"Regina Lawson" Archive

Safety and Security Resources for the WFU Community

A message from Wake Forest University’s Chief of Police Regina Lawson

As Wake Forest begins the academic year, it is a good time to remind our community about University resources related to safety and security:

Wake Alert

  • Wake Alert is the University’s mass notification system for communicating about situations affecting safety and security. In addition, Wake Ready offers considerable information about emergency preparedness, key University contacts and more.

Read more

Categories: Inside WFU

Wake Forest University Police Department announces annual awards and honorees

The Wake Forest University Police Department (UPD) held its annual awards ceremony virtually on Jan. 28 to recognize staff and campus and community partners for their contributions to the department and its mission.

“Keeping our campus safe is a shared responsibility, and it takes all of us working together to make that happen. That is why campus and community partners are so important,” said Wake Forest University Police Chief Regina Lawson.

The UPD presented the WFU Office of Residence Life and Housing with the “Campus Partner Award” for its dedicated support and collaboration amid the pandemic. Assistant Vice President of Campus Life and Dean of Residence Life and Housing, Matt Clifford accepted the award on behalf of the staff.

The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Emergency Management team was recognized with the “Community Partner Award.”

UPD staff honorees include:

  • Communications Officer Thomas Harris – “Communications Officer of the Year”
  • Security Officer John Smith – “Security Officer of the Year”
  • Officer J.B. Davis – “Police Officer of the Year”
  • Security Supervisor Chris Batista – “Best Team Player”
  • Paul Hudson – “Going the Extra Mile COVID Award”
  • Officer Jeff Holleman – “Thomas W. Slater Jr. RAD (Rape Aggression Defence) Award,” in recogition of his dedication to the program and service as an instructor
  • Emergency Services Manager Chauncey Bowers – “James Worthington Award,” which recognizes overall excellence in emergency services management

Honorees appear below in order from top left to bottom right.

Two rows of headshots, showing WFU University Police Department staff Thomas Harris, John Smith, J.B. Davis, Chris Batista, Paul Hudson, Jeff Holleman and Chauncey Bowers, with the UPD logo in the top right corner

Categories: Inside WFUStaff News

WFU committee working to implement new Title IX regulations

Wake Forest University has established a Title IX 2020 Implementation Task Force led by Vice President for Campus Life Penny Rue and Associate Provost for Academic Initiatives Kami Chavis. 

The group, which held its first meeting on June 3, was established following changes announced in early May by the U.S. Department of Education regarding how colleges and universities must handle sexual-assault and sexual-harassment complaints. The new regulations increase protections for accused students and employees and take effect Aug. 14.

Among the most notable changes, institutions must now hold live hearings and allow cross-examination when deciding sexual-misconduct complaints. The new federal regulations are the first regulatory revisions in 45 years to the federal gender-equity law and will also limit the scope of complaints colleges and universities are required to investigate. 

Read more

WFU police chief signs joint statement

Wake Forest University Police Chief Regina Lawson is among eight Winston-Salem area law enforcement leaders in Forsyth County who signed a joint statement today affirming a “commitment to creating a safe, secure and inclusive community for every citizen.”

Statement From Winston-Salem Area Law Enforcement Officials

June 3, 2020 

After watching the tragic events and reactions unfold across the United States, we, the Winston-Salem area college and university police chiefs, in collaboration with Winston-Salem Police Chief Catrina A. Thompson, Forsyth County Sheriff Bobby F. Kimbrough Jr., and District Attorney Jim O’Neill, want to reiterate our commitment to creating a safe, secure and inclusive community for every citizen. 

What happened to George Floyd on May 25 directly contradicts the values of our departments and ignores the intrinsic value of every human being. The behavior of the officers involved in Mr. Floyd’s death does not represent the practices of all law enforcement nor does it reflect the principles and practices of our departments. Racism and excessive force have no place and should not be tolerated in any law enforcement agency. It will not be tolerated in our departments. 

You can expect all members of our departments to continue to be held to high standards. We will speak up against any violation of our values and principles; we will continue to have stringent hiring and training practices that emphasize community policing and accountability, compliant with professional standards; and we will ensure all officers are mentored and trained to identify and combat action motivated by racism and hatred. 

