Dear Ithaca College Community,
We are excited to share with the campus community the news of two related leadership transitions. Longtime Executive Director of Public Safety and Emergency Management Bill Kerry has accepted a new position as Executive Director of Buildings and Grounds in the Office of Facilities. Scott Garin, who joined the college in March of 2022, has been promoted to succeed Bill as Executive Director of Public Safety and Emergency Management.
Executive Director of Buildings and Grounds
In his new role, Bill Kerry will have responsibility for planning, coordinating, and managing the major functional units of Grounds and Transportation, Maintenance/Trades, and Facilities Services, comprising some 150 employees. He will continue to serve as a primary member of the college’s Core Emergency Response Team (CERT), coordinating responses and collaborating with other operational units as needed to address any emergency situations.
Bill joined the Office of Public Safety in 2002 as a patrol officer and was named director and chief in 2017. His accomplishments have included adding Clery Act and emergency management positions within Public Safety; improving the use of technology to enhance Public Safety operations and overall safety on campus; overseeing the college’s COVID-19 safety planning and management in 2021 and 2022; implementing the Rave/Guardian IC Alert system; holding open house events for transparency with student groups; instituting the body-worn camera program; and conducting ongoing assessments of Public Safety services, with a focus on campus engagement, building trust, and responses to mental health and bias related incidents.
Executive Director of Public Safety and Emergency Management
Scott Garin joined Ithaca College in 2022 as Lieutenant of Operations after serving for more than two decades with the Ithaca Police Department, where he started as a Patrol Officer and rose through the ranks to become Sergeant and then Lieutenant.
At IC, Scott has played an integral role in ensuring campus safety and security through strategic planning for both on-campus and off-campus special events, coordinating training for Public Safety’s patrol and security teams, and adeptly managing crises and critical incidents. Throughout his time at the college, Scott has consistently demonstrated his commitment to fostering strong relationships within the campus and the larger Ithaca community, contributing to the creation of an inclusive, diverse, and respectful college environment.
As Executive Director, Scott will supervise nearly 90 professional and student staff, overseeing law enforcement, security, and communications center operations as well as campus emergency preparedness and response; Clery Act and prevention education, Environmental Health and Safety; Parking Services; and the Student Auxiliary Safety Patrol.
Scott serves on the Board of Directors of the Greater Ithaca Activities Center, was a mayoral appointee to the City of Ithaca Reimagining Public Safety Task Force, and is a two-time recipient of the Kiwanis Officer of the Month award.
Bill and Scott’s extensive knowledge of campus operations, management experience, and community-oriented approach will serve them well in their respective new roles, and we appreciate the dedication and commitment they bring to serving the IC community.
Please join us in congratulating Bill and Scott, who will each begin their new position on December 1.
Sincerely,
Bonnie Prunty
Vice President for Student Affairs and Campus Life
Tim Downs
Vice President for Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer