A new role combining campus safety and student leadership supervision will streamline and strengthen Doane's efforts to better campus safety.
The college has selected Doane graduate and eight-year employee Russ Hewitt to serve as associate dean of student leadership and director of campus safety.
Hewitt formerly served as assistant dean of student leadership and director of residence life and brings a valuable background in law enforcement and military roles.
"When you look at the qualifications that you want in this role, he has every single one, plus an in-depth knowledge of this campus," said Kim Jacobs, vice president of enrollment management and student leadership.
In the new role, Hewitt will serve each of Doane's three campuses, establishing policies and procedures in all areas of safety and security, including emergency planning, crime prevention and overall campus safety for students, employees and visitors. He will implement new security measures, work with sub-contracted campus security personnel, act as a liaison between local police and fire departments and the college, communicate information and data regarding security and safety and conduct training programs.
Hewitt will continue to lead Doane's safety committee, which recently completed the addition of a campus alert system, which, in the event of an emergency situation, sends instant alerts through a variety of technology to students, faculty and staff.
According to Jacobs, the new position gives Doane the opportunity to bolster campus security while streamlining communication between campus groups as well as the Crete community.
"This will bring security to the forefront - where it needs to be - because it is important for all members of the Doane community," she said.
Hewitt earned a bachelor's degree in human relations from Doane in 1997, followed by a master's degree in management from Doane in 2002. He currently is completing his thesis for Doane College's masters in counseling program.
He joined Doane's Student Leadership office in 2000, advancing to assistant dean of student leadership, supervising 27 residence life staff members.
He completed the Nebraska Law Enforcement Academy and became a certified officer in 1994, serving as a patrol officer in the Lincoln Police Department for 10 years. His titles with LPD included community service officer, coordinating a ‘citizen's academy' and promoting crime prevention programs.
Hewitt became an army officer with the Nebraska Army National Guard in 1998 and completed a one-year deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He currently serves with the 1075th Transportation Company, based in Columbus.
"I am honored that Doane has offered me the position and I look forward to the challenge," Hewitt said of his new role. "This is an excellent institution with a staff and faculty that is focused on providing its students with the best services available. Safety is a number one priority."
A search for a new director of residence life is underway.