Jonathan Bratt

Assistant Vice President, Office of Enterprise Resilience

jbratt@umaryland.edu

MS: Rochester Institute of Technology – Emergency Management
BS: University of Maryland, Baltimore County – Emergency Health Sciences

Jon joined UMB in 2018 where he was appointed as UMB's inaugural emergency manager. Previously, he served as Director of the Regional Programs Division within the State’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) agency where he led a team responsible for overseeing the state’s 10,000 pre‐hospital emergency care providers, the state‐level acute care hospital designation and evaluation program, and the evaluation of the State’s emergency medical services system. From 2008 to 2012 Jon worked within FEMA’s Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) branch as Deputy Team Leader for the Domestic Emergency Support Team. Jon supported the Department of State’s Prevention of Nuclear Smuggling Program where he worked with foreign executive and cabinet‐level officials to develop plans to deal with illicit smuggling of nuclear materials and weapons. Jon is a Maryland paramedic/firefighter. His more notable responses include the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center, the Navy Yard Shootings, and the Fukushima radiological emergencies. In 2020 Jon was appointed by Governor Hogan to serve on the Governor's Emergency Management Advisory Council.

Carin Cardella (Morrell)

Public Information Officer

cmorrell@police.umaryland.edu

MA: University of Wisconsin, Madison – Journalism and Mass Communication
MS: University of Maryland Global Campus - Strategic Communication
BA: Loyola University Maryland – Communication (Specialization: Journalism); Political Science (Minor: Information Systems and Operations Management)

Prior to joining UMB, Carin served as the Public Information Officer for the Maryland Department of Health, Office of Preparedness and Response, where she managed all public communications related to public health emergencies for the State of Maryland. This role included all social media, website design, media relations, graphic design, statewide training, video production, crisis communications, and more. Carin is a former member of the Communications team at the Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University and has produced newscasts at WBAL-TV in Baltimore.

Laura Cathcart, PhD

Training and Exercise Program Manager

lcathcart@umaryland.edu

PhD: University of Maryland – Science Education
MA: University of Maryland – Science Education
BS: University Maryland – Cell and Molecular Biology and Genetics

Dr. Cathcart designs emergency simulations to help students, faculty, and staff prepare for emergencies at UMB. To improve the culture of emergency preparedness at UMB, Laura created the Preparedness Pro digital credential. Along with teammates, Laura serves as UMB’s emergency manager in a rotational capacity. During COVID-19, she co-led UMB’s response and recovery efforts and an on-campus public vaccine clinic that administered close to 40,000 vaccines. Dr. Cathcart has achieved recognition as a Certified Emergency Manager, Certified Business Continuity Professional and Certified Public Manager.

Laura previously worked at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in Atlanta, GA teaching public health officials how to prepare for and respond to a pandemic. In past roles for the University of Maryland, she managed biosafety level 2 teaching laboratories and taught microbiology, anatomy and physiology, and emergency medical services classes. Laura volunteered as a firefighter and emergency medical technician in Prince George's County, Maryland for 15 years. Laura serves as UMB’s board member for Downtown Baltimore Child Care. She loves commuting to UMB on her electric bicycle and enjoys watching native plants grow in her garden.

Haley Cifizzari

Continuity & Preparedness Programs Manager

hcifizzari@umaryland.edu

MS: University of Maryland, Baltimore County – Emergency Health Sciences

Haley joined UMB in August 2023 and currently manages continuity and preparedness programs. Previously, Haley served as a paramedic in Queen Anne’s County while she obtained her master’s degree from UMBC in Emergency Health Services. During this time, Haley had the opportunity to publish multiple research articles focusing on illness and health care availability in areas experiencing threatening economic and social conditions. Haley then transitioned to the field of emergency management, where she managed grant funding, led planning efforts, and served the unhoused population of Laurel, Md. through her involvement with the Laurel Multiservice Center. Haley has achieved recognition as a professional continuity practitioner and a critical infrastructure protection professional.

Ethan Donnelly

Emergency Management Planning Fellow 

ethan.donnelly@umaryland.edu

BA: The Catholic University of America – Criminology (Intelligence Studies Certificate; Minor: Anthropology)

Ethan joined the UMB Office of Emergency Management on July 1, 2024, after graduating from The Catholic University of America in May. Prior to UMB, he interned with the State of Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) and Montgomery County (Pa.) Department of Public Safety (DPS). While at DEMA, Ethan worked on projects across all hazards, including distribution management during natural disasters, preliminary land use, homeland security, and school safety. During his time with Montgomery County DPS, Ethan focused on radiological emergency management planning for the Limerick Generating Station (LGS), a dual-siloed nuclear power plant in Limerick Township, Pa. He has attended trainings and exercises, including a distribution management tabletop, LGS Hostile Action Based Tabletop, and many Federal Emergency Management Agency Emergency Management Institute Independent Study courses.

Christopher Stanton

Executive Director

cstanton@umaryland.edu

MS: Johns Hopkins University – Public Safety Leadership
BS: University of Maryland, Baltimore County – Emergency Health Sciences

Chris joined UMB in 2019 and is an active volunteer firefighter and EMT. Previously, Chris was Program Manager leading a team to provide emergency preparedness and continuity of operations planning, training, and exercises for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). From 2006 to 2008 he successfully worked to obtain Emergency Management Accreditation Program recognition for the Maryland Emergency Management Agency. Chris has achieved professional recognition as a Certified Emergency Manager, Certified Business Continuity Professional, and Master Exercise Practitioner.