UP alumnus appointed as the new assistant director for Public Safety
Gerald Gregg (The Beacon)
By Nikki Robles, Staff Writer -- robles15@up.edu
The University of Portland announced Gerald Gregg as the new assistant director for Public Safety on Feb. 23. The appointment follows the death of former Assistant Director Steve Watson in October.
"I am honored and humbled both by having been chosen for the position," Gregg said. "I'm really looking forward to it. I think it will be enjoyable and challenging."
Harold Burke-Sivers, the director for Public Safety, divided the duties of the assistant director to various officials in Public Safety while they searched for a replacement for Watson.
"We miss Steve a lot. We worked closely together for 10 years," Burke-Sivers said. "It was difficult several months after his passing back in October."
Burke-Sivers believes Gregg was the ideal candidate for the position.
"Gerald is a wonderful fit for the department," Burke-Sivers said. "He really understands the place and he understands the mission."
Gregg has a close connection to UP. He is a second generation University of Portland alumnus and received his degree in marketing and management in 1981. Also, his three children graduated from UP.
"I'm very impressed with the quality of the education both in and out of the classroom and the opportunities that are afforded the students," Gregg said.
Gregg worked as a state trooper for the Oregon State Police for 26 years and hopes to apply his experience to his new position.
"The career with the Oregon State Police afforded me a vast opportunity to do a variety of different things - operational experience as well as management and administrative experience," Gregg said.
As assistant director, Gregg is responsible for overseeing the operations in Public Safety and is second in command following Burke-Sivers.
"I want to continue providing the best service we possibly can to the students and staff at the University and to do so in a professional manner, always to be fair and impartial in their dealings with any of our customers," Gregg said.
Gregg hopes to improve Public Safety's performance and has high expectations for the department.
"It's just a very broad spectrum of support that we provide to the campus community," Gregg said, "I want to look for ways where we can improve and do better."
Burke-Sivers believes Gregg has adapted well to the UP environment.
"He's been here about a month, he's learning," Burke-Sivers said. "He's been picking up on things really fast, really catching on quickly to how the operations work here."
