When looking back on his education and career, William Burke credits a particular quality with finding the right path: curiosity. 
Burke came to the University of Georgia for his Masters in Epidemiology and Biostatistics, and he took the Institute for Disaster Management’s terrorism and bioterrorism course after finishing his core curriculum.
“It seemed interesting at the time, and it was the peek behind the curtain that exposed me to the field of emergency management and disaster management,” said Burke (MPH ’21). “I hate to say I fell into it, but I got lucky that curiosity led me into a new career field. It certainly was a blessing, a benefit, a unique opportunity that changed my life.”
IDM provided an opportunity Burke could not find elsewhere, and combined with his epidemiology and biology background, it set him up for success. When he graduated in 2021 with a dual concentration in epidemiology and disaster management, both topics were at the forefront of everyone’s minds, and his skills blended in a way that enabled Burke to apply for several roles and find the perfect fit.
“Very few public health schools, really very few schools across the country, offer degrees in emergency management and disaster management,” Burke said. “Being able to interpret science, to work in community-applied practices, and then also have a disaster management degree, gave me the upper hand as I applied for jobs.”
Now, Burke is the Associate Director of Planning for the California Veterinary Emergency Team (CVET) at the University of California, Davis, a program that supports and trains government agencies, individuals and organizations to help domestic and farm animals in the face of an emergency. He acts as a liaison between veterinary professionals and state and local agencies that follow emergency management infrastructure, helping clarify points and ensure processes move as smoothly as possible.
Burke returned to campus for an alumni talk in October 2024, and he looks forward to more opportunities to remain involved with the university and college.
“Being able to return to campus and share my experience with students who are interested in either veterinary medicine or disaster response or unique public health careers was really rewarding,” Burke said. “I’m also thankful to meet with UGA and public health leadership, to meet with faculty, and then help benefit students through these events.”
And even though it is admittedly ironic advice for an emergency planning professional, Burke said his greatest reminder is to remain curious.
“You can try to plan out life, but I can definitely see a theme as I spell out the last few years of my career,” Burke said. “Being curious about opportunities and taking new and exciting challenges has only benefitted me in my career, so if there’s a student reading this, I’d encourage them to do that as well.”
