Student Resources

Last spring, when Kurt Engemann, PhD, Information Systems, initiated a course based on his particular area of expertise, risk management, some events occurred almost simultaneously that emphasized the importance of this field of study. The nor'easter that flooded New Rochelle started days earlier, but lingered through April 16, the day of the tragedy at Virginia Tech. Engemann was able to examine both very different circumstances with his students to explore how disasters of these sorts, if not able to be avoided, might be mitigated with knowledgeable planning.

Engemann got his start in the field in the 1980s, when he was hired by Citibank to maintain the business's viability in the face of unforeseeable disasters, like fires or terrorist acts. Since then, Engemann has become a certified expert in the field, and he wanted Hagan to offer its MBA students the opportunity to enhance their business education by earning a certificate in Business Continuity and Risk Management.

Over the summer, the certificate program was accredited by AACSB International, and now students can take a series of courses in the field, including Risk, Disaster and Business Continuity Management, Systems Security for Business Resiliency, Business Crisis Leadership and more. Students who choose to earn the certificate will be uniquely prepared to offer real value to their employers, said Engemann. "Recently several major natural disasters have brought business continuity planning to the front pages. These disasters have resulted in losses in the billions of dollars, affecting thousands of organizations. The trend is not abating. The message for businesses is to be prepared and to plan for disaster. Iona College's Advanced Certificate in Business Continuity and Risk Management provides students with the knowledge to lead an organization in protecting people, assets and operations, and to ensure the survival of the business," he said.