The University of Utah has been named the recipient of the 2025 Clery Compliance Program of the Year award by the National Association of Clery Compliance Officers and Professionals (NACCOP), recognizