Post Hired as Emergency Manager for U of A

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Jessica Post

Jessica Post, an experienced higher education emergency manager professional, has returned to the University of Arkansas as the new emergency manager. Post steps into the position previously held by Matt Mills, who was promoted to Assistant Chief for the University of Arkansas Police Department (UAPD) last year. 

In her role, Post leads and executes comprehensive emergency preparedness initiatives across the campus, including updating the emergency operations plan. She also designs and delivers emergency preparedness training programs, and facilitates exercises aimed at increasing resilience and operational readiness at the university. 

“I am thrilled to be back at the U of A to lead its emergency preparedness efforts,” she said. “The university has a special place in my heart, and I look forward to working with our community to ensure our campus is resilient and prepared.” 

Post holds more than a decade of experience in emergency management and preparedness in higher education and corporate environments. She served as the assistant emergency manager at the U of A from 2017-2022, where she assisted in the university’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including managing case reports and coordinating vaccine clinic efforts. In 2021, she won the UAPD’s Employee of the Year award. 

Most recently, she was the senior manager of enterprise resilience planning at Walmart, where she oversaw a portfolio and drove continuity planning efforts on a global level for the retailer, including facilitating training sessions with executive leadership to evaluate the effectiveness of business continuity plans. She also supported the Emergency Operations Center during large-scale activations. 

Post responded to disasters such as the 2013 tornadoes in Vilonia and wildfires in Amarillo, Texas, during her work as an AmeriCorps member with the American Red Cross. 

“I am so excited to have Jessica back on our team,” said Mills.  “I know that she is going to do great things for the university community in her role as Emergency Manager.” 

Post, who started her new role late last year, holds a Certified Emergency Manager certificate from the International Association of Emergency Managers and a Certified Business Continuity Professional certificate from Disaster Recovery Institute International. She earned her bachelor’s degree in emergency management from Arkansas Tech University, and is also a graduate of The Washington Center’s political leadership program.