Our commitment to our communities is that we will value all people we have been called to serve and protect. Driven by our core values of integrity, compassion and respect for every human being, we will continue to support and ensure campus communities are welcoming, inclusive and safe for all. Our work is not done until we help create a high quality of life for every individual in our care.

Staff members recognized for milestones; two named Employees of the Year

This is a guest post from Human Resources:

The campus community celebrated service milestones for approximately 240 Wake Forest staff members with more than 3,100 combined years of service. These individuals were recognized at the annual Staff Rewards & Recognition Luncheon Oct. 2 at the Sutton Center. A milestone video highlighted some of their Wake Forest experiences.

A campus-wide celebration will be held during the Benefits Fair on Oct. 22 from noon – 4 p.m. in the Sutton Center, with remarks at 2 p.m.

Staff members who have achieved 30 or more years of service are:

  • 30 years: Patty Atwood (Information Systems), Annemarie Buwalda (School of Law), Amy Comer (Research and Sponsored Programs), Jeffrey Holleman (University Police), Kerry King (University Advancement), Regina Lawson (University Police), Larry Love (Facilities and Campus Services), Jeffrey Marion (Facilities and Campus Services), John McCrowell (Facilities and Campus Services), Martine Sherrill (Art), Michael Thompson (Chemistry), Cheryl Walker (University Advancement)
  • 35 years: Kathy Bunn (School of Business), Marion Gist (Graylyn), Sally Irvin (School of Law), Paul Sheff (Facilities and Campus Services), Elide Vargas (Politics and International Affairs)
  • 40 years: Minta McNally (University Advancement)

Christian Burris with President Hatch

Christian Burris, Serials Acquisition Coordinator and 25-year honoree in the Z. Smith Reynolds Library and Carol Brehm, Administrative Coordinator in the Department of Music, were recognized as Employees of the Year. They were nominated by faculty and staff for their contributions in the areas of innovation, integrity, accountability, inclusion, and Pro Humanitate.

Christian’s nomination reads: Christian is a 1993 Wake Forest graduate, and he has been employed in the Z. Smith Reynolds Library ever since. While at ZSR, he has been reliable, kind and available to assist, as one of the most stalwart volunteers for the Library’s after-hours programming. He serves on the Executive Committee for the Association of Black Alumni, the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, and the Council for Diversity and Inclusion. 

The nomination proceeds to highlight Christian’s impact, amidst recent challenges the community has faced around inclusion and belonging: Throughout this unsettling time, Chris’ calm demeanor has been a balm to many, allowing all voices to be heard, while remaining steadfast in the desire to stay true to the principles of inclusion. He has led thoughtful discussions about painful issues, which can be difficult when they involve an institution we hold dear. He has been steady throughout, even as he has shared his own personal stories.

As Christian works diligently to bring all voices to the table, he is incredibly thoughtful about accuracy and fairness. He uses those skills to create an environment where larger conversations can happen within the library environment. Christian Burris has served Wake Forest with distinction throughout his career. His steady and calm leadership over the past year, in particular, has been an extraordinary gift to both the Library and the University. Christian personifies everything it takes to be the Employee of the Year.

Carol Brehm with President Hatch

Carol’s nomination reads: Carol Brehm is the beating heart of the Department of Music. Her service, loyalty, and cheerful disposition have buoyed the spirits of faculty, students, and fellow staff members. 

Carol assumes a tremendous amount of responsibility for practical issues within the Department of Music, including managing all financial transactions, overseeing student assistants, and assisting faculty. Carol feels personally responsible for the smooth running of the department, and for the accurate recording of financial transactions. If a small error creeps into the course schedule, or a financial report does not balance out, even if the mistake is not her own, she will not rest until the error is fixed!

Her laughter is frequently heard around the department, establishing an atmosphere of friendship and joy. She is warm, gracious and eager to be of service to all students and staff. Carol Brehm has in abundance all the qualities of an Employee of the Year. She is the ideal candidate for this significant award and is most-deserving of campus-wide recognition.

The nominations highlight the welcoming environment each winner fosters:

  • Through the innovative programming he leads, Christian Burris demonstrates a commitment to ensuring students, faculty, and staff feel welcome.
  • Carol Brehm exudes warmth and a welcoming atmosphere to one and all in the office. 

Congratulations to Christian Burris, Carol Brehm, and all staff members celebrating milestones.

Categories: Inside WFUStaff News

Archives