Cathy Buckley will retire as director of Campus Safety and Emergency Management at Colorado College, effective this summer.
Buckley’s imminent exit marks the end of an innovative chapter in the department, spanning response efforts and policy changes.
After 30 years with the Colorado Springs Police Department, with the last 10 spent as a lieutenant, Buckley started at CC in 2018, initially serving as an assistant director for Campus Safety.
She originally planned to work at CC for three to five years, but after four years, her dedication to CC led to her promotion as director of Campus Safety.
Campus Safety’s relocation to a new building in 2024, 1106 North Cascade Avenue, convinced Buckley to stay one more year, while debating retirement that year. She enjoys being in the “heart of campus” and staying connected with the CC community.
Only two years into her tenure, she oversaw COVID-19 safety protocols and quarantining students.
“We were the ones that were delivering meals and interacting with them. And as difficult as it was, it was also rewarding, because we were able to provide for our students,” she said. “It allowed us to really bring [the] campus all back together.”
Following COVID-19, Buckley served as acting director. In 2022, she became the director of Campus Safety.
Now, with her upcoming retirement, Buckley emphasized the importance of being responsible for fellow CC community members.
“At the heart of everything at CC, community is what’s most important,” Buckley said.
During Buckley’s tenure at CC, she said she reaffirmed Campus Safety’s commitment to antiracism.
“We’ve really taken a step back and it started with when the college was looking at antiracism and being more thoughtful about what does it look like for a Campus Safety office,” she said. “Because just walking through campus, you can’t say someone’s suspicious because of the way they look.”
When a report came in with a suspicious person on campus, Buckley focused on what she explained as the “ABCs.” The acronym stands for activity, behavior and circumstances.
Buckley had one piece of advice that she deemed most important for her successor. “Have fun,” she said. “Be deliberate, but include other people from around campus into what you decide to do.”
According to Buckley, CC will conduct a search to find a replacement.