As Health, Safety and Security Manager, Bernadette Higgs plays an integral role on the Global Programs Health, Safety, and Security (HSS) team, which supports international travel by the BU community.

She assists in the development, implementation, and communication of health and safety policies and procedures for the University and continuously monitors world events and international health, safety and security conditions. Bernadette manages the Travel Risk Management System and the distribution of information to travelers. She also contributes to the review of academic unit program proposals through analysis and assessment of health, safety and security risks and mitigation plans for proposed programs to inform program approval.

Before working as Health, Safety and Security Manager, Bernadette was a Senior ISSO Coordinator for the University’s International Students and Scholars Office. In that role, she prepared and processed immigration and university documents such as on-campus work permission, certificates of attendance, travel signatures, and immigration documents.

Prior to joining BU Global Programs, Bernadette worked at the Pittsburgh-based nonprofit Alliance for Refugee Youth Support and Education as a communications intern. She also completed the AmeriCorps City Year program in New York City where she worked with middle school students in their French class.

Bernadette holds a Bachelor of Arts in French from the University of Vermont and a Master of Arts in Global Communication and Applied Translation from Carnegie Mellon University. During college, she studied abroad in Montpellier, France, and while abroad, Bernadette had the opportunity to explore France, Ireland, and Spain.