Meet the Nominees

Click the open board positions below to learn more about each candidate. You may endorse your candidate on IACLEA CONNECTIONS. The endorsement period is open until Friday, February 14, 2025 at 5:00 PM.

RODNEY CHATMAN
Vice President for Public Safety & Emergency Management (Chief of Police), Brown University

Rodney Chatman currently serves as the Vice President for Public Safety & Emergency Management (Chief of Police) at Brown University. 2025 marks his 35th year in law enforcement comprised of 15 years of municipal police, 20 years of university police and an overlapping four-year stint as safety Director in St. Bernard Ohio. Chatman also serves IACLEA as its North Atlantic Regional Director. Throughout his career he has championed community relationship building and approaches his work with the saying: “You cannot effective police a community you’re not part of.”

Rodney’s leadership style has been described as innovative and transformative and he hopes to contribute to helping the profession re-establish trust and legitimacy to the communities they serve. Chatman’s tenure at Brown University began in 2021 and he has continued to lead a department and delivery of public safety services in a manner that is aligned with best practices and respects the dignity of all persons.

As a member of the President’s Executive Committee, Chatman oversees a staff of nearly 40 sworn officers, 8 non-sworn public safety officers, 5 fire safety officers, 12 emergency communication operators and 11 administrative support staff. Although he has been a member of IACLEA for numerous years, since his arrival at Brown he has served on the Government Relations Committee, Membership Committee, By-Laws Committee and Finance Committee. He has also served as the North Atlantic Regional Director which resulted in him becoming an IACLEA instructor, instructing numerous classes, co-authoring IACLEA white papers and presenting in various formats at professional conferences around the country and representing the IACLEA association internationally.

Specific to Brown University, Chatman’s transformative approach to campus public safety is evidence by the following initiatives:

  • He created an Implicit Bias class for call-takers and dispatchers
  • Contracted training for the department that included Calibre Press and an attorney to address Strategies and Tactics for modern policing as well as strengthen officer acumen with constitutional rights of the public
  • Created a new performance evaluation model (STAR) that increases supervisor and officer coaching and reduces rating errors
  • Created a Brown University Public Safety Advisory Board, comprised of students, faculty and staff
  • Oversaw the creation of a public safety comfort dog program
  • Managed a season of numerous protests and encampment activities 2023 – 2024
  • Partnered with AAA Automotive Club and implemented a vehicle check program for students

 Chatman states “Find a job you enjoy, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” (Mark Twain) as his personal reflection of being a candidate for IACLEA’s 2025-2026 President-Elect. Honor and privilege describes his feelings toward this work and he looks forward to advancing the public safety profession, IACLEA as an association and Brown University safety in the roles of President-Elect and eventually President of IACLEA.

HELEN HAIRE
Chief of Police/Director of Public Safety, University of Northern Iowa

I have served as the Chief of Police/Director of Public Safety at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, Iowa, since 2012.  Prior to taking the position at UNI, I served with the Louisiana State University Police Department for 24 years where I attained the rank of Police Major.  I received a Bachelor’s degree in History/Political Science from the University of Mississippi and a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice from Faulkner University and graduated from the FBI National Academy. 

At the University of Northern Iowa, I am responsible for the operations of the Police Division as well as the Parking Division, leading both sworn and non-sworn personnel.   Additional responsibilities include emergency management and Clery compliance.  In my role as Chief/Director, I participate on several university committees including Threat Assessment (chair), Enterprise Risk Management, Community Partnership Task Force, and Student Care Team.   I am a member of the Senior Vice President’s leadership team and the University Council and provide input on university matters involving public safety.

In 2018, I became the IACLEA Mid-America Regional Director after Tom Johnson retired from campus law enforcement.  As an IACLEA member, I have attended the Annual Conferences since 2009 and have served on and chaired the Communications Committee. and am currently the Board liaison to the committee.  In 2019, I was honored to be elected as the Mid-America Regional Director, and in that role, I served on the Regional Task Force, the Finance Committee and was the Board liaison to the Communications committee.  I also had the privileged to serve on the Executive Director search committee.  For the last year, I have served as the Vice President for Finance and chair the Finance Committee.

