As part of an overall strategic plan for campus public safety, University of Houston Police Chief Ceaser Moore has appointed Sgt. Dina Padovan, a 17-year veteran of the UH Police Department, as the campus crime prevention coordinator. Padovan’s duties in the newly created position include developing and disseminating resources related to crime prevention to the campus community. Padovan will be responsible for programs at UH, UH Sugar Land, UH System at Cinco Ranch and UH Victoria.
“We need our campus communities to work with us and play an active role in campus security,” said Moore. “Sgt. Padovan will be the police liaison to facilitate a close working relationship with faculty, staff, students and organizations on campus so that together we can more effectively address safety and security concerns of our students, as well as reduce the opportunity for crime.”
Padovan was most recently assigned to the UHPD patrol division. She earned an undergraduate degree in criminal justice from Midwestern State University and a master’s degree in criminal justice, leadership and management at Sam Houston State University. Padovan graduated from the FBI National Academy in 2005 and has been awarded the honor and title of Master Peace Officer by the state of Texas. She is also certified as a sexual assault family violence investigator, crime prevention inspector, mental health officer and bike patrol officer. Padovan began her new role in mid-January.
“My focus is on planning and prevention,” said Padovan. “I want to educate students on how they can reduce their chances for becoming victims of crime. We not only want to create a safe living and learning environment on campus, but also give our students personal safety knowledge and tools they can use beyond campus.”
On the UH campus, Padovan is starting her outreach efforts in the areas of campus that see a high volume of traffic and operate for longer hours, such as residential areas, the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center, the University Center and libraries.
“I am identifying any areas of concern on campus and will then work to create programs that address those concerns,” said Padovan.
Padovan’s office is in the M.D. Anderson Library (next to the 24-hour lounge) and is open to the campus community. For more information about campus safety programs or resources, Padovan can be reached at preventcrime@uh.edu or 713-743-0596.
About the University of Houston
The University of Houston is a Carnegie-designated Tier One public research university recognized by The Princeton Review as one of the nation’s best colleges for undergraduate education. UH serves the globally competitive Houston and Gulf Coast Region by providing world-class faculty, experiential learning and strategic industry partnerships. Located in the nation’s fourth-largest city, UH serves more than 39,500 students in the most ethnically and culturally diverse region in the country.