 40,000 service hours. Over 42 percent of fellowship alumni have moved on to careers in New York City or New York State government.

The 2023-2024 John D. Solomon Fellowship for Public Service graduating class members are:

• Elizabeth Bekerman, Columbia University, NYC Fire Department
• Dylan Campana, New York University, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
• Catherine Davis, Baruch College, NYC Emergency Management’s Government Relations Unit
• Mary Ford, Columbia University, NYC Emergency Management’s Emergency Operations Center Unit
• Judy Huynh, New York University, NYC Emergency Management’s Risk Reduction and Recovery Unit
• Marta Krawczynski, New York University, NYC Emergency Management's Strategic Partnerships Unit
• Alexander Margulies Cohen, Baruch College, American Red Cross of Greater New York
• Avni Patel, Metropolitan College of New York, New York City Police Department
• Alisha Sukhram, Baruch College, New York City Housing Authority

The next fellowship for the 2024-2025 academic year will begin in September 2024. While managing their respective roles in the City's response to emergencies, staff from participating agencies have been interviewing prospective fellows, and NYC Emergency Management staff is in the process of matching prospective fellows with their agencies for the fall. For more information on this year's nine graduates, visit https://www1.nyc.gov/site/em/about/meet-fellows.page. A recording of the graduation will be available on the agency's YouTube channel.

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