After 17 years at Chapman University, Chief of Public Safety Randy Burba retired on March 1. Burba first came to Chapman in August 2005, and has since become one of the most recognizable faces in the neighborhoods surrounding campus.

His contributions to the community are many. He expanded the services provided by creating a Fire & Life Safety function and an Emergency Management plan and operation, and he organized and oversaw the new shuttle service. He added student partnership programs, created a robust campus video security system, and he implemented the Panther Alert Notification System.

Randy’s career includes leadership of several local and national organizations dedicated to public safety, including serving as chair of the board of directors for Crime Survivors, Inc., a national non-profit organization dedicated to supporting those impacted by violent crime.

Burba speaks with fondness about his time in Orange. “I have enjoyed how collegial the community is,” he said. “People are helpful and everyone works together to solve issues. And even when there are issues, we still get along socially. It’s a nice environment.”

“Chief Burba has been instrumental in the development of Chapman’s community relations efforts,” said Alisa Driscoll, vice president of community relations at the university. “From his innate ability to build strong partnerships with our neighbors and city officials to his strong support of educational efforts and interventions for students living off campus, Randy’s impact both on and off campus is substantial. I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to work closely with him.”

With Burba’s departure, Rick Gonzalez will step into the role of chief of public safety. Gonzalez has served as Chapman’s deputy chief for the last four years and previously worked for Pubic Safety at University of Southern California (USC) and Otis College of Art & Design. He holds a doctoral degree in organizational change & leadership from USC. Gonzalez is a first-generation American and the first Latinx Chief of Public Safety at Chapman University.

“Community engagement is at the core of our department’s mission,” said Chief Gonzalez. “That includes the local community. I look forward to collaborating with our local partners and becoming involved with community organizations.”