Title: Associate Vice President and Chief of Police
Badge Number: 803
Joined LUPD: January 2, 2018
Contact Information: jds517@lehigh.edu
"I love the positive energy at Lehigh and working with a diverse group of people who are contributing in a different way, but are all working toward a common goal."
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More about Jason
I live in Center Valley with my wife, Kathy, and our two children, Faith and Erik. Kathy is a proud Lehigh alumna from the class of 1994. I have been an avid cyclist for most of my life. I began racing BMX bikes in the early 1980s, began mountain biking in the early 1990s, and I continue to be an avid cyclist today.
My professional journey followed a non-traditional path. I initially studied computer science at the University of Pittsburgh for three years before enlisting in the United States Marine Corps. Although a training injury prevented me from continuing my military service, that period of my life ignited a permanent passion for public service. In 1994, I joined the Bethlehem Police Department. While serving as an officer, I completed my undergraduate degree in criminal justice at DeSales University and later earned my Juris Doctor from the Temple University Beasley School of Law in 2008.
After twenty years of service in the City of Bethlehem, I retired as the Chief of Police in 2013. I subsequently spent four and a half years practicing as a trial attorney. My legal work focused on representing victims of workplace discrimination and individuals who suffered injuries in complex accidents. I found great purpose in specializing in federal civil rights and Title IX litigation, where I primarily represented victims of discrimination in educational settings and members of the LGBTQ+ community.
I eventually chose to return to police leadership in a university setting because it represents the perfect intersection of service, law, and education. My work at Lehigh is guided by the One-by-One Approach, which is rooted in the belief that trust is earned through every individual conversation and interaction. Some of my most meaningful professional moments have involved direct community engagement, such as reading to children at the Cops-N-Kids room in Bethlehem. I consider it a profound privilege to be a person others look to for help, and I am dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of those on our campus.
Why I enjoy working at Lehigh
"I am motivated by the unique energy at Lehigh and the opportunity to collaborate with a diverse community. It is an honor to lead a division that supports an environment where every individual is working toward the shared goals of intellectual discovery and personal transformation."