Columbus State University Chief of Police Rus Drew recently attended Crisis Management training at the prestigious Kennedy School of Executive Leadership in Higher Education Program at Harvard University.

Drew, who has led the CSU police force for the past seven years, participated in the advanced crisis leadership and management strategies sections at The Kennedy School, expanding his knowledge in creating an analytical framework for understanding the key issues and concerns relating to the most current issues in national and local emergency preparedness.

“As a result of my experience at Harvard University, I have developed a global perspective on how to manage major critical incidents effectively and decisively while maintaining a focus on leading and motivating teams through a variety of extraordinary circumstances,” Drew says.

He adds that his experience, which took place in March, will enhance the planning capabilities for CSU emergency preparedness and deploy the best business practices in disaster management from institutions around the world.

“Participants come from both large and small institutions, but they all share common interests, concerns and challenges about managing institutional crises effectively,” remarks James Honan, senior lecturer on education, Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Honan adds, “the program inspires, motivates and empowers higher education leaders to gain more confidence, sharpen their skill and better serve their institutions.”

The executive education program at Harvard was designed for executives, managers, administrators and educators to assist in successfully preparing for, responding to, and recovering from a multitude of critical disastrous events in the most logical and rational manner.

The program attracts participants from across the nation and around the world.  Harvard reports that during the past year, executive education participants hailed from 126 countries, and included three ambassadors, 11 ministers, 6 mayors, 10 permanent secretaries and more than 50 legislators.

Drew is a 1980 graduate of Escambia County High School.