Mission
The Division of Public Safety & Security (DPSS) Student Advisory Board facilitates and enhances communication between U-M students and DPSS. Student advisory board members play an important role in identifying campus safety concerns and providing feedback on ways to remedy those concerns.
How can I become a board member?
We are now accepting applications. The DPSS Student Advisory Board is looking to continue to diversify and bring as many perspectives to the conversation as possible. We accept applications on a rolling basis. Members must be in good standing with the university and be available to meet every other week. Fill out this online application if you are interested in joining!
Jessie Williams, a graduate dual-degree student at the University of Michigan Law School and Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning, currently serves as the DPSS Student Advisory Board Chair. Jessie aims to increase the connection between DPSS and the campus community. "By growing student understanding of DPSS' many roles and responsibilities, as well as allowing students to convey their concerns to the division, students are more aware of important topics in campus safety and the division can better address the needs of students and their families."
Jessie Williams, 2025-2026 Advisory Board Chair
Seoyoon, a senior majoring in Behavioral Neuroscience (BCN) and Biology (BHS), serves as the DPSS Student Advisory Board Vice Chair. She is committed to amplifying diverse student voices on matters related to public safety. Seoyoon has also volunteered at DPSS-sponsored events, where she enjoys building connections and learning about all the different ways in which DPSS uplifts safety in the U-M community.
Seoyoon Chang, 2025-2026 Advisory Board Vice-Chair
Student Advisory Board Projects
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- Community Projects
- Distributed Severe Weather trifolds to interested community partners
- Tabled on the Diag assisting students with Property Registration
- Member Experience
- Learned about public safety through presentations on Alcohol Harm Reduction, Scam Awareness, and Emergency Management
- Attended Run, Hide, Fight and Stop the Bleed training
- Field Trip to the Campus Safety Services Building to see behind the scenes at DPSS
- DPSS Outreach and Feedback
- Assisted filming an informational DPSS video for social media
- Provided feedback on effective communication methods from a student's perspective
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- Community Projects
- Developed a partnership with Common Cycle
- Hosted a table on the Diag to register bikes and scooters
- Member Experience
- Learned about public safety through presentations from the staff advisor and K9 team
- Attended Empowerment & Self-Defense training
- Provided feedback on initiatives from a student's perspective
- DPSS Outreach and Feedback
- Provided feedback and insights on the Community Engagement vehicle design
- Met with COSECURE to provide feedback on physical security features on campus
- Met with Strategic Communications to provide feedback on student-preferred communication
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- Recruitment
- Developed recruitment materials
- Significantly increased the board size
- Community Projects
- Represented DPSS and U-M student community on Ann Arbor's Bicentennial planning committee
- Worked with DPSS Communications to develop a Severe Weather trifold
- DPSS Outreach
- Provided feedback on the DPSS Therapy Dog project and social media outreach
- Assisted filming an informational DPSS video for social media
- Member Experiences
- Learned about DPSS through presentations from the staff advisor, Strategic Communications and Special Victims Unit
- Attended Run-Hide-Fight training
- Provided feedback on initiatives from a student's perspective
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- Recruitment
- Increased board membership and overall participation despite COVID-19 restrictions through Canvas discussion boards, Google Forms, and online meetings
- Gained representatives from the U-M Residence Hall Association and LSA Student Government
- Published a recruiting advertisement in the LSA Student Government newsletter in Feb 2021
- Non-DPSS Outreach and Feedback
- Provided insight to Provost Collins' Advancing Public Safety at the University of Michigan Task Force Continued participation on the Campus Climate Advisory Committee through Student Life
- DPSS Outreach and Feedback
- Met with the Special Victims Unit - learned about what they do and provided student insights and feedback
- Met with Strategic Communications - learned about what they do and provided student insights in feedback
- Provided feedback on areas of interest to cover during orientation and best engagement with different groups.
- Met with DPSS Executive Director Washington on various student focused initiatives, enhancing the feedback loop.
- Member-specific Experiences
- Members experienced the Multiple Interactive Learning Objectives (MILO) simulator with Michigan Medicine Security and Guest Service Specialists and provided feedback to incorporate into further experiences with MILO and UMPD officers.
- Learned about the overall Division through a presentation from the SAB staff advisor (Exec. Lt. Baker)
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- Offered continuous recruitment of members throughout the year
- Created a liaison membership position connected to the Residence Hall Association (RHA)
- Hosted the first ever "DPSS FiresideChat" with DPSS Executive Director Eddie Washington
- Provided feedback on UMPD uniform changes
- Brainstormed student patrol programs and student engagement
- Discussed safety on campus at the onset of the corona virus pandemic and end of school year.
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- Increased board membership to include undergraduate and graduate student representation
- Provided feedback on Version 2.0 of U-M Public Safety app
- Held a joint event with the Central Student Government Health and Wellness Commission to promote the DPSS Empowerment Self-Defense program
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- Provided feedback on DPSS Active Attacker Preparedness video and marketing materials
- Recommended safety information be distributed to U-M libraries for late night safety options and crime prevention tips
- Hosted a DPSS Diag Day recruitment event in Spring 2018
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- Provided feedback on the DPSS website redesign concepts
- Downloaded U-M public safety app prototype to test and provide feedback
- Provided feedback on DPSS social media accounts, including the request of a DPSS Facebook page
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- Collaborated with DPSS Executive Director Eddie Washington, Jr. to establish the board in April 2016
- Identified the goal of the board as bringing student voices, concerns and ideas about campus safety directly to DPSS leadership and advising on current DPSS events and initiatives
For more information contact:
Jessie Williams, Student Chair
willije@umich.edu
Aparna Krishnamurthy, Student Vice-Chair
kaparna@umich.edu
AnnMarie Vaquera, Community Outreach Sergeant
lutheram@umich.edu
