By Jeff Murphy,
October 15, 2020
WARRENSBURG, MO 鈥 An honor that has been bestowed on individuals ranging from university
members to state and national government leaders, Scott Rhoad, director of public
safety at the 欧美视频, has received the James C. Kirkpatrick
Excellence in Governance Award.
Rhoad, who was recognized by the Student Government Association in a ceremony Oct. 7, became the 35th person to be recognized. The award was established
in 1985 in honor of James C. Kirkpatrick鈥檚 many years of public service. Kirkpatrick
was a UCM alumnus who spent 20 years as Missouri Secretary of State, and was a longtime
member of the university鈥檚 governing board. Recognition in his name is given annually
to an individual who promotes the public interest, practices good governmental procedures
and has shown loyalty to the university. The recipient is student nominated and selected
by members of the SGA.
The Kirkpatrick Award has traditionally been presented each spring at UCM. Due to
issues related to the pandemic, the SGA postponed the award presentation until this
month.
鈥淭o be nominated by a student and then have SGA vote for me to be the recipient of
the James C. Kirkpatrick Excellence in Governance Award is an honor that I could have
never imagined,鈥 Rhoad said. 鈥淚 look at the list of previous recipients of the award
and I am very thankful to be considered in such high regard by the students at UCM.鈥
In receiving this recognition, Rhoad joins a growing list of Kirkpatrick Award recipients
that include four former Missouri governors, a former FBI director, one acting and
two former U.S. senators, a Missouri Supreme Court Justice, two former UCM presidents,
and many more.
"Chief Rhoad is an excellent choice for the SGA Excellence in Governance Award and
exemplifies the type of person this recognition was created to honor,鈥 said UCM President
Roger Best, who participated in the award presentation. 鈥淲e are glad to have him as
an alumnus and appreciate his many years of service to UCM. His service has had a
global impact, but none greater than that on his alma mater."
As UCM鈥檚 Director of Public Safety since May 2014, Rhoad has shown leadership in helping
to maintain a safe campus for the past six years, but his dedication to the university
and its students extends much further, as does his role as a public servant. He began
working for the Department of Public Safety as a student employee in fall 1985 as
part of the original Mule patrol, now known as the SAFE Team. He was hired as a full-time
police officer in 1987, and was promoted to Sergeant in 1991. He became Parking Services
Sergeant in 2000, and Assistant Director of Public Safety in 2012, his last UCM position
prior to his current post.
Rhoad is a UCM alumnus having earned bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees in criminal justice
administration from the university, which helped him prepare for his public safety
role. This is in addition to training through the FBI National Academy and his involvement
in 2007 with the FBI LEEDS (Law Enforcement Executive Development Association).
Since joining the university full time, he has served on numerous executive boards
including the Missouri Peace Officers Association, Midwest Campus Parking Association,
and the Kansas/Western Missouri chapter of the FBI National Academy Associates. In
2016 he was elected to the FBI National Academy Associates (FBINAA) Executive Board
to serve the worldwide membership of more than 16,000 individuals. For the past four
years he has represented 15 Midwest states as well as Africa and Middle East nations.
After serving as the Section II representative and traveling throughout the U.S. and
several countries in Africa, he was recently sworn in as the 3rd Vice President of
the FBINAA Executive Board.
A resident of Higginsville, Rhoad has been active in community public service as a
member of the city鈥檚 Board of Aldermen since 2005.