During the Fall 2025 semester, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) was strengthened by the dedication and professionalism of its student employees.

Working in multiple units across DPS, these students supported essential operations that help DPS serve the campus community. Their work reflects not only completed tasks—but also meaningful skill development and a deeper understanding of what it takes to keep a campus the size of Syracuse safe.

Building Trust Through Storytelling

In the Communications and Marketing department, Alexa Selter ’26 and Lily Mallette ’27 played a key role in shaping messaging and strengthening the relationship between DPS and students.

Selter shared that what she enjoys most is “telling stories that have an impact,” noting that each campaign contributes to building trust and connection. The position expanded her understanding of DPS: “I now recognize how deeply involved they are in our community. It motivated my goal of helping spread their message and guide more students in understanding the people and mission of the department.”

Mallette echoed this sense of purpose, reflecting on how developing outreach campaigns and creating graphics has helped her grow in design, communication and creative direction. “Thoughtful design and messaging can make a real difference in engaging a community and keeping it informed,” she says.

Their supervisor, Kiana Racha, internal communications and marketing manager,  expressed deep appreciation for their work, praising Selter and Mallette for exceeding expectations. “They came up with amazing projects of their own that have helped the Department of Public Safety connect with and keep our campus safe,” says Racha.

Monitoring Campus Security

The Video Security unit benefited from the work of Charlize Wen ’29 and Donghwan Lee ’26, who supported the reliability of the campus camera network and related technology.

Wen says her favorite part of the role was working with new technology and software used in video forensics. She also emphasized how much she has grown professionally, particularly in communication and confidence.

Lee shared that he valued the independence and responsibility that came with monitoring campus cameras, saying that the experience taught him the importance of precision and adaptability in a fast-paced environment.

Their supervisor, Courtney Albiker, project manager, Security Services, praised their performance, noting that both students quickly became valuable contributors. She highlighted their systematic camera health checks across our 2,600-plus campus cameras and commended their strong initiative, attention to detail and professionalism, which directly supported campus security.

Strengthening Emergency Preparedness

In the area of Business Continuity, graduate student Shappelle Marshall and Samantha Morse ’28 played significant roles in strengthening campus resilience and preparedness.

Marshall appreciated working on projects with real impact, noting that developing tabletop exercises and planning resources enabled her to apply her public administration studies in meaningful ways. She also contributed to creating surveys, instructional videos and planning tools that support stakeholders across the university.

Morse says her favorite part of the job was gaining hands-on experience in risk management and helping departments prepare for potential disruptions. Through her work on webpage redesigns, tabletop exercises, video scripts and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) coursework, she learned how essential communication and proactive planning are for strong continuity practices.

Their supervisor, Cassandra Gentile, business continuity specialist, described both students as instrumental in advancing the department’s projects. She emphasized their professionalism and initiative, saying they each brought unique strengths. “I would not have been able to complete these initiatives or stay on track with other aspects of my role without their dedication and support,” Gentile says.

Together, these student employees contributed valuable time, talent and creativity to DPS’s operations, supporting campus safety, enhancing communication and strengthening emergency preparedness.

Story by Lily Mallette