DR. ERIC S. PLUMMER
Chief of Police, Radford University

Dr. Eric Plummer is currently the Chief of Police for Radford University, providing leadership for the Office of Emergency Management, the University Police Department (UPD), and the Emergency Medical Services unit (RUEMS). He also serves as a national critical incident management instructor for the National Emergency Response and Recovery Training Center (NERRTC) through Texas A&M University-TEEX and senior lecturer for the University of Virginia’s Master of Public Safety program.  Plummer has developed courses for FEMA, the state of Texas, and other institutions of higher education in the areas of critical incident response, risk management, target violence and terrorism prevention, and complex coordinated terrorist attack programs.

Plummer came to Radford from the University of North Dakota, where he served as the Associate Vice President for Public Safety and Chief of Police, providing leadership for emergency management, safety, risk management & insurance, as well as the University Police Department (UPD).  At UND, Plummer created the Behavioral Intervention Team, established the Continuity of Operations Planning Program, and founded the Enterprise Risk Management Program and Committee, which provided yearly risk assessments to the executive cabinet.  Plummer was also the emergency management coordinator for the university’s response to COVID-19 and was a co-chair of the large research institution section of the North Dakota University System response to the pandemic.

Plummer has also served as a Chief of Police for Southern Arkansas University and with the Florida Highway Patrol in numerous roles including state trooper, homicide detective, criminal and internal affairs investigator, and supervisor.  In his time in Florida, he served as an incident commander for tornado disaster areas and an agency representative in the Emergency Operations Center during numerous hurricane disasters.

Plummer’s contributions extend to various national and local task forces, and he is an active member of the IACLEA Board of Directors, current board liaison and past chair of the Domestic Preparedness Committee, general vice chair of IACP’s University/College Police Section, and a former member of the IACP Aviation Committee.  A U.S. Army Reserve veteran, he served as a combat signaler and later as an intelligence analyst.

Holding law enforcement certifications in Virginia, North Dakota, Florida, and Arkansas, Chief Plummer has also earned the designation Senior Chief of Police in Arkansas, Certified Law Enforcement Chief Executive Officer in Virginia, and Professional Emergency Manager (PEM) in Virginia.

Plummer holds a Ph.D. in public safety with a concentration in emergency management, a master’s degree in management, and a bachelor’s degree in sociology.  He is a graduate of Harvard University’s Executive Education Course in Crisis Leadership and the Southern Police Institute’s 50th Command Officer Development Course through the University of Louisville.

DAVID FERBER
Director of Security Services, University of Puget Sound

A seasoned campus safety professional with over 17 years of experience, David Ferber, Ph.D. currently serves as the Director of Security Services at the University of Puget Sound where he spearheads the development and training for non-sworn Campus Safety Officers, actively reduces campus crime, develops community policing, and leads the emergency response planning. His expertise spans a proven track record of strategic planning, disaster planning, developing community safety during protests, financial oversight of increasingly smaller budgets, as well as department and campus leadership, and community engagement. Ferber has been working on improving the University of Puget Sound campus response plans and rewriting and developing new policies and procedures.  Over the last year, Ferber has worked hard to improve the quality of the workplace for his staff by securing raises for all Security Services staff as well as new vehicles.

In addition to Ferber’s work on campus, he works closely with Pierce County Emergency Management and sits on several planning committees to improve the county’s reunification process and planning for campus-wide training. 

Before his current role, Ferber was the Director of Campus Safety for ten years at College of Saint Mary which is located in Omaha, Nebraska. While there he consistently delivered measurable results through the latest crime prevention approaches and led collaborative teamwork to reduce Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking on Campus. 

JENNIFER D. GRIFFIN, Ph.D.
Chief and Vice President, Temple University Department of Public Safety

Jennifer D. Griffin, Ph.D. is the Chief and Vice President for the Temple University Department of Public Safety (TUDPS) and the retired Patrol Operations Commander, Creator and Chair of the Employee Wellness Unit, Assistant Commander of the Honor Guard Unit for the Delaware State Police, an Adjunct Professor at the University of Delaware (U.D.), a certified Performance Coach, Yoga Alliance (RYT 200) Yoga Instructor, former Director of Operations for the U.D. Div. 1 Women’s Field Hockey Team, and the owner of Strategic Performance Coaching and Consulting, LLC.  As Vice President/Chief, she oversees six campuses, with over 30,000 students, 10,000 faculty and staff, over 150 public safety employees, 350 contracted security officers, and a $32 million dollar budget. Since starting at Temple in August of 2022, Dr. Griffin has completely re-organized the TUDPS utilizing the five pillars of Personnel, Training and Professional Development, Equipment and Technology, Strategy, and Communication and Collaboration. Under her leadership, TUDPS have been granted over $2 million in grant funding that has been allocated to increase hiring and retention, technology enhancements and advancements, and increase community collaborations and support within the university and North Philadelphia.

