ECU to host regional Campus Safety Symposium

GREENVILLE, N.C.   —   The chairman of the N.C. Attorney General’s Task Force on Campus Safety will deliver the keynote address for ECU’s third annual Campus Safety Symposium Jan. 29-30. 

Bradley Wilson, who is chief operating officer for Blue Cross-Blue Shield of North Carolina and a member of the University of North Carolina Board of Governors, will speak on the importance of campus safety. 

Designed to attract school administrators from community colleges and universities across the region, the symposium will address the legal and safety challenges faced by academic institutions, crisis communications and strategies for safer campuses, according to Peter Romary, director of ECU’s Student Legal Services. 

Last year, the event drew more than 200 participants from across the state. The two-day conference will be held at the Greenville Hilton, and costs $100 for participants.

“We believe that this year’s symposium, like those before it, will make our campuses, students, faculty, staff and external stakeholders safer,” Romary said. 

During the second day of the program, Dr. Glen Gilbert, dean of the College of Health and Human Performance at ECU, will lead a panel discussion on “Safety Issues and Services for Returning Veterans.” Panelists will be Rep. Grier Martin, N.C. House District 34; Carmen Russoniello, an ECU faculty member who has studied the physical and mental challenges for military personnel returning from deployment; Col. David Allen, U.S. Army Reserves, associate vice chancellor for military education, Fayetteville State University; and Dr. Steven Duncan, ECU director of military programs. 

Other speakers include: Dave Rainer, associate vice chancellor for Environmental Health and Public Safety at N.C. State University; Scott Bullard, director of emergency services for the N.C. Community College System; ECU Chancellor Steve Ballard; Dr. Marilyn Sheerer, ECU provost; and Robert V. Lucas, ECU Board of Trustees member.