Anna Taylor, CEM
This Women’s History Month, we’re proud to recognize Anna Taylor, a longtime leader and Planner within the WashU Emergency Management team.
With over 20 years of service in public safety and emergency management across Illinois and Missouri, Anna has consistently gone above and beyond to make communities—and campuses—more prepared, resilient, and ready.
Anna currently serves as the Senior Planning Program Manager at Washington University in St. Louis, where her leadership and strategic insight were essential during the university’s response to COVID-19. For nearly a decade, she has worked behind the scenes to ensure WashU’s emergency plans are actionable, inclusive, and ready to guide our community through any crisis.
As an Emergency Management Planner, Anna’s role includes assessing risks, developing response strategies, coordinating drills, and writing comprehensive emergency plans that guide departments and decision-makers across campus. Her work is foundational—and often invisible—but it’s what keeps systems working when moments matter most.
Her earlier roles include:
✔️ Disaster Services Planner for the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, where she developed nuclear emergency plans and led preparedness trainings statewide
✔️ Safety Specialist at Barnes-Jewish Hospital
✔️ Public Safety Administrator with East-West Gateway Council of Governments
In 2024, Anna was honored with the IAEM-USA Region 7 Lifetime Achievement Award—a well-earned recognition of her incredible contributions to the field and her commitment to higher education.
We are proud to celebrate Anna’s legacy of service, her Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) credentials, and her fierce dedication to making WashU safer for everyone.
Trish Crites, MPH, CEM
This Women’s History Month, we’re proud to celebrate Trish Crites, a cornerstone of the WashU Emergency Management team and our Administrative Senior Program Manager.
Trish leads and manages complex projects that support the operational, financial, and administrative functions of the department. From budgeting and procurement to scheduling and strategic planning, she plays a critical behind-the-scenes role that keeps the entire program moving forward.
Her impact was especially evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, when her coordination efforts helped establish the framework for future emergency response plans and standard operating procedures—efforts that continue to influence how we prepare today.
In addition to her daily responsibilities, Trish plays an active role in the IAEM-USA Region 7 Communications Committee and has previously served on the Region 7 Conference Committee, contributing to regional and national conversations about emergency management best practices.
In 2024, Trish earned her Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) designation—further demonstrating her commitment to excellence and continuous growth in the field. She also supports the professional development and career goals of the WashU Emergency Management team, mentoring colleagues and encouraging a culture of growth and learning.
Trish exemplifies what leadership in emergency management looks like: purposeful, precise, and people-centered. She’s part of the reason our department runs effectively and serves the WashU community with strength and strategy.
Ky Kee, MPH, CEM
This Women’s History Month, we’re proud to spotlight Ky Kee, a key leader within WashU Emergency Management since 2019.
With 13 years of experience in emergency management, Ky brings a deep well of knowledge and dedication to the field. Before joining WashU, she contributed her expertise to the St. Louis Area Regional Response System (STARRS). Holding a Master of Public Health (MPH), she has applied her public health knowledge and emergency management experience to strengthen and expand WashU’s preparedness programs.
Ky played an essential role in the university’s pandemic response, providing critical coordination, resource management, and safety support when the campus needed it most.
Today, she manages over 700 AED stations across WashU and leads the AED, CPR, and Stop the Bleed training programs. She also works closely with the Emergency Support Team (EST) on the Danforth Campus to support student preparedness and safety efforts.
Ky’s leadership extends beyond campus—she represents WashU as a member of the IAEM-USA University & College Caucus (UCC) and the Region 7 Conference Committee, helping shape the future of emergency management in higher education.
As a working mother, Ky brings authenticity, balance, and purpose to everything she does—proving that leadership is built not just on knowledge, but on compassion and lived experience.
When asked what advice she would give to someone entering the emergency management field, Ky said:
“Be solution-oriented; focus on common areas of agreement. Don’t be the person who always dwells on a problem—ask, ‘What is the answer?’ instead.”
Melissa Evans, MBA, CEM
This Women’s History Month, we’re proud to highlight the powerful stories of WashU women who lead with purpose, resilience, and heart.
Meet Melissa Evans, our Senior Program Manager for Communications and Community Engagement in Emergency Management at Washington University in St. Louis. With a background in Communications and an MBA, Melissa is a nationally recognized voice in emergency communications and a champion for preparedness across Missouri and beyond.
She’s not only helped design and teach FEMA’s flagship training programs—NEMBA, Advanced PIO, and MPIO—but she’s also deployed in the field during Hurricane Ian and Hurricane Helene, delivering trusted information and leadership when communities needed it most.
Melissa previously served as the Emergency Management Director and PIO for the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, becoming one of the first nine people in the U.S. to earn the CPSE-PIO credential. She completed FEMA’s elite MPIO program as part of its third national cohort, and today serves as the Missouri State Representative for IAEM-USA Region 7—continuing to advocate for innovation, mentorship, and connection within the profession.
But perhaps most inspiring is her personal journey. As a single mother raising three daughters without child support, Melissa turned hardship into strength:
“Living a lifetime of personal disasters gave me the ability to stay calm during others’ disasters.”
Her story reminds us that resilience is often built long before the emergency—and that women’s leadership matters in every moment, especially the critical ones. This month and always, we celebrate Melissa and all the WashU women shaping a safer, stronger future.
Sarah Sandhaus
This Women’s History Month, we’re excited to spotlight Sarah Sandhaus, our Administrative Coordinator, who joined the WashU Emergency Management team in 2024.
While she may be new to the world of emergency management, her eagerness to learn, adapt, and support has already made a meaningful impact. From assisting with training coordination and EOC operations to keeping our schedules, communications, and logistics on track, her support ensures that our team can function at its best—even in the busiest moments.
A strong team is built on a strong foundation, and Sarah has quickly become that dependable home base for the WashU EM program. We’re incredibly grateful for the dedication and positivity she brings to our mission—and we look forward to watching her grow and thrive in this field.