Dr. Thad Hicks

Professional Experience

• Program Director, Psychology, Criminal Justice, and Emergency Management Programs, 2025 – Present
• Professor of Emergency Management & Criminal Justice, Mount Vernon Nazarene University, 2020-Present
• Program Coordinator for Peace and Conflict Studies, Mount Vernon Nazarene University, 2023-Present.
• GPS Program Coordinator for Public Administration, Mount Vernon Nazarene University, 2020-2024
• Program Director, Emergency Management, Ohio Christian University, 2009 – 2020
• Professor of Emergency Management and Program Director, Ohio Christian University, 2009 – 2020

Professional Organizations

• International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM)
• Ohio Emergency Management Association (OEMA)

Awards and Recognitions

• Certified Emergency Manager Certification – International Association of Emergency Management
• Master Exercise Practitioner – Federal Emergency Management Agency
• Ohio Certified Emergency Manager Certification – Ohio Emergency Management Association
• Six Sigma Green Belt Certified – Management and Strategy Institute
• Program Management, Lean Process – Management and Strategy Institute

Published Works & Presentations

• Hicks, T. (2024). Areas in conflict and emergency response: Navigating complex challenges. Journal of Emergency Management, 22(6), November/December.
• Hicks, T. (2023). Emergency and Disaster Exercise: A Practitioner’s Guide to Exercise Design and Development, Conduct, Evaluation, and Improvement Planning. Kendall Hunt Publishing Company.
• Hicks, T. (2020). Plots of resilience, learning, and discovery in emergency management. Journal of Emergency Management, 18(5), September/October.

• Ph.D. in Intercultural Studies, Asbury Theological Seminary, Wilmore, KY (2014)
• M.A. in Conflict Transformation, Restorative Justice, Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg, VA (2008)
• B.S. in Criminology, Ashland University, Ashland, Ohio (2001)
• Ohio Police Officer Certification, Cleveland Heights Police Academy, Cleveland Heights, Ohio (1998)