Buffalo, NY – Canisius University’s Vice President for Student Affairs, Terri Mangione, PhD, named H. Wilson Johnson the new director of public safety. Johnson began work at Canisius University on May 1.
As director of public safety, Johnson is responsible for providing a safe and secure environment for all Canisius students, faculty, staff and visitors to the campus. Aside from enforcing federal, state and local laws as well as Canisius’ rules and regulation, Johnson works to ensure that the Public Safety Department plays critical roles in the college’s emergency preparedness and response, and organizes safety training for the entire campus.
A sworn member of the Rochester Police Department since 1982, Johnson is the former captain of the Northeast quadrant of the city. In addition to his expertise as a seasoned police officer, he worked in Rochester neighborhoods where he built relationships with community partners and developed community crime prevention plans.
Johnson holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology, specializing in education, from Nazareth College of Rochester and a master’s degree in pastoral studies from St. Bernard’s School of Theology and Ministry. He is an ordained Catholic Deacon of the Diocese of Rochester.
“Will’s experience as a police officer, his expertise in community relations and his pastoral studies made him uniquely qualified to head the college’s Department of Public Safety and support the mission of the college,” said Mangione in announcing Johnson’s appointment. “I am confident that with his leadership, Canisius will continue to build and maintain a high level of safety, trust and cooperation between the Public Safety Department, the Canisius community and the Hamlin Park neighborhood.”
Johnson replaces Public Safety Director Gary Everett, who will retire at the end of May after serving Canisius with distinction for 33 years.
One of 28 Jesuit universities in the nation, Canisius is the premier private university in Western New York.
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