Responsibilities of the Position
Reporting to the vice president for finance and administration, the chief of campus safety and police provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for the university’s comprehensive public safety and police functions. The chief directs and supervises all 24/7 operations, ensuring a safe, secure, and service-oriented environment for students, faculty, staff, and visitors.
A central focus of the role is advancing a community policing philosophy through visible engagement and strong partnerships with all students, faculty, staff, campus stakeholders, and local law enforcement agencies. The chief also provides leadership for campus security infrastructure, including surveillance, access control, and related technologies, ensuring alignment with evolving safety needs.
This position oversees all aspects of departmental operations, including patrol, investigations, communications, parking enforcement, and event security. The chief is responsible for developing and implementing policies, procedures, and strategic plans aligned with institutional priorities and accreditation standards. This role also leads the recruitment, development, and evaluation of personnel, fostering a culture of professionalism, accountability, and continuous improvement.
The chief leads a staff of 42, including North Carolina state-certified sworn officers, non-sworn community service officers, dispatch, and administrative personnel, and manages a budget exceeding $4 million. The department operates as a North Carolina-certified law enforcement agency under G.S. 74G and maintains accreditation through the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA) and the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). Additionally, this position ensures compliance with all applicable regulations, including oversight of Clery Act requirements, crime statistics reporting, and records management.
The chief collaborates with the dean of the Elon University School of Law and contracted security providers to ensure safety at the Greensboro campus and to oversee security operations in Charlotte. In partnership with institutional leadership, the chief also supports planning related to the merger with Queens University of Charlotte.
Qualifications and Characteristics of the Successful Candidate
Elon is seeking an experienced and innovative law enforcement executive who appreciates and values the developmental experiences of young adults, enjoys being part of a vibrant academic community, and supports a community policing model that engages the campus and broader public in mutual learning about law enforcement.
The successful candidate will have a bachelor’s degree and more than ten years of professional experience in a related field; experience in the field of public safety, law enforcement, or community engagement; experience supporting high-impact, experiential, or project-based learning; and at least five years of senior management experience (lieutenant and above) in a law enforcement setting. The new chief must possess applicable certification from the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Commission or be eligible to obtain such certification within one year.*
Preferred qualifications include: master’s degree; experience in providing police services in a higher education environment, particularly within a residential community; experience with incident and threat assessment techniques as well as knowledge of the Clery Act; and be a graduate from an advanced police command training such as the FBI National Academy, Northwestern University Center for Public Safety, Southern Police Institute, or possess related training obtained at a state level.
*Please note that North Carolina law does not recognize or have a reciprocal relationship with federal law enforcement certification, but recognizes and gives partial credit for military police (MP) training, receipt of an MP occupational specialty classification, and performance of MP duties
In addition to the qualifications stated above, key stakeholders identified the following capabilities and attributes of a successful candidate:
- Demonstrate an understanding and appreciation for a student-centered, service-oriented environment, and fully comprehend the department’s integral role within the campus community.
- Exhibit a high level of cultural competence by engaging with awareness, empathy, and inclusivity to build trust across a diverse campus community and ensure equitable, responsive safety practices.
- Model an inclusive leadership style that is confident, approachable, motivational, and transparent, while remaining firm and clear inspiring respect, trust, compassion, and a strong work ethic in others.
- Embrace a collaborative, strategic leadership style that engages stakeholders, builds consensus, and fosters cross-functional partnerships that advance institutional goals and strengthen departmental effectiveness.
- Possess a record that demonstrates the ability to establish and sustain meaningful, impactful relationships with a broad range of campus constituents, including students, faculty, staff, parents, and local law enforcement and public safety partners.
- Demonstrate experience coordinating comprehensive emergency management efforts, including preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation, ensuring effective planning, training, and collaboration across the institution and with external agencies.
History of the Position
After five years as chief, the current leader will retire from Elon at the end of March 2026, leaving a strong, well-established foundation for the next leader to build upon and advance the department’s continued success.
Opportunities and Challenges of the Role
In transitioning to Elon University, the chief of campus safety and police will encounter the following opportunities, priorities, and challenges, as shared by key campus stakeholders:
- The chief must intentionally cultivate meaningful, trust-based relationships with all students, with particular attention to engaging those from underrepresented communities by demonstrating empathy, consistency, and a commitment to listening and partnership.
- The department is high-performing, well-resourced, and widely respected across campus; the next chief is charged with elevating it from strong to exceptional.
- Recruiting and retaining officers remains a challenge, as Elon competes with local law enforcement agencies that offer state-supported retirement benefits and other incentives.
- The campus is experiencing significant growth, including the expansion of facilities, the addition of an elementary school, and ongoing collaboration with the Integration Team to support Elon’s merger with Queens University of Charlotte.
- Although local agencies provide support for event staffing, the high volume of campus events places an ongoing strain on departmental staffing and parking services.
Measures of Success
The items listed below will define success for the chief of campus safety and police throughout the first year of employment:
- The chief has become an integral part of the campus community and is widely known and respected as a trusted, collaborative partner.
- Department morale is strong, supported by enhanced training and professional development opportunities, a culture that embraces innovation and continuous improvement, and a well-earned reputation across campus.
- The chief has prioritized and modeled a strong commitment to student engagement, fostering meaningful relationships and support for all students.
- The chief has consistently advocated for the department’s needs, ensuring team members feel heard, supported, and valued.
- The new chief has built strong, collaborative relationships with local law enforcement agencies, characterized by mutual respect and open, ongoing dialogue.
