NDSU students participate in the annual Homeland Security and Emergency Management conference and work with HSEM professionals on research to develop new strategies in emergency management practices.
From a young age, Nick Doll witnessed his mother devote countless hours to volunteering with the Immune Deficiency Foundation, a commitment sparked by his diagnosis with immune deficiency at just two years old. Watching her unwavering dedication and the impact she made on others deeply influenced Nick, instilling in him a profound sense of duty and a lifelong understanding of the power of helping others.
“I was raised to help others,” said Doll, who works for our Homeland Security and Emergency Management division. “You could say that it’s a family calling, with my dad in the military and a firefighter, my mom volunteering with a non-profit, and my sister being a nurse. It definitely inspired me.”
That inspiration drove him to enroll in Disaster Resilience and Emergency Management 101 at NDSU. He soon found himself immersed in NDSU’s landscape architecture, disaster resilience, and emergency management program, learning as much as possible about preparing for and responding to disasters.
Doll’s classroom knowledge quickly transitioned to hands on experience during his junior year, when he interned in St. Paul with HSEM, supporting local jurisdictions and responding to real emergencies across the state.
“College provided me the foundation to work in the profession, but responding to disasters taught me critical thinking, compassion and the teamwork to make that foundational knowledge impactful,” said Doll.
Now an important member of HSEM’s public assistance team, Doll played a key role in helping Minnesotans recover from last year’s federal flood disaster. His story reflects exactly what the partnership aims to achieve: preparing students to lead in the field and bringing fresh, skilled talent into the field to serve Minnesota communities.
Shared learning and practical application
The partnership between NDSU and HSEM has already delivered results beyond individual success stories like Doll’s. NDSU students participate in the annual HSEM conference and work with HSEM professionals on research to develop new strategies in emergency management practices.
One key project is the development of an all-hazards mitigation plan by NDSU students designed to address the challenges Minnesotans may face in 2050 and beyond for HSEM to possibly use in future operations.
“This partnership gives our students invaluable, real-world exposure to the professionals shaping the future of disaster management,” said Dr. Caroline Hackerott, assistant professor of LADREM. “At the same time, we offer HSEM a research-driven perspective that dives into the complex social, political and economic forces that influence resilience.”
A shared vision for the future
As the frequency and complexity of disasters continue to rise, HSEM and NDSU are looking ahead with ambitious goals. There are plans to expand internship offerings, provide more HSEM professional guest speakers in the classroom and continue to partner on planning projects.
“It is rewarding to partner with young students that have such a thirst for knowledge and are eager to make a difference in their communities,” said HSEM Deputy Director Kevin Reed. “Through this partnership, we get to help enrich that excitement by offering opportunities to apply what they learned in academics to real-world scenarios and perhaps even offer them a job once they have graduated.”
At its core, this collaboration is about more than just exchanging knowledge. It’s about fostering trust, innovative thinking and building the next generation of emergency management leaders in the region.
If you are interested in an internship with HSEM, please contact Jonathan Stacke at [email protected] for more details and visit our website for more information about HSEM.
