Melissa Potter

Melissa Potter has a diverse work experience in emergency management and research. Melissa started their career in 2006 as a Research Associate at the Hazards & Vulnerability Research Institute in the University of South Carolina, where they were responsible for data collection, GIS analysis, and modeling. In 2008, they joined the South Carolina Emergency Management Division as the State Hazard Mitigation Officer, where they served until 2014. In this role, they focused on mitigating hazards and providing disaster response and recovery assistance. From 2014 to 2015, Melissa served as a Regional Emergency Manager, acting as the state liaison to seven counties in the Midlands of South Carolina. In 2015, they were promoted as the Chief of Operations Support at SCEMD, overseeing various programs such as logistics, information technology, and facilities. Currently, Melissa holds the position of Chief of Preparedness at SCEMD, a role they assumed in March 2020.

Melissa Potter has a strong educational background in the field of Geography. Melissa obtained their Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Geography from Salisbury University between 2002 and 2006. Following this, they pursued further education and earned a Master of Science (M.S.) degree in Geography from the University of South Carolina between 2006 and 2008. In addition to their academic qualifications, Melissa holds a certification as an SC Certified Emergency Manager from the SC Emergency Management Association. However, the specific month and year of attainment for this certification are unavailable.