She has over 25 years of law enforcement experience in various assignments and ranks. She has a Doctorate from the University of Delaware Sociology / Criminal Justice Department, with expertise in gender and deviance. She completed a mixed method qualitative and quantitative dissertation titled, “Are we protecting those who protect us? Stress and Law Enforcement in the 21st Century.” She has been an adjunct professor at the University of Delaware for over a decade, teaching four classes, including CRJU 110-Introductions to Criminal Justice Systems, CRJU 201 Problems of Law Enforcement, CRJU357 Seminar on Policing, and CRJU 367 Criminal Justice Ethics. Vice President Griffin, Ph.D. is a peer-reviewed co-author of a peer-reviewed published article in the American Journal of Criminal Justice titled “Do Work-family Conflict and Resiliency Mediate Stress and Burnout Among Police Officers” and a chapter titled “A Qualitative Study of Police Officer Stress: Sources, Impacts and Supportive Organizational Policies and Programs” and a chapter co-author of “A Qualitative Study of the Impacts of Work-Family Conflict on Police Officer Stress,” in the “Exploring Contemporary Police Challenges: A Global Perspective” for the Police & Practice Research: An International Journal on Law Enforcement stress, resiliency, work-family conflict, and contemporary initiatives. 

She presents and teaches nationally and internationally, including in The United States of America, China, Taiwan, and Canada. She is an F.B.I. National Academy Associates Training Committee member & Comprehensive Officer Resiliency Program Master Instructor, Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement (ABLE) Trainer, and a recognized and contracted Resiliency Subject Matter Expert with the United States Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Collaborative Reform Initiative Technical Assistance Center (CRI-TAC) and the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP).  She is also a graduate of the prestigious F.B.I. National Academy, Session 268, the United States Secret Service Dignitary Protection Seminar, and the IACP Leadership in Police Organizations (LPO) Program. She has presented numerous times at the IACP Annual Conference, the IACP Officer Safety and Wellness Symposium, the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA) annual conference, and many others. In 2022, Dr. Griffin was an invited presenter by Delaware U.S. Senator Christopher Coons to address the United States Senate Law Enforcement Caucus on proactive initiatives to improve police officers’ mental health and resilience.

She is a member of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance and IACP National Consortium on Preventing Law Enforcement Suicide, which is a group of law enforcement, mental health, and suicide prevention, families, and academia, with the common goal of preventing officer suicide. Dr. Griffin is the IACP University/College Police Section Educational Chair and was recently appointed by the IACP President to the IACP Board of Directors. In 2024, she was invited to present to the IACLEA Leadership Development Institute, “Mass Demonstrations and Protests.” In December of 2024, Dr. Griffin was invited to participate in the pilot launch of the IACLEA and Rutgers University, Miller Center on Policing and Community Resilience “Navigating Through Campus Conflict,” a two-day pilot program aimed at equipping campus law enforcement, security, and administrative officials with the tools to address today’s increasingly complex challenges. Due to her participation, she was quoted in a Police1 article on the program.

MARYANN MAY, PhD
Director of Campus Safety, Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine

MaryAnn May, PhD, with more than 30 years of safety and security experience, currently serves as director of Campus Safety at the Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine (ACOM) in Dothan, Alabama.

Dr. May is responsible for the safety and security of faculty, staff and students on the ACOM campus in Dothan, as well as rural medical clinics in Ashford and Taylor. In addition, she coordinates with 32 core sites in Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi to ensure the safety of ACOM’s third- and fourth-year students who are engaged in clinical rotations.

In Dr. May’s role, she implements measures that are designed to reduce or eliminate employee and student accidents, incidents and hazards in compliance with local, state and federal requirements. She also serves as a part-time analyst with the Cottonwood (Alabama) Police Department.

