A ceremony to swear in Mark Lott as Columbus State University’s new Chief of Police will take place today, March 25th, at 2 p.m. in the lobby of University Hall on CSU’s main campus. Lott has held the position on an interim basis since last fall.

Lott has served as assistant chief with the Columbus State University Police Department since 2006. His experience, expertise, service to CSU, and the respect he has garnered within the department and across campus made it easy to appoint Lott to the chief’s position, said Gina Sheeks, CSU’s vice president for student affairs.

“Mark Lott has been preparing for this role since he stepped onto CSU’s campus,” said Sheeks, who serves as Lott’s supervisor. “After extensive conversations within the department, across campus and at the system level, it was clear Mark is the right person for this important role at CSU.”

Lott oversees a department that currently employees 24 sworn officers and 10 security personnel. He’s ultimately responsible for the safety of about 8,400 students, 800 employees, countless visitors and several off-campus outreach learning centers.

“Chief Lott is well respected in Columbus and throughout the state,” said CSU President Chris Markwood. “He understands that the safety of our campus and the CSU family is of the utmost importance.”

Lott is a 30-year law enforcement veteran with municipal, county and campus experience. Before coming to CSU in 2006, he was an investigator at the Troup County Sheriff’s Office and a deputy marshal with the Muscogee County Marshal’s Office. His previous campus policing experience includes stints at the University of Louisville and the University of Maryland at Baltimore.

He holds a bachelor of science in criminal justice and a Master of Public Administration, both from Columbus State University. He also has earned his FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Certification and Command College Certification. Lott serves as an instructor at the regional police academy, with the Columbus Office of Homeland Security, at the Georgia Law Enforcement Command College and as an adjunct faculty member for CSU’s Department of Criminal Justice.

Lott has an extensive training record, including in areas such as crisis intervention, community policing, executive protection, police use of force, and homeland security.

“I am extremely excited about this opportunity,” Lott said. “I will continue to build on partnerships with the university and Columbus community, and I look forward to forging even stronger relationships between our department and CSU students, faculty and staff.”