Sonja Koukel

Profile image of Sonja Koukel
Job Title: Extension Health Specialist
Office Phone: 575-646-3006
Delegate Type: Point of Contact (POC)
Institution: New Mexico State University
State: NM
Area of Specialty:
Family and Consumer Sciences
Committee:
4-H & Youth Development, Family and Consumer Sciences
FEMA Courses Completed:
ICS 100, ICS 200, IS 700, IS 800

Biography

I am Dr. Sonja Koukel, a New Mexico State University (NMSU) Professor/Extension Community and Environmental Health Specialist, and Associate Department Head for Family & Consumer Sciences (2010 – present). My state-wide Extension responsibilities include providing leadership in programs that build capacity in addressing environmental influences on NM residents’ health, and emergency preparedness with a special focus on rural and underserved areas.

My involvement with emergency preparedness began during my employment with the University of Alaska Cooperative Extension (2005-2010). In 2008, major avalanches destroyed the hydroelectric power towers to the city of Juneau. In response to the disaster, the Extension office provided energy-related information to local citizens through a variety of delivery methods.

I was appointed EDEN Point of Contact for NMSU (2012) and have served in the following leadership positions and emergency preparedness activities:
2012 – 2015: Food Safety Program Specialist, and Co-Director of the Southwest Border Food Protection and Emergency Preparedness Center, New Mexico State University.
2014: Hosted the 2014 Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) Annual Meeting in Las Cruces. More than 75 EDEN delegates and guests attended.
2016 – 2018: Sub-contracted through Purdue University to provide leadership in the EDEN national website revision, management, and maintenance.
2020: Co-edited a series of eight EDEN publications, “Disaster Mental Health: Focus on Best Practices for Dealing with Vicarious Trauma” (in press).EDEN Committees:

  • Informational Clearinghouse Committee Member (2010-2018) (now part of the Professional Development Committee). Chair (2104). Chair-elect (2010-2013).
  • Family & Consumer Sciences/4H & Youth Program Committee Member. (2010 – present).
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