DENTON, Texas – In a significant acknowledgment of her contributions to campus safety and leadership, University of North Texas (UNT) Police Chief Ramona Washington has been awarded the prestigious 2023 Bill G. Daniels Award for Outstanding Administrator. The Texas Association of College and University Police Administrators (TACUPA) bestowed the honor on December 6 at their annual conference held in College Station.
The Award for Outstanding Administrator is designed to recognize a chief administrator who demonstrates exemplary leadership, management, and administrative skills. Chief Washington’s receipt of this award underscores her significant impact on campus safety and her commitment to the UNT community.
Expressing her gratitude, Chief Washington said, “I am honored and feel so appreciated to receive this award. It is especially meaningful as it comes from peers who understand the unique challenges of managing safety on a college campus.” She added, “Their recognition of my work at UNT, a community that I’ve served for the past 21 years, is deeply meaningful to me.”
Chief Washington has been a part of the UNT Police Department since 2002. During her tenure, she has been instrumental in delivering training on implicit bias awareness and sexual assault investigations. Moreover, she played a pivotal role in organizing the UNT Police Department’s 30×30 Initiative, aimed at increasing the recruitment and retention of female police professionals.
Washington, who holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in criminal justice from UNT, was nominated for this honor by university presidents, as per the annual tradition of the TACUPA.
Commending Chief Washington, UNT President Neal Smatresk stated, “We are extremely proud of Chief Washington for receiving this prestigious award. Her hard work, passion, and dedication as Chief of the UNT Police Department perfectly reflect our Shared Values. She embodies the standards of integrity, fairness, respect, and accountability and is an outstanding leader and a valued member of our Mean Green Family.”
This recognition not only highlights Chief Washington’s dedication to her role but also sets a benchmark for excellence in campus safety and administration at the University of North Texas and beyond.