VP for Public Safety and Chief of Police
New vice president for public safety and chief of police selected
Following a national search, Michigan State University President Samuel L. Stanley Jr., M.D., named Marlon Lynch to serve as the sixth chief of the MSU Police Department. Based on his vast experience and expertise, Lynch will also hold the title of vice president for public safety.
“Marlon has a highly distinguished service record, including leading some of the largest university police departments in the country,” said Stanley. “His nearly 25-year career in law enforcement will allow him to look expansively across the spectrum of public safety to identify areas for improvement in the department and maximize its community engagement. I know he will be a great addition to the Spartan community.”
To craft the description for the new role, the university held several meetings with student groups and university administrators. The search committee held additional meetings with students, faculty and staff and received input from multiple stakeholder groups. More than 90 potential candidates were considered during the search.
Lynch currently serves as chief safety officer for the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. In this position, he oversees more than 180 individuals in police, health system security, emergency management and community services.
Lynch began his career as a police officer in the Meridian Township Police Department near MSU’s East Lansing campus. He has also held positions at Southern Methodist University in Dallas; Davidson College in Davidson, North Carolina; University of North Carolina at Charlotte; North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro; Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee; The University of Chicago; and New York University in New York City.
Lynch earned his bachelor’s degree from MSU and a master’s degree from Boston University, both in criminal justice.
