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Executive Director of the Division of Public Safety and Security

University of Michigan

THE OPPORTUNITY

The University of Michigan seeks an experienced, strategic, and community-centered leader to serve as Executive Director of the Division of Public Safety and Security. Reporting directly to the President, the Executive Director will lead an integrated, university-wide public safety and security division serving the Ann Arbor, Dearborn, and Flint campuses, as well as Michigan Medicine.

The Executive Director will join the university at an important moment of transition and opportunity. The Division of Public Safety and Security is a complex, high-performing, and well-respected organization with a strong foundation, an experienced staff, and a broad mandate to support the safety, security, and well-being of the university community. The next Executive Director will be expected to build on this foundation, strengthen trust and collaboration across campus and community partners, advance innovation, and ensure a coordinated, transparent, and responsive approach to public safety.

ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN

From the time of its founding in 1817, the University of Michigan has developed into a national model of a complex, comprehensive institution of higher learning that supports excellence in research, provides outstanding undergraduate, graduate, and professional education, and demonstrates a deep commitment to public service and engagement.

The University of Michigan is one of the nation's leading public research universities. Many of its academic departments and professional schools are ranked among the top programs in the country. The university has an annual budget of nearly $17 billion and an endowment greater than $20 billion, among the largest in the nation. The Ann Arbor campus is located 35 miles southwest of Detroit, with regional campuses in Dearborn and Flint and the university's academic medical center, Michigan Medicine.

Institutional Leadership

Domenico Grasso, PhD, was named President of the University of Michigan by the Board of Regents on May 8, 2025. President Grasso also serves as professor of civil and environmental engineering at U-M Ann Arbor and holds appointments in public policy and administration and sustainable engineering at U-M Dearborn.

President Grasso is widely admired for his leadership of the University of Michigan-Dearborn, where he served as chancellor beginning in 2018. During his tenure, UM-Dearborn transitioned to a need-based financial aid model, increased its four-year graduation rate, tripled external research funding, and achieved R2 status. He has also served as an executive officer at the University of Michigan Ann Arbor and as a trusted advisor to leaders across the university's three campuses.

Before joining UM-Dearborn, President Grasso served as provost of the University of Delaware, vice president for research and dean of the Graduate College at the University of Vermont, dean of the College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences at UVM, founding director of the Picker Engineering Program at Smith College, and professor and department head in civil and environmental engineering at the University of Connecticut.

ABOUT THE DIVISION

The Division of Public Safety and Security provides a full range of services to support the safety and security of the University of Michigan community. DPSS takes an integrated, community-focused approach to campus safety, partnering with students, faculty, staff, patients, visitors, and community members to foster a safe, respectful, and welcoming environment.

The Division is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and its team is committed to protecting, serving, and supporting the university community with professionalism, compassion, and accountability. With departments and services spanning all three U-M campuses and Michigan Medicine, DPSS works collaboratively to help ensure that every member of the community feels safe and empowered to thrive.

DPSS Departments and Units

• Administrative Operations (Technology Services, Strategic Communications)

The position of Executive Director, Division of Public Safety and Security, was established in October 2012 to bring the university's safety and security units into a common reporting structure. The role was created in response to recommendations from the university auditor and Margolis Healy & Associates, who identified the need for structural changes to ensure more effective communication and coordination among the university's security functions.

THE ROLE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

The Executive Director oversees the U-M Police Departments, Dispatch Operations, Physical Security, Michigan Medicine Security, Guest Services, Housing Security, Museum Security, Emergency Preparedness, University Security Services, and other campus-wide security functions.

The Executive Director leads, develops, and directs an integrated university-wide safety and security division with a shared vision for safety and security across campuses, major operating units, and functions within the Division. The role requires both strategic and operational leadership, as well as an ability to remain attentive to the varied values, responsibilities, regulatory environments, and community expectations of a diverse array of individual units and stakeholders.

The Executive Director oversees approximately 682 staff members and manages a budget of approximately $67 million.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

The Executive Director has the responsibility and authority to:

• Provide strategic leadership for the Division of Public Safety and Security, advancing a unified vision for campus safety while fostering greater interoperability among the Divisions integrated departments and preserving the distinct missions, expertise, and operational responsibilities of each function.
• Ensure institutional compliance with the Clery Act and all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and professional standards governing public safety and security across the university.
• Develop, manage, and steward the Division's operating budget, identifying opportunities to improve efficiency, achieve economies of scale, and strategically align resources across departments.
• Partner with university leadership, governance committees, student organizations, and communications professionals to develop and execute a comprehensive communications and brand strategy that enhances understanding of the university's public safety mission and promotes awareness of the Division's coordinated, specialized service model.
• Collaborate with the university's Safety and Security Steering Committee to advance strategic initiatives that strengthen coordination, integration, and continuous improvement of campus safety and security operations.
• Serve as the President's principal advisor on matters related to campus safety, security, emergency response and preparedness, risk mitigation, and institutional resilience.
• Provide executive oversight for the Division's central administrative operations, ensuring effective governance, accountability, operational excellence, and strategic support for all public safety functions.
• Establish measurable strategic priorities, performance metrics, and continuous improvement initiatives that enhance the Division's effectiveness, strengthen community trust, and support a safe, secure, and welcoming environment for all members of the university community.

