Mike Fanning

Mike Fanning is a Clinical Professor at the University of Southern California's Bovard College, teaching in the Master of Science in Project Management (MSPM) program. With over 30 years of public sector experience, he brings practical expertise from high-stakes government positions to his classroom instruction.

His educational background includes:

• BA in Government and Sociology from Georgetown University
• MS in Environmental, Safety and Health Management from Rochester Institute of Technology
• Studies in crisis management and risk communications at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government

Professor Fanning specializes in practical project management applications, particularly in emergency response and environmental management. His teaching philosophy emphasizes developing a project management mindset rather than just technical skills, encouraging students to 'be a project leader' rather than merely a project manager. He has taught diverse student populations including international refugees from Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, and South Sudan.

His notable professional achievements include:

• U.S. Postal Service's Project Manager of the Year award (2004)
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification (2010)
• Four patents in emergency and environmental management
• PMP (Project Management Professional) certification

Professor Fanning has advised numerous MSPM students, including Reuben Peters, a USC football player who walked onto the team and earned a scholarship while pursuing his master's degree. His teaching draws from extensive experience managing critical projects, most notably leading the national biodefense system implementation following the 2001 anthrax attacks on the postal service, which required coordination with the FBI, CDC, and public health officials across the country.