The Arkansas Tech University emergency management and homeland security program bestowed the 2026 Kay Goss Award upon Dr. Stacy Willett of the University of Akron.
The award was presented during the 2026 Emergency Management Higher Education Colloquium, which brought together educators, researchers, practitioners and students from across the United States to advance emergency management education through collaboration, innovation and the sharing of best practices.
Named in honor of emergency management pioneer Kay C. Goss, the award recognizes an individual whose career has demonstrated exceptional leadership, service, scholarship and lasting contributions to emergency management higher education.
Willett, professor of emergency management and homeland security at the University of Akron, has helped shape the future of the emergency management profession for more than two decades through her work as an educator, researcher, mentor and national leader.
At the University of Akron, Willett has educated generations of emergency management professionals while helping strengthen her institution’s emergency management academic programs. Her influence extends beyond her institution through leadership in curriculum development, accreditation and national initiatives that have advanced emergency management education across the United States.
“Dr. Willett’s impact on emergency management higher education is both broad and enduring,” said Dr. Jamie Stacy, professor of emergency management and homeland security at Arkansas Tech and co-chair of the 2026 Emergency Management Higher Education Colloquium. “She has dedicated her career to preparing future emergency managers while helping strengthen academic programs and elevate the profession nationwide. We are honored to recognize her with the 2026 Kay Goss Award.”
Past recipients of the Kay Goss award are Kay Goss (2018), DeeDee Bennett (2019), Carol Cwiak (2021), Claire Knox (2022), Steve Jensen (2023), Kevin Kupietz (2024) and David McEntire (2025).
Learn more about the ATU emergency management and homeland security program at www.atu.edu/ceh/pace/emhs.