Some of the things implemented under Dr. May’s leadership are:

  • Management of Security department
  • Incident Commander for all emergency situations related to safety, security, emergency management.
  • Responsible for the safety and security planning for large scale events (graduation/white coat) and all campus events
  • Logistics coordinator for “Fentanyl; the Good, the Bad and the Ugly” education and Narcan distribution program

Prior to coming to Dothan, Dr. May served in safety and security leadership roles with the Broward County (Florida) School System and Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama.

Dr. May received her Associates of Science in Fire Science from Broward College in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Occupational Safety and Health from Columbia Southern University in Orange Beach, Alabama. She earned both her Master of Science in Adult Education and her Doctor of Philosophy from Auburn University.

MATTHEW T. RUSHTON
Chief and Assistant Vice President of Public Safety, Brandeis University

Chief Matthew T. Rushton is the Assistant Vice President of Public Safety at Brandeis University, where he oversees the Brandeis University Police Department, Emergency Management, Parking & Traffic Enforcement, and the student-run EMS service (BEMCo). In this role, he is responsible for law enforcement operations, campus security, behavioral threat assessment, emergency response coordination, and compliance with state and federal regulations. His leadership ensures the safety and security of students, faculty, staff, and visitors while maintaining strong community engagement and collaborative partnerships with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.

Chief Rushton also served as a consultant for the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education (BHE), where he has contributed to statewide campus safety policy development. He played a key role in drafting the 2016 BHE report, Securing Our Future: Best Practice Recommendations for Campus Safety and Violence Prevention, which helped establish best practices for higher education institutions across Massachusetts. His work also directly influenced Chapter 337 of the Acts of 2020, known as the 2021 Campus Sexual Assault Law, which strengthens campus threat assessment, emergency preparedness, and violence prevention efforts.

Additionally, Chief Rushton is an active member of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association Threat Assessment Subcommittee, where he helps develop policy guidance on behavioral threat management. He also leads Brandeis University’s accreditation process through the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission (MPAC), ensuring the highest professional standards in law enforcement accountability and transparency.

Before joining Brandeis, Chief Rushton served as Assistant Chief of Police at Bridgewater State University, where he managed patrol operations, communications, emergency preparedness, and public safety initiatives. His leadership in campus law enforcement, community policing, and crisis response has been widely recognized.

Beyond higher education law enforcement, Chief Rushton has a distinguished record of public service and municipal leadership. He served as President of the Bridgewater Town Council, where he played a critical role in guiding the town through the COVID-19 response and ensuring continuity of government operations and public safety coordination. Additionally, he chaired the Public Safety Committee and oversaw a $25 million project for the construction of a new fire headquarters, which is currently underway, reinforcing his commitment to community resilience and public safety infrastructure development.

A graduate of Harvard University’s National Preparedness Leadership Initiative, Chief Rushton is a recognized leader in campus safety, crisis management, and law enforcement accreditation.

TYRONE E. WICKS
Assistant Director of Campus Safety, Oberlin College & Conservatory

I am a seasoned professional with a distinguished career spanning public safety, organizational leadership, and talent management. My leadership is fortified by education through programs such as the IACLEA New and Aspiring Campus Chiefs & Public Safety Executive Leaders Certificate Program, Dale Carnegie Series and honed through roles that demand strategic oversight, collaboration, and operational excellence.

As a Certified Campus Protection Officer, Situational Awareness Specialist–Advanced Practitioner, and a member of the National Association of School Resource Officers, I bring a deep understanding of safety and security at educational institutions. My tenure as Assistant Director of Campus Safety at Oberlin College demonstrates my ability to oversee extensive safety programs, manage significant budgets, and lead diverse teams in high-pressure environments. Also my commitment to ensuring compliance, fostering collaboration with local authorities, and enhancing campus safety protocols.

Beyond safety and security, I serve in several leadership capacities, including President of the Ohio Chapter of the National Association of Campus Safety Administrators, City of Oberlin Human Relations Commission, Vice President of the City of Oberlin Community Improvement Corporation, CIT International’s Public Policy Committee, and member of the Lorain County Public Board of Health. These roles reflect my dedication to community engagement and policy advocacy.

