Marlon Lynch, the vice president and chief safety officer at Michigan State University (MSU), is set to take on a new challenge at the University of Colorado Boulder as the associate vice chancellor for public safety. As reported by The Detroit News, Lynch's move comes on the heels of his contributions to beef up security at MSU following a campus shooting that left several victims.
Beginning March 4, Lynch will lead CU Boulder's newly formed Division of Public Safety, stepping in to replace the former AVC of integrity, safety, and compliance, Dan Jones, who is retiring. According to a CU Boulder Today release, Lynch’s vast experience is expected to significantly contribute to Boulder's campus environment. "I am grateful for Marlon to bring his wealth of experience in leading public safety operations for institutions of higher education as well as his experience in a variety of administrative positions," said Patrick O’Rourke, chief operating officer at CU Boulder.
Lynch, who previously held safety positions at the University of Utah, New York University, and the University of Chicago, was picked following a national search. During his tenure at MSU, he managed to effectively expand safety measures following the tragic shooting incident, a task that involved enhancing the campus's security systems and emergency preparedness. "Marlon joined the university in February 2021 and has expanded our safety components and planning beyond traditional law enforcement efforts," MSU Interim President Teresa Woodruff said in a statement obtained by The Detroit News.
At CU Boulder, Lynch's new role will see him overseeing the police department and handling event and emergency management, among other responsibilities. "I could not be more excited for the opportunity to lead the Division of Public Safety at CU Boulder," Lynch told prairiemountainmedia. His forward-looking approach aims to continually improve upon CU Boulder's safety operations, likely echoing his work at MSU where he oversaw the installation of walk-through metal detectors and additional security cameras to bolster campus safety.
Lynch, an MSU alumnus with a Bachelor of Arts in criminal justice, also holds a master’s degree in criminal justice from Boston University and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy. He comes to CU Boulder with endorsements from his previous institutions, mentioning his capability to be a consistent, calm, and credible voice of campus safety. His last day at MSU will be March 3.
