In July, Linda Stump-Kurnick, the University of Florida’s Assistant Vice President of Public Safety, was named the 2024 Campus Safety Director of the Year at the Campus Safety Conference in Atlanta, Ga.

Stump-Kurnick recently transitioned to the AVP role full-time after serving as chief of the UFPD for 21 years. UFPD Deputy Chief Bart Knowles, the department’s police commander, now serves as interim chief while a national search is underway.

“Once again, the improvements implemented by this year’s Director of the Year nominees were phenomenal,” said Campus Safety Editor-in-Chief Robin Hattersley.

Hattersley noted that Stump-Kurnick launched a robust employee wellness program and hired two in-house mental health clinicians to ride with officers responding to mental health calls, establishing safety plans, and securing alternative resources where involuntary hospitalization was considered. This resulted in diverted hospitalizations for 48% of calls. She also noted that the Florida Crime Prevention Association recognized UFPD as the 2023 Crime Prevention Unit of the Year (small agency).

 Stump-Kurnick also initiated The Gator Emergency Medical Response Unit (GEMRU), a student-run volunteer EMS unit staffed by certified EMTs and First Responders. GEMRU responds to all medical emergencies on the UF campus and manages initial patient assessment and treatment. GEMRU also provides medical standby at university events, such as home football games, baseball games, concerts, and more.

“To say I am honored is an understatement,” said Stump-Kurnick. “I certainly could not have achieved this recognition without the amazing team at the UFPD. I am immensely proud of our accomplishments and look forward to continuing the vital work of keeping the UF community safe.”

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