News and Announcements
UNC Police Chief Wendy Rich-Goldschmidt named as CSU Chief of Police
FORT COLLINS - Colorado State University today named Wendy S. Rich-Goldschmidt as chief of the Colorado State University Police Department after an extensive search. Rich-Goldschmidt will official begin as chief on August 17.
Rich-Goldschmidt has served as the chief of police at the University of Northern Colorado since October 2003, overseeing all police operations and parking services. She began as a patrol officer at UNC in 1987 and served as a senior training officer after 1991. Before beginning her career at UNC, she was a corrections and security guard in several locations. Rich-Goldschmidt also is an associate in the Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention, based in Massachusetts. She is a graduate of the FBI National Academy.
The position of chief of police reports to Thomas Gorell, senior vice president for Administrative Services. The chief also has a leadership position on the university’s Public Safety Team.
"I am extremely pleased that Chief Wendy Rich-Goldschmidt has accepted the position of Chief of the CSUPD," said Gorell. "We had a highly qualified finalist pool and Chief Rich-Goldschmidt emerged as the top candidate. I look forward to working with Wendy towards the goal of making CSUPD an outstanding example of a university police department dedicated to the safety and security of the campus community."
Rich-Goldschmidt has been recognized with numerous awards, including a medal of honor for her response to a hostage situation. She also has designed a model health and safety program for new student orientations at universities.
Rich-Goldschmidt holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology with an emphasis in criminal justice and a minor in communications and health education, and a master’s degree in educational technology, both from the University of Northern Colorado. She is a graduate of the Aims Community College Police Academy and the Daniels College of Business Public Safety Leadership Institute.
"The search committee was pleased with the number of people who were interested in the position. We had highly qualified candidates from across the country," said Blanche Hughes, vice president of Student Affairs and the chair of the search committee. "A large number of people from across the campus community participated in interviews with the final candidates. Each of them had the opportunity to provide feedback to the committee."
Extensive community involvement includes past and present position on the Weld County School District Six Career and Education Technical advisory council, the UNC ROTC advisory board, the Weld County Criminal Justice Advisory committee, the Colorado Sexual Assault Prevention Advisory committee, the Weld Women’s Fund board of directors, and the Weld County Youth, Families and Children advisory committee. She also has volunteered in food preparation and service at the Guadalupe Homeless Shelter, the UNC Center for International Education as a host family, Greeley Relay for Life as a team captain, and as a Sunday school teacher and drama club director, among other contributions.
Source: CSU Press Release, 22 July 2009