Dedicated to her current, critical role since 2016, Stephanie D. Hill is the executive director of public safety and the chief of police for the Central State University Police Department in Wilberforce, Ohio, where she is responsible for the daily operations of the police department and responding to emergency management issues for the institution. Ms. Hill proudly acknowledges that she owes her career success, in large part, to the love and support of her mother, who always encouraged her to stay grounded even as she climbed the ranks to become chief of police. She remains grateful to the matriarch for raising her well and continues to rely on her for guidance.
During her youth, Ms. Hill also was inspired by her uncles, who worked as police officers and served in the military. As she grew older, she found herself drawn to the field of criminal justice and was given the opportunity in the seventh grade to participate in a college program. As a result, Ms. Hill landed a summer internship at a local community college working in criminal justice and developed such a passion for the field, that she pursued it as a career. She later graduated from The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice in 1995. Devoted to her larger professional community, Ms. Hill is an active member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police.
As a prominent and high-powered woman in law enforcement, Ms. Hill advises women entering the profession to stay true to themselves. She emphasizes the importance of refusing to conform to mostly male standards or gendered expectations. Never one to compare herself to others, Ms. Hill recognizes that physical capabilities between men and women may vary but underscores that effectiveness in the job comes from personal integrity and dedication to doing one’s best work every day. She encourages women to approach work in criminal justice or law enforcement with confidence in their abilities and urges them to focus on fulfilling their duties with honesty.
At the Central State University Police Department, Ms. Hill is honored to have made remarkable progress in establishing a culture of transparency and fostering strong relationships of trust with students. She sees her position as police chief as a major achievement and responsibility and has gone above and beyond the call of duty to cater to the community’s needs on many occasions, including setting up a food and personal care pantry within the police department. Ms. Hill has derived deep professional and personal satisfaction from seeing the improved bonds and trust she has built within the community, with particular emphasis on minorities and other underrepresented groups. In the wake of the societal challenges that emerged after the killing of George Floyd, Ms. Hill has worked tirelessly to foster community cohesion and avert conflicts.
Looking to the future, when Ms. Hill retires as chief of police, she will increase her focus as the executive director of public safety. She continues to work toward increasing diversity in law enforcement through recruiting efforts and is grateful that the aims of Central State University match her vision of promoting fairness and safety for all. In addition to continuing to serve her community, Ms. Hill may transition into a career in counseling or consulting, as she is interested in both lines of work. Above all, she looks forward to continuing to contribute her many skills in new and creative ways while serving others and helping to make the world a better, fairer, and safer place. To this end, Ms. Hill also has served on the board of directors for Campus Safety Magazine at Central State University and dedicated her time to the Strategic Ohio Council for Higher Education.
