Jan Thomas, PhD, CSP - President

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Resumé

Jan Thomas is founder of Circle Safety & Health Consultants. She is also associated with the Columbia Southern University as an Adjunct Professor in the College of Safety & Emergency Services with teaching duties in the Master of Science program.

Dr. Thomas holds a B.A. in Russian Language from Old Dominion University, the M.S. in Safety from the University of Southern California and the Doctor of Philosophy in Public Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). She also holds the Certified Safety Professional (CSP) designation.

Her doctoral work emphasized comparative studies in the area of risk-control policy. Her other research interests focus upon workplace violence and futuristic techniques useful to the practice of safety and health management.

Dr. Thomas has more than 30 years of experience in safety and risk-control at the federal, state and university levels. Prior to beginning her private consulting business, Dr. Thomas held a full-time faculty position at VCU for nine years. Between 1981 and 1985 she was Chief Administrator of the Virginia Occupational Safety and Health Program (VOSH). She began her career in 1975, as a safety and health specialist with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) of the U.S. Department of Labor.

Dr. Thomas participates in several organizations. She is a Professional Member of the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE), and served as President (1987-88) of the Colonial Virginia Chapter. She has served nationally as the chair of the Technical Publications Committee of ASSE and on the Board of Professional Safety Journal. She is also a member in the local chapters of the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), and the American Society of Public Administrators (ASPA). She is a certified First Aid and CPR Instructor with the American Safety and Health Institute (ASHI). She is a life member and Past President of her local volunteer rescue squad.

Dr. Thomas has published a number of chapters in technical books as well as numerous articles; three have received national writing awards.