U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas appointed Biola University Campus Safety Chief and Vice President John Ojeisekhoba to the Homeland Security Academic Partnership Council (HSAPC) to provide advice and recommendations on campus safety and security. 

Ojeisekhoba is one of 20 higher education officials to receive the prestigious appointment this week to the 30-person council. The council will provide advice and recommendations to Mayorkas to improve coordination, research priorities, hiring and more related to campus safety.

“Leaders of our academic institutions and campus life have a great deal to offer in helping us counter the evolving and emerging threats to the homeland,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “The Homeland Security Academic Partnership Council’s insights into strategic research, innovation, career development, and partnership opportunities for the Department will support our mission to safeguard the American people, and help our country think through and prepare for whatever threats lie ahead. I am grateful to each of the twenty Council members I am appointing today for their willingness to serve, and I look forward to receiving their guidance and recommendations.”

Mayorkas reconstituted the council in 2022 to provide strategic and actionable recommendations. According to a press release shared by Mayorkas’ office, the HSAPC “will provide advice and recommendations in response to taskings by the Secretary on matters that may relate to, but are not limited to:  

  • Safety and security, including prevention, response, mitigation, recovery, and other emergency management and preparedness measures. 

  • Improving coordination and sharing of actionable threat and security-related information, including threats of violence as well as targeted violence and terrorism prevention. 

  • Methods to develop career opportunities to support a 21st century DHS workforce.  

  • Enhancing and expanding research opportunities, such as the DHS Science and Technology Centers of Excellence and DHS/National Security Agency joint Centers of Academic Excellence.” 

Ojeisekhoba will serve a two-year term. The advice and recommendations from these committees help equip DHS to best serve the American public. 

“I am honored to receive this appointment and look forward to representing colleges and universities at the national level to address safety and security challenges,” said Ojeisekhoba. “I am thankful for the support of the Biola community and this opportunity to be a light for Christ within our federal government.”

Ojeisekhoba is a nationally recognized campus safety chief and serves across the industry in many capacities. Last year, Ojeisekhoba was sworn in as the President of the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA) where he cast a vision and goals for the association and leads campus police and public safety chiefs across the U.S. and globally to address the increasing safety challenges on campuses. He also represents the association during events and partnerships with the Administration, Congress, the United Nations, and others.

Learn more about Biola’s Campus Safety.

For more information, contact Media Relations at media.relations@biola.edu.