My professional career also includes a robust background in recruitment and staffing, where I excelled as a Contract Recruiter and Employment Specialist. I have successfully implemented innovative sourcing strategies, advised hiring managers, and maintained compliance with EEO and ADA regulations. My strategic insight has driven organizational growth and enhanced workforce diversity.

A veteran of the U.S. Navy, I achieved the designation of Master Training Specialist and served in roles such as Public Affairs Officer and Field Medical Specialist for the United States Marines. My military service, coupled with recognition like the Escambia County Sheriff’s Medal of Distinction- Purple Heart and the Ohio Image Award, underscores my commitment to excellence and public service.

In addition to my professional endeavors, I am a Notary Public and Certified Signing Agent, providing critical support to legal and financial transactions. My technical proficiency includes Microsoft Office, data recovery, and various security, law enforcement, and production software, enabling me to adapt and innovate in dynamic settings.

I take great pride in being diligent, accountable, and solutions-oriented, applying these qualities to every aspect of my professional and community endeavors. With a wealth of experience and an unwavering dedication to service, I strive not only to meet expectations but to surpass them, creating a lasting and meaningful impact on all that I do.

BRYANT JACKSON, Ed.D.
Chief of Police, University of South Dakota

Bryant Jackson, Ed.D., is a dedicated law enforcement leader, higher education professional, and public safety leader with a distinguished career spanning over two decades. He serves as the Chief of Police at the University of South Dakota (USD). Dr. Jackson provides strategic leadership in law enforcement, public safety, and emergency management, ensuring a safe and secure environment for the university community. He also facilitates collaboration between campus organizations and local, state, and federal partners.

Dr. Jackson currently serves as the appointed Mid-America Regional Director, where he has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to fostering engagement and collaboration across the region. Under his leadership, he has instituted monthly regional meetings to encourage information sharing, strengthen professional connections, and promote collaboration among member institutions. Dr. Jackson is a strong advocate for utilizing IACLEA’s Connections Board to enhance communication and resource sharing within the organization. In addition to his regional role, he serves on the IACLEA Finance Committee and is an active IACLEA instructor, delivering training on a wide variety of topics critical to campus public safety. Dr. Jackson’s previous contributions to IACLEA include serving on the Annual Conference Education Committee and the Domestic Preparedness Committee, showcasing his dedication to advancing the mission of IACLEA through education, strategic planning, and preparedness initiatives.

In addition to his role as Chief of Police at USD, Dr. Jackson is an adjunct graduate faculty member in USD’s Educational Leadership program, where he mentors future leaders in higher education. Dr. Jackson has created a unique seminar class that prepares future and current higher education leaders to take a more active role in campus safety and institutional preparedness covering topics such as emergency operation planning, behavioral threat assessment, continuity of operations planning, campus safety and security, and other related topics.

Dr. Jackson’s professional development includes graduating from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Command Course (Cohort #4), Northwestern University’s School of Police Staff and Command, and the Department of Homeland Security Leadership Academy (Cohort #19), highlighting his commitment to excellence in law enforcement leadership. Dr. Jackson is also a Certified Clery Compliance Officer through the National Association of Clery Compliance Officers and Professionals.

Dr. Bryant Jackson is an active member of both the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) and the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), where he has leveraged his expertise to advocate for the unique needs of higher education public safety. He has served on a variety of committees and policy working groups, including those focused on critical topics such as active shooter response, incident command, the 32 National Campus Safety Initiative review team, investigating deaths in custody, and acute behavioral emergencies. In these roles, Dr. Jackson has consistently worked to ensure that the voice of colleges and universities is heard, representing the distinct challenges and priorities of campus public safety. His contributions help bridge the gap between higher education and broader law enforcement communities, fostering policies and practices that support safe and thriving campus environments.

His comprehensive experience, strategic vision, and passion for service uniquely position him to lead as the Mid-America Regional Director for IACLEA, fostering innovation, collaboration, and professional growth within the region.

Dr. Jackson holds an undergraduate degree in Transportation and Logistics Management, a master’s degree in Emergency and Disaster Management, and a Doctor of Education in Adult and Higher Education Leadership. Dr. Jackson served honorably in the U.S. Marine Corps before transitioning to a career in public safety.