Michigan State University has established a temporary office to coordinate the university’s continued response and supportive resources following the Feb. 13 violence on campus, MSU Interim President Teresa K. Woodruff, Ph.D., announced today. The university also selected Security Risk Management Consultants to lead an independent after-action review.
Office for Resources and Support Coordination
The Office for Resources and Support Coordination will primarily be responsible for coordinating MSU’s ongoing efforts in response to the Feb. 13 tragedy. The office provides a central point of contact for families and survivors directly affected as well as the broader community.
In addition to providing continued support coordination for families and survivors, immediate efforts of the office will focus on four key items:
- Working with campus partners to coordinate the university’s case management process for clinical and nonclinical care for those who feel they would benefit from support and resources.
- Developing trauma-informed communication protocols for how key decisions are shared with the campus and specifically those directly impacted.
- Providing counsel on trauma-informed ways to approach the implementation and education around new safety and security measures on campus.
- Coordinating and advising on long-term structures and programs to promote campus healing and resilience.
The office will be led by co-directors Natalie Moser and David Brewer. Moser currently is the director of the MSU Psychological Clinic and a founding member of the University’s Trauma Services and Training Network. She is a licensed clinical psychologist, a leading expert in anxiety and has expertise providing consultation to families and communities. She holds a doctorate from the University of Delaware.
Brewer most recently served as the director of building services for MSU Infrastructure Planning and Facilities and was a key architect behind the university’s logistical response to COVID-19 to ensure the health and well-being of the campus community. Brewer has been an active member of the University’s Emergency Operations Center and training and planning efforts. He holds a doctorate in mass communication with a focus on organizational communication from the University of Alabama.
“As our long-term response and support for our community continue, it is vital to have an office dedicated to these critical efforts,” said Woodruff. “I have complete confidence in Natalie Moser and David Brewer and to lead this office and provide healing support for our Spartan community.”
External, third-party after-action review
Security Risk Management Consultants will lead the external after-action review, designed to evaluate the entirety of MSU’s immediate response to the campus tragedy, from law enforcement action to the university’s operational response, continuity of operations, campus support and communications protocols.
SRMC’s team includes former law enforcement and public safety executives from large higher education institutions who bring expertise in emergency management, security planning and technology solutions. The team is supplemented with a subcontractor who is a trauma-informed mental health expert in responding to tragedies.
“SRMC brings decades’ worth of experience in response evaluation and safety and security improvements with work spanning 40 states and 10 countries,” said Woodruff. “Their experience working with higher education institutions will be a critical asset as we work to strengthen our response efforts and ensure a safer campus for our community.”
The review will result in recommendations to strengthen MSU’s future response and campus safety. Those recommendations will be shared with the public.