Pegasus: The Magazine of the University of Central Florida | Featuring IEMer Michele Jones
Florida native Michele Jones ’11 ’14 MPA knew hurricanes and unruly weather were a fact of life. But a different kind of disaster left a lasting impression: 9/11.
“I was in eighth grade when that happened, and it was definitely one of those life-altering tragedies,” she says. “I’m at school and everyone’s crying, and there didn’t really seem to be a plan or much communication.”
That moment planted the seed for what would become a lifelong dedication to public service and emergency management.
When Jones first arrived at UCF, she considered studying computer science, but her interest in public service never faded. A case study on the 9/11 attacks introduced her to the critical role of communication, coordination and emergency response. It inspired her to switch her focus to public administration, with a minor in emergency management and homeland security, showing her how effective communication can make all the difference in saving lives.