Purdue Global’s fire science program leading the way in online fire and emergency management education

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Early in his career, firefighter and Purdue Global professor Jonathan Mead developed a training academy for his local fire department and surrounding departments to use. This was an early indicator that Mead would spend his life educating, and now he can say that teaching others about fire safety has truly been the cornerstone of his career.

“When I started teaching, I made a commitment to provide the best I could to ensure that everyone would gain knowledge and be more educated than I was, and that means sharing every piece of knowledge that is relevant and provides a safer working condition,” Mead said. “As a professor, I learn from my students as well since we share experiences from all walks of life.”

Mead brings those same principles to Purdue Global’s fire science program, which stands out as a beacon of excellence in fire and emergency management education. With a commitment to developing future leaders in the field, the program offers a comprehensive curriculum that integrates practical experience with academic rigor. It can provide everyone from aspiring firefighters to those with decades of experience with an opportunity for continuing education, setting them up for long-term success.

Experienced, expert faculty driving innovation

The program’s strength lies in its faculty, many of whom are seasoned professionals with extensive experience in fire service. The program has 13 faculty members who are either active or former fire chiefs or assistant chiefs, as well as additional faculty members who have experience in the field of fire science or are retired firefighters. Their diverse backgrounds and extensive service records provide students with invaluable insights into the fire service. With nearly 30 courses offered, there are a vast amount of options to help aspiring and current professionals alike to further their understanding of fire science. 

Rodney Sonderman is a deputy fire chief with the Hershey Volunteer Fire Company in Pennsylvania and has been a part of Purdue Global’s faculty since 2010. He emphasizes the importance of leadership in the sector.

“The fire service needs quality and dependable leadership,” Sonderman said. “Many people love the job but leave due to bad leadership.”

Sonderman’s experience in both emergency response and higher education positions him to impart critical skills to future firefighters.

“It is my purpose to give each student something they can use in the future to be a better person and make an impact on their community,” Sonderman said. “The degree program gives the foundation to promote and challenge the mind to consider new solutions to the changing world.”

Derrick Clouston, who recently was promoted to chief of the Pinehurst Fire Department and is a volunteer firefighter with the Stoney Point Fire Department in North Carolina, has been teaching at Purdue Global for more than 15 years. He retired in 2020 from the North Carolina Office of State Fire Marshal, where he served as deputy director for 28 years. Clouston’s motivation is all about paying it forward. 

“It is all about giving back to the service,” Clouston said. “The fire service has been good to me, and I believe you should invest back into it.” 

Clouston’s long tenure and passion for mentoring underscore the Purdue Global fire science program’s goal to nurture the next generation of fire service leaders.

Robert Wilson has 38 years of service at Sioux City Fire Rescue in Iowa. While it wasn’t always his dream to be a career firefighter, what started as just a “job at the time” turned out to be the greatest move he ever made. Wilson finds teaching at Purdue Global to be highly rewarding. 

“Teaching in the fire science field for students who have an interest in the fire service was a great opportunity for me to give back some of the knowledge I have gained during my career,” Wilson said. 

His long-standing commitment to both the field and education highlights the program’s emphasis on practical, real-world learning.

Mead, who is retired from Crete Fire Department in Illinois, has fire service in his blood, following in the footsteps of his grandfather. This made taking on an adjunct role with Purdue Global a natural fit for Mead, who is committed to helping the next generation of firefighters succeed. 

“It is said knowledge is power,and if you do not share it, it becomes ineffective,” Mead said. “Why would you waste it? All firefighters or people involved in public safety need knowledge to address the changing situations that they come across. It can mean the difference between life and death.”

A comprehensive curriculum

Purdue Global’s fire science program is designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills needed for success in various roles within fire and emergency services. The program’s curriculum follows the Fire and Emergency Services Higher Education model and enjoys accreditation from the International Fire Services Accreditation Congress. This ensures that students receive a top-tier education aligned with industry standards.

The program offers a range of courses that cover essential topics in fire science, including leadership and management, fire investigations, strategy and tactics, emergency management response, and more. Richard Niebusch, department chair of Public Safety programs for Purdue Global, said the programs offered provide the type of preparation that aspiring firefighters and emergency responders need, and the enrollment backs that up.  

“We have 387 students enrolled in our fire science program, and our courses qualify for National Fire Academy certificates, which adds significant value to the credentials and degrees our students earn, ultimately helping them advance their careers,” Niebusch said. 

“Fire and emergency management are evolving at a rapid pace, and the tasks and services that we are being asked to perform are ever increasing in their sophistication and detrimental impacts,” Clouston added. “Current and future leaders have to have the ability to apply critical thinking, vision and strategy to address these issues that face us in emergency services. These skills are core to what a degree at Purdue Global will develop and enhance in a person seeking a degree.”

Purdue Global also partners with the International Association of Fire Fighters to provide U.S.- and Canada-based members, staff and immediate family the opportunity to access affordable education while pursuing their career goals.

Bridging the gap between theory and practice

One of the key strengths of Purdue Global’s fire science program is its ability to bridge the gap between theory and practice. The program’s faculty members, with their extensive hands-on experience, provide students with real-world applications of the concepts they learn. This approach ensures that graduates are not only knowledgeable but also prepared to handle the complexities of modern fire and emergency management.

This has helped program graduates like Michael Pruitt, a deputy chief with the Bargersville Community Fire Department in Indiana. While Pruitt has more than 30 years of firefighting experience, he still sees the benefits of continuing education. 

“My education at Purdue Global has made me a better chief officer and administrator,” Pruitt said. “As a disaster response professional, I now understand disaster management much more deeply. The knowledge I gained throughout school has been invaluable in real-life situations.”

About Purdue Global

Purdue Global is Purdue’s online university for working adults who have life experience and often some college credits. It offers flexible paths for students to earn an associate, bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree, based on their work experience, military service and previous college credits, no matter where they are in their life journey. Purdue Global is a nonprofit, public university accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and backed by Purdue University. For more information, visit https://www.purdueglobal.edu.