Watts Briefly

--Student earns national EMHS honor

--New visiting pro starts in January

--HAITC director leads parks tour

Thomas Walmsley, emergency management director for Bernalillo County in New Mexico and an ASU student pursuing a master’s degree in emergency management and homeland security, was named 2024 Emergency Manager of the Year by the U.S. Council of the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM-USA).

Walmsley was honored Nov. 20 at the IAEM-USA annual conference in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

“Thomas Walmsley’s remarkable achievements and unwavering commitment to emergency management epitomize the qualities sought after by this prestigious award,” IAEM-USA said in a statement. “… Walmsley demonstrates exceptional leadership and forward-thinking initiatives, harnesses advanced technologies and fosters collaboration among public and private sector partners. His visionary approach has significantly enhanced the county's emergency preparedness and response capabilities, benefiting the region.”

Walmsley said the recognition “validates the work I have done throughout my career and confirms my ability to lead and innovate in this field. My experience in ASU’s master’s degree program for emergency management and homeland security has been invaluable in preparing me for the evolving challenges in emergency management and has deepened my understanding of the important role higher education plays in advancing our profession. This award motivates me to continue driving resilience and preparedness within our communities."

A former national president of the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) will begin a year in January working with ASU graduate students pursuing careers as local government leaders.

Patricia “Pat” Martel is the 2025 Harrell-Hutchinson Visiting Urban Management Professional in the School of Public Affairs. With nearly four decades of service in local government, Martel brings a wealth of experience in public administration, along with a deep commitment to inclusion and community-focused governance.

She will mentor the Marvin Andrews and Jane Morris Fellows in Urban Management while sharing valuable insights in public administration and policy courses.

Born to first-generation American parents with roots in Mexico, Martel has advocated creating opportunities for underrepresented communities throughout her career, particularly in local government, where she has worked to increase diversity and ensure equitable access to services for all residents.

Martel was the first woman of color to be president of ICMA, a professional organizational comprised of 12,000 members representing cities, towns and counties that are dedicated to advancing excellence in local government management worldwide. Martel, with more than 38 years of service in local government, is a retired city manager of Daly City, California. She also held executive leadership roles in several other California cities including San Francisco and Hayward, where she focused on delivering high-quality public services, fostering community engagement and promoting diversity in local government leadership.

Martel holds a bachelor’s degree in public affairs and journalism, as well as a master’s degree in public administration. She said the appointment reflects her deep commitment to supporting and mentoring the next generation of local government leaders, which has its roots in mentorship she received as a graduate student and early-career professional.                     

“My passion is to engage students of public affairs and public management in conversation about the impact they can have in their communities and beyond,” Martel said. “Helping them to see who they can be, particularly women and students of color, can potentially contribute significantly to enhanced diversity and inclusion in public organizations to better serve the needs of diverse communities.”         

Watts College Associate Dean Kelly Bricker, who is director of the Hainan University-Arizona State University Joint International Tourism College (HAITC), and Nathan Bricker, HAITC program manager, recently led officials from China’s Sichuan province on a tour of Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks.

The trip included experts working in various capacities within the national parks in Sichuan Province, including the Giant Panda National Park. The Sichuan officials had proposed the October tour, which was offered according to a memorandum of understanding ASU signed with the province’s Forestry and Grassland Bureau, Kelly Bricker (below right) said. The program was in part supported by the United Nations’ Development Program focused on National Park training and capacity building.

The Sichuan officials met with administrators at both parks, attending workshops designed to foster understanding of how U.S. national parks operate successfully. While at Yellowstone the group visited the Old Faithful geyser and Yellowstone Falls, and took a wildlife tour at Grand Teton. 

Kelly Bricker wrote an account of the trip that can be read on the SCRD blog.