OPPORTUNITIES, PRIORITIES, AND CHALLENGES

The next Executive Director must be an experienced leader capable of managing a complex and multi-faceted division and contributing at both strategic and operational levels to a vibrant, creative university community composed of individuals with a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. The Executive Director will bring a commitment to enhancing the quality of life for the U-M community by delivering a comprehensive, integrated safety and security program in partnership with a range of stakeholders.

The successful candidate must possess a broad and in-depth understanding of national best practices in public safety operations, law enforcement, community engagement, emergency management, modern safety and security technologies, community caretaking strategies, higher education culture, and organizational and staff development. The Executive Director must be capable of managing complex situations and staffing needs, demonstrate a strong commitment to equity and social justice, understand current national conversations surrounding policing and public safety, and be equipped to contribute at both strategic and operational levels within a major public research institution.

Building upon a strong operational foundation, the Executive Director will have the opportunity to assess organizational structure, enhance interoperability across functional areas, modernize technology and business processes, and strengthen strategic planning to ensure the Division remains responsive to the university's evolving needs. The successful candidate will embrace continuous improvement while preserving the Division's strong culture of service, professionalism, and operational excellence.

In transitioning to U-M, the Executive Director will encounter the following opportunities, priorities, and challenges:

Serve as a Visible and Trusted Leader

The Executive Director will need to be highly visible and, in many respects, serve as the face of public safety and security at U-M. A key priority will be to spend time across campus and in the local community, attend student events, collaborate with academic and student life partners, and educate stakeholders about the services and resources provided by DPSS. The Executive Director must be an excellent communicator who can articulate the Division's work and value in clear, innovative, and compelling ways to a variety of audiences, including students, faculty, staff, patients, administrators, law enforcement, and the general public.

Strengthen Community Trust and Engagement

DPSS must continue to model an unbiased, supportive, and community-centered approach to public safety. Students, faculty, staff, patients, visitors, and community members bring varied experiences and expectations regarding law enforcement and security. The Executive Director must be prepared to actively listen, engage transparently, and build relationships rooted in mutual understanding, trust, and accountability.

Advance Collaboration Across the University and Beyond

DPSS works closely with federal, state, county, and local law enforcement agencies in the university's host communities and adjacent neighborhoods. The successful candidate should be prepared to foster strong collaborative relationships and mutual aid understandings with these partners. A particularly important partner is the Ann Arbor Police Department, and the Executive Director should continue strengthening this relationship, recognizing that public safety issues in the city and surrounding areas inevitably affect the campus community.

Support DPSS Staff as University Ambassadors

DPSS staff serve as critical ambassadors for the university. They are often the first, and sometimes the only, point of contact for neighbors, families, campus visitors, patients, and other members of the local community. U-M views its neighbors as partners in the academic enterprise and places significant value on treating all neighbors with dignity and respect.

Navigate the Complexity of Michigan Medicine

Michigan Medicine, with hospitals and clinics across the state, adds a unique dimension to the Executive Director's role. The successful candidate must understand the complexities of hospital and healthcare environments, including the need to ensure a safe environment for patients, staff, families, and visitors while coordinating effectively with hospital security teams and community partners.

Partner with Senior Leadership and Advisory Groups

The Executive Director will be advised by a Public Safety and Security Advisory Group, which will include the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, the Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs, the Vice President for Student Affairs, the Vice President and General Counsel, and a representative from the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs.

QUALIFICATIONS AND ATTRIBUTES OF THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE

The successful candidate will hold a bachelor's degree; a master's degree or other advanced degree is preferred. The candidate must possess extensive experience in organizational leadership and law enforcement, with increasing levels of responsibility, as well as demonstrated knowledge of and ability to implement best practices in a complex, multi-faceted organizational environment.

Preference will be given to candidates with broad law enforcement, public safety, or national security experience, including college or university safety and security and/or health system security, as well as experience managing an accredited law enforcement or security agency.

The next Executive Director must have the ability to work effectively in a complex, decentralized institution and interact successfully with a wide range of constituents, colleagues, and stakeholders, including administrators, faculty, staff, students, patients, visitors, and community partners. Experience in community engagement and collaborative leadership is essential.

Required qualifications include:

• The ability to maintain an on-site presence in Southeast Michigan.
• Previous experience working in a complex, multi-faceted organization with a variety of internal and external stakeholders, demonstrating alignment with U of M's population and similar scope and scale.
• Expert-level proficiency assessing and recommending solutions related to complex safety/security/stakeholder problems.
• 10+ years leading teams, including building an organization by recruiting, retaining, and developing a cohesive, highly effective, and inspired staff.
• Demonstrated commitment and proven outcomes related to professional and personal development, unity, teamwork, accountability, and retention throughout the organization.
• Previous experien