Peter Cusolito, MBA
Peter Cusolito, CEM, is the Senior Security and Emergency Management Consultant for Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, a mid-sized civil engineering firm with offices from New England to Florida. He is a Certified Emergency Manager, and a trained Emergency Management Accreditation Program (EMAP) Assessor. A retired senior military officer with three decades of incident and emergency management experience, he has a comprehensive knowledge of emergency program development principles in the public and private sectors. Mr. Cusolito supports government and private sector clients such as emergency management agencies, public assemblies, arenas, convention and exhibition centers, public and private schools, and colleges/universities with the application of Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice, Environmental Protection Agency, National Fire Protection Association, and Nuclear Regulatory Commission standards and program models for Threat Assessments, Mitigation Plans, Security Plans, Emergency Management Plans, Standard Operating Procedures, and the development and conduct of training, drills, and exercises. He served as the Commander of a military homeland defense/terrorist response team and as a representative to the public for the coordination of public safety planning for several large-scale, high-risk events throughout the country. He has extensive knowledge in the areas of risk/mitigation assessments and program evaluations and emergency management planning products. In addition to his extensive list of military and government schools and certifications, Peter holds a BA in Economics from Framingham State College and an MBA from Nichols College.

Tony Gemmellaro, M.S.
Tony Gemmellaro is currently working as an environmental health and safety specialist at Shire Pharmaceuticals, located in Lexington, MA. His professional career has included positions with the Boston Public Health Commission, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, Alpha-Beta Technology, Muro Pharmaceuticals, and St. Joseph's Hospital. He has a broad range of experience as an EHS specialist and as a committed advocate for employee and manufacturing environments. He has also been a consultant for over 15 different biotechnology companies, from 1998 to the present. A skilled teacher and trainer, Tony has been a part-time faculty member at Anna Maria College since 1997, where he has developed and taught a variety of courses. He earned a BS in Biology from Boston University and a MS in Biological Sciences from the University of Massachusetts – Lowell. He has presented at conferences, such as the American Biological Safety Association (ABSA), American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) and the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council (MBC).

David Glazebrook, MBA
David Glazebrook is the Emergency Manager for the Area of Operations for the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery Maine. In this position he is responsible for four Level 1 Homeland Security Installations Emergency Planning, All-Hazards response, CBRNE response and planning and advising on Defense Support to Civil Authorities. He previously was the Operations Manager for the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency in charge of coordination of State-wide Emergency Response. He was the EOC Manager for 17 State Emergency Operations Center activations, including the 2008 December Ice Storm, the 2008 Boston Marathon, and the December 2007 Snow Storm. Mr. Glazebrook also spent 13 years in the Army on active duty which included a Combat Tour in Iraq. David holds Certifications in Anti-Terrorism and Homeland Security, is a Distinguished Honor Graduate of the Army Officer Candidate School, and received several Military Awards for performance and bravery. His educational background includes Bachelor of Science is Sociology/Criminology from Colorado State University, Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix, Masters Certificate of Homeland Security from Texas A&M University, and a Certificate in Terrorism Studies from the University of St. Andrews.

Susan R. Swedis, Ph.D.
Associate Professor; Director, Graduate Program in Emergency Management ; Chair, Division of Environmental, Natural & Technological Science

Dr. Swedis has been teaching in higher education for 20 years and has been on the faculty of Anna Maria College for the past ten years. Dr. Swedis received her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts, beginning with a bachelor's degree in Chemistry, an M.A. in Risk Analysis & Technology Assessment, and a Ph.D. in Environmental Science & Policy. In the emergency management field, Dr. Swedis focuses on the assessment and management of technological hazards and their impacts on human health and the environment. Dr. Swedis' background includes work in non-governmental organizations involved in research and advocacy on science policy issues. Dr. Swedis also has been appointed to several Massachusetts State advisory boards and task forces focused on public policy on hazardous substances.

Robert Thompson, MA
Robert (Bob) Thompson has been the Meteorologist-in-Charge of the Southern New England National Weather Service (NWS) Forecast Office in Taunton, MA since November 1989. He previously was the Meteorologist-in-Charge of the Reno, NV forecast office for three years. Other NWS assignments included meteorologist positions in Albany, New York, Anchorage, Alaska (where he specialized in fire weather and avalanche forecasting), and at NWS headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland. Mr. Thompson's career with the NWS started as a summer student trainee at the Boston office. He received a Bachelor of Science in Meteorology from Florida State University and a Masters Degree in Atmospheric Science from the University of Washington (in Seattle). As Meteorologist-in-Charge, he manages a 24/7 operations entrusted to provide warnings and forecasts for the protection of life and property and enhancement of our nation's economy. Responsibilities include frequent interaction with emergency managers, other decision-makers, and the media throughout southern New England. Mr. Thompson is a charter member of the NOAA Atlantic Regional Team and leads a Resiliency Subteam. His office has been a pioneer in developing digital aviation forecasts and enhancing coastal flood warning services.

Sarah Zalieckas, M.S.
Ms. Zalieckas combines her extensive experience in the social services field with experience in disaster planning. She is an advocate for children placed in the Child Welfare System, working to ensure that children's needs are recognized and incorporated into disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation efforts. Ms. Zalieckas has been active in providing comprehensive emergency and crisis management planning and training services to social services personnel and vendors. Her research and study also focuses on the area of children and disasters. She also currently works with a municipal emergency management agency, and has consulted with multiple nonprofit organizations and local level emergency management agencies. Ms. Zalieckas holds a M.S. in Emergency Management from Anna Maria College, and a B.A. in Sociology from Saint Mary's University, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Want to learn more about the online M.S. in Emergency Management from Anna Maria College? Request more information or call 1 (877) 265-3201 to speak with an Admissions Advisor.