COLUMBUS -- Vernon L. Baisden, director of campus safety at Keene (New Hampshire) State College, has been named assistant vice president for public safety at The Ohio State University. Baisden will replace John Kleberg, who retires on July 31 after 27 years at Ohio State.

The job that Baisden will assume when he arrives on Aug. 14 includes responsibility for overall public safety at Ohio State. He will oversee the 56-officer University Police department and University Security Services, which provide round-the-clock policing services to campus as well as site security and central alarm functions. He will also be responsible for disaster planning, the Emergency Operations Center, long-range planning and community relations.

Janet Ashe, vice president for business and finance, says Baisden is well-qualified for the position. "We believe Vernon will be a great addition to our staff. His knowledge and experience are what we need right now," she said.

A native of Hartford, Conn., Baisden successfully changed careers in the mid-1980's from business and finance to public safety and criminal justice. Before taking the position in Keene, he spent eight years at the University of Michigan, rising from a patrol officer to the rank of lieutenant and commanding officer in the Office of Community Relations and Special Programs Unit in the Department of Public Safety.

Baisden earned an A.A. in Law Enforcement Administration at Wayne County Community College (Detroit), a B.S. in Education at the University of Hartford and an M.A. in Criminal Justice at the University of Detroit.

In 1989, he was awarded the Chief's Civilian Award by the City of Ann Arbor Police Department for assisting in the capture of an armed robbery suspect.

At Keene State, he was presented with the President's Award for Excellence in 1998 for outstanding service to the college and the Longevity Award in 1999 for continuous service to the college. In May, he was presented with the Citizen Award for Community Service by the Mayor of the City of Keene.

"I am very happy about this opportunity and I look forward to joining the Ohio State staff. I am specifically excited about working with the men and women who are charged with the daily task of providing public safety services to the university community," said Baisden.

Ohio State is a major public research university with Columbus campus enrollment exceeding 48,000 students and more than 22,000 staff. The university also houses a major medical center, the Wexner Center for the Arts, and a large physical plant, all requiring extensive public safety services. As an urban university, Ohio State also maintains a close working relationship with the community and City of Columbus public safety services.

Baisden's predecessor, John Kleberg, is retiring as assistant vice president for business and finance, a position he held since 1983. Kleberg came to Ohio State in 1973 as deputy chief of University Police. He moved to director of internal auditing in March 1981 and was promoted to his current position two years later. Known as the campus historian on Cooke Castle on Lake Erie, Kleberg has offered his organizational expertise and calm manner to a number of large events, most recently assisting with spring commencement on the Oval.

Baisden's annual salary will be $100,000.

(NOTE: A photo of Baisden is available upon request.)

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