Jon Loewus-Deitch, Research Assistant

Jon Loewus-Deitch is a Planning and Environmental Policy major with a focus in the Disaster Reduction and Emergency Planning (DREP) track through Western Washington University’s (WWU) Huxley College of the Environment.  Jon became a research assistant for the Institute for Global and Community Resilience (IGCR, now the Resilience Institute) in the fall of 2008.  At the IGCR Jon provides support for staff and faculty through research, administrative tasks, and technical development.

Jon comes to the IGCR after taking part in several IGCR activities. He volunteered as a surveyor in IGCR’s 2008 study of flooded businesses in Lewis County and as a field observer in the 2008 National Level Exercise simulating emergency response to a major chemical explosion near Birch Bay, WA. 

Prior to attending WWU, Jon volunteered for a nonprofit Trauma Intervention Program in Portland, OR and took classes as a fire cadet at a fire station in Vancouver, WA.  At WWU he was a manager for University Dining and an orientation student advisor for New Student Services and Family Outreach. 

Jon is a senior and is expected to graduate winter quarter 2009.  Following graduation, he is seeking to volunteer or intern with a disaster preparedness or recovery focused humanitarian organization prior to applying for graduate schools.