UND’s search for the new associate V-P for public safety and chief of police is down to four people.
The finalists are Rodney Clark, chief of police at Wichita State University…
Chris Schuster, a member of the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse Police command staff…
Eric “Harry” Smith… a retired captain with the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office in Oregon…
And Steven Davis, director of campus security at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington…
On-campus interviews begin on Monday.
The job opened when Eric Plummer left UND earlier this year for a job in Virginia.
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(UND release:)
A UND search committee has identified four finalists for the position of associate vice president for public safety and chief of police (AVPPS) (see photos and campus visitation dates).
Each finalist will participate in 1½ days of interviews on-campus between July 19–27, 2021.
- Rodney Clark
- Monday, July 19, 3 – 4 p.m., Education 7
- Education 7 or watchopen forum remotely
- Christopher Schuster
- Wednesday, July 21, 3 – 4 p.m., Education 7
- Education 7 or watchopen forum remotely
- Eric “Harry” Smith
- Thursday, July 22, 3 – 4 p.m., Education 7
- Education 7 or watchopen forum remotely
- Stephen Davis
- Monday, July 26, 3 – 4 p.m., Education 7
- Education 7 or watchopen forum remotely
Interested parties are welcome to participate in the open forums to interact with the candidates during the interview process. All forums will be held in-person on-campus. If you are unable to attend, you may participate via Zoom. Recordings will be posted online following the forum for individuals unable to attend/participate live.
Individuals are also asked to complete the Qualtrics feedback survey for each candidate, which will be posted on the AVPPS Search website through Monday, July 27.
Candidate bios:
Rodney Clark currently serves as chief of police for Wichita State University (WSU), Wichita Kan. He leads a 44-person police department with an organic dispatch section and parking operations section for the University. Clark serves on numerous University committees to include, veterans’ affairs, the president’s diversity council and the university CARE team serving students. He is also an adjunct faculty member to both the Criminal Justice and Military Science departments at WSU. Clark received his undergraduate degree from Texas State University and a master’s degree in Criminal Justice from American Military University. His professional military education includes US Army Command and General Staff College, US Air Force Police Administration Course sponsored by Eastern Kentucky University and the US Army Senior Leader Law Enforcement Course (US Army MP School).
Hailing from Alvin, Texas, Clark began his military career in 1995 when he enlisted in the United States Air Force as a security policeman. After completing basic and technical training he was assigned to Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont. Upon completion of a 4-year enlisted tour he received his commission through the Air Force ROTC program at Texas State University. Clark began service as an Air Force Officer and was assigned to Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. Following the attacks of 9/11, he deployed in January 2002 to Doha, Qatar, responsible for security and law-enforcement operations of the American portion of an air base.
Other early assignments include law enforcement and security commander in South Korea and Emergency Management/Force Protection Officer to an air base in the United Arab Emirates. Clark transferred branches to the US Army Military Police Corps in 2007 and went on to command a law enforcement unit at Ft. Sill, Okla., then returned to Korea to serve as deputy provost marshal and director of emergency services for the 2nd Infantry Division 9 miles from the Korean DMZ. He ended his military career in New York State with assignments as a military police officer at Ft. Drum, N.Y., and as an assistant professor of Military Science on the campus of Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, N.Y. completing a 22-year military career before assuming university police chief responsibilities.
Stephen Davis is the current director of campus security/emergency management at Whitman College, Walla Walla, Wash., where he focuses on access control, visitor management, crisis management, risk assessment and the college’s emergency operations and continuity plans. He is a subject-matter expert in Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED). Previously Davis served as the director of campus security/emergency management at Olympic College, Bremerton, Wash. There he created and implemented field training for security staff and was responsible for Clery Act reporting. Davis also has experience as a security manager for Travis County Facility Management Department, Austin, Texas, and as the chief of police and facility security at the Port of Beaumont Police Department, Beaumont, Texas.
Davis is a U.S. Coast Guard veteran (ret.) with nearly 30 years of service. He has a master’s degree in Public Policy from Fairleigh Dickinson University and bachelor’s degree in Law and Justice from Rowan University. He is a graduate of the Texas Police Chief Leadership Series at Sam Houston University in Huntsville, Texas, and is an active member with the American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS) with three security certifications: Certified Protection Professional, Physical Security Professional, and Professional Certified Investigator.
Chris Schuster grew up in central Wisconsin and served in the United States Marine Corps as a marine embassy guard. After five and a half years of active duty, Schuster left the military and enrolled at the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse where he earned his bachelor’s degree in political science with a minor in criminal justice. Shortly after graduation, he started his law enforcement career with the City of La Crosse Police Department (LCPD). During his time with the LCPD, he fulfilled various roles that included patrol, school resource officer, Emergency Response Team member, Honor Guard, and Police Officer Support Team. In addition to working for the police department, he and his wife started a successful health club business in which they owned and operated for fourteen years.
In 2013, Schuster found his niche when he transitioned into university policing with the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse Police Department. Currently, Schuster serves as a member of the police department’s command staff and is responsible for investigations and the University’s emergency management unit. He re-entered the military after an eleven-year break in service and serves as a senior non-commissioned officer with the Wisconsin Air National Guard at the 115th Security Forces Unit out of Madison, Wis.
In 2020, Schuster earned his master’s degree in Organizational Change Leadership from the University of Wisconsin – Platteville. He has made a continued push toward understanding best practices in diversity, equity, and inclusion by completing the DE&I certificate program through the University of South Florida and additionally, volunteered to be a participant in the Human Rights Policing pilot program through the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse.
When Schuster is not working or advancing his education, he is an active member with the La Crosse Area Autism Foundation, which he co-founded in 2010 and currently serves as the board president.
Eric “Harry” Smith, Portland, Ore., retired as a captain/agency inspector from the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) after 26 years of service, earning the Distinguished Service Award.
During his career at MCSO, Smith served as the chief of police for city of Fairview, Ore. He provided leadership as the inspector/professional standards division manager, training unit manager, and investigations section commander. He was liaison to the MultCo Office of Emergency Management for ten years and was a leader on the COVID-19 Incident Management Team. Smith’s experience also encompasses uniform leadership to the Patrol and River Patrol Units; investigator for the team specializing in child abuse, sex crimes, and domestic violence investigations as well as the MCSO Internal Affairs Unit; and member of the Portland FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force. Furthermore, Smith served as the commander, supervisor, and diver of the MCSO Dive Rescue Team.
Smith earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication and attended graduate school at Oregon State University. He graduated from the FBI National Academy, earning a graduate certificate in Law Enforcement Education from the University of Virginia. His is also a graduate from both the Oregon State Sheriff’s Association Command College and the Oregon Executive Development Institute.
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