Overview of the Department of Campus Safety and Police
The primary responsibility of campus safety and police is to provide a safe and secure campus environment for students, faculty, staff, and visitors. The department includes North Carolina-certified police officers, community service officers, communication dispatchers, traffic division officers, and administrative personnel. The campus police and community service officers patrol the campus and provide security 24 hours a day, year-round.
Through a modern communications network, officers can contact other police, fire, or rescue personnel directly from their radio, giving the university immediate access to necessary personnel in the event of an emergency. Campus safety and police dispatchers have the ability to communicate with the police and community service officers on patrol to monitor campus and surrounding community activities twenty-four hours a day.
Elon’s campus safety and police department has achieved accreditation by IACLEA, the largest professional association devoted to excellence in campus public safety and law enforcement. IACLEA accreditation signifies an agency’s ongoing commitment to excellent, state-of-the-art performance in every aspect of its operations.
Finance and Administration Division
The Finance and Administration (F&A) Division is a strategic business partner working with all divisions across the university. Through campus-wide collaboration and the provision of value-added expertise and strategic guidance, F&A maximizes the use of university assets.
Divisional Leadership
Janet Williams
Janet Williams joined Elon in 2021 as vice president for finance and administration, bringing 30 years of professional experience to the role. Her responsibilities include oversight for finance, human resources, information technology, auxiliary services, internal audit, facilities, and campus safety and police. Williams serves as staff to the finance and administration, investment, and audit committees of the board of trustees. She also serves as treasurer of the board of trustees.
Finance and Administration Organizational Chart
Institutional Overview
Elon University is a nationally recognized leader in engaged, experiential learning that prepares graduates to be creative, resilient, ambitious, and ethical citizens.
At Elon, more than 7,000 students learn through hands-on experiences and close working relationships with faculty and staff whose priorities are teaching and mentoring. The curriculum is grounded in the liberal arts and sciences with emphasis on global experiences and career development. More than 70 undergraduate majors are complemented by professional and graduate programs in law, business, education, and health care. Elon is ranked “Number 1” for excellence in undergraduate teaching by U.S. News & World Report.
Elon’s historic 690-acre campus in central North Carolina is designated as a botanical garden and includes the 56-acre Elon University Forest, a land preserve and natural area for scientific research, and Loy Farm, a center for environmental research and sustainability. Elon is a member of the Coastal Athletic Association.
The Student Body
Key Elon facts can be found here on the university website, as well as on the Division of Inclusive Excellence diversity dashboard.
Total Enrollment: 7,070
Undergraduate: 6,191
Graduate: 879
Female/male student ratio: 59%/41%
African American/Black: 5.2%
American Indian or Alaska Native: 0.2%
Asian American: 2.2%
Hispanic/Latino: 7.2%
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander: <0.1%
White: 75.7%
Two or More Races: 3.3%
Non-Resident: 1.8%
Unknown: 4.4%
University Leadership
Connie Ledoux Book
Dr. Connie Ledoux Book is a passionate advocate for higher education and its power to transform students’ lives. She spent 16 years as an Elon University faculty member and administrative leader, helping to build the university’s reputation for excellence in engaged teaching and learning. In 2015, she accepted a groundbreaking role as the first female provost and chief academic officer at The Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina. Following her impressive accomplishments there, she returned to Elon as president in 2018, bringing a deep appreciation for the university’s unique history and its rapid rise to national prominence.
Under President Book’s leadership, Elon has been ranked for four consecutive years by U.S. News & World Report as the “Number 1” national university for excellence in undergraduate teaching and the nation’s leader in eight “programs that enhance student experience.”
Visit the Office of the President webpage to view President’s Book’s full bio.
Senior Staff Organization Chart
Ten-year strategic plan, Boldly Elon
University Inclusive Excellence
“Inclusive excellence is foundational to Elon and our mission. The founders aspired to build a ‘college for the world,’ an academic community that transforms mind, body, and spirit and encourages freedom of thought and liberty of conscience. This mission is achieved in part through fostering respect for human differences. All who have elected to be part of this academic community have, in effect, committed to its mission, thus, are called on to pursue and enact Inclusive Excellence.
In today’s multicultural society, we embrace our shared responsibility to achieve an even better version of the founders’ vision. Inclusive Excellence is Elon’s framing of diversity, equity, inclusion, and other constructs that support belonging and well-being. All members of the Elon community have a shared responsibility to act deliberately toward equitable outcomes, creating a community where people strive to dismantle oppression and where individuals flourish.”
For additional information, visit the University Inclusive Excellence website. Additional statements that guide Elon’s commitment to these values include:
- University Statement of Nondiscrimination
- Commitment to the Values of Freedom of Expression and Inclusivity
- Guidance on using the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation Official Land Acknowledgement
Benefits Overview
Employees at Elon enjoy a generous and comprehensive benefits package. University employee benefits information can be found on the Human Resources website.
Application
Review of applications will begin April 29, 2026, and continue until the position is filled. To apply for this position, please click on the Apply button, complete the brief application process, and upload your resume and position-specific cover letter. Applicants needing reasonable accommodation to participate in the application process should contact Spelman Johnson at 413-529-2895 or email info@spelmanjohnson.com.
Visit the Elon University website at elon.edu
Elon University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, or national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), sex (including sexual orientation, gender identity, and pregnancy or related conditions), age, disability, genetic information, religion, veteran’s status, or any other protected basis under applicable law (collectively, “Protected Categories”) in the recruitment and admission of students, the recruitment and employment of faculty and staff, or the operation of any of its programs and activities.
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