Meet Bellarmine's Campus Safety Team

The Campus Safety Department is crucial in ensuring Bellarmine remains a place where students, faculty, staff, and families feel both safe and supported. Guided by Jesuit values and a dedication to cura personalis, or care for the whole person, the team works diligently every day to protect the community while fostering a welcoming and respectful campus environment.

We asked Nikki Maryanski, Dean of Health and Wellness, some questions about the Safety Department.

 

 

This is a great question, and I believe that our department’s mission statement addresses this question well. The mission statement below and our Safety patch outline our approach, which is why they are featured on the title page of our Department Policies and Procedures guide.

 

 

 

The Campus Safety team’s primary responsibilities and focus areas include fostering a safe and welcoming environment through community engagement and proactive patrols of campus grounds. Our goal is to protect both personal safety and property security while prioritizing the well-being of students. In addition to monitoring potential safety concerns, we provide non-emergency support services, including unlocking doors, offering safety escorts, and assisting with vehicle jump-starts. Every interaction is guided by our commitment to service and care for the campus community.

 

 

The department promotes a culture of safety and care through consistent communication, actionable resources, and active engagement with the entire school community. We connect with our families via our Health and Safety E-News updates, ensuring transparency and timely information. For students, we provide tools like the Campus Climate Incident Report and Response form, available through the “Resources” tab in myBellarmine, empowering them to share concerns and contribute to a positive campus environment. Additionally, we partner with faculty, staff, and students to prepare for emergencies through regular drills and training. These efforts include refining the evacuation process and equipping faculty and staff with the knowledge and confidence to respond effectively during emergent situations. Our approach is rooted in collaboration, care, and continuous improvement to keep our campus safe and welcoming for all.

 

 

Our department is especially focused this year on strengthening campus access management, enhancing emergency response capabilities, and expanding training for our safety officers. This includes continued improvements to our campus-wide access control systems and protocols, as well as refining coordinated emergency procedures across our multi-building environment. 

 

We are also implementing updated training for safety officers that emphasizes trauma-informed care principles, ensuring our team can respond to students and staff with greater empathy, awareness, and psychological readiness during a crisis. Additionally, we are integrating CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design) principles into our safety reviews and campus planning processes to reinforce proactive, prevention-based approaches to school safety.

 

 

The Campus Safety team wants the Bellarmine community to know that our role goes far beyond security; we are here to support the entire community with a spirit of Cura Personalis, care for the whole person.

 

As student affairs professionals, we place students at the center of everything we do, ensuring their safety, well-being, and sense of belonging. Our presence on campus is rooted in service and partnership, and we take pride in being approachable, helpful, and proactive. We love what we do and are honored to walk alongside students throughout their high school journey, creating a safe and welcoming environment for all.

 

Rory Johnson, 14 years of service at Bellarmine. Fun fact: Rory is a former college athlete and currently plays softball with maintenance lead Shep. 

 

Sady Oandason, 5 years of service at Bellarmine. Fun Fact: Have visited 50 countries and collected a cookbook from each.

Hobbies: Coaching, participating in a variety of combat sports.

 

Jo Esponilla, One year of service at Bellarmine. Fun Fact: Jo entered the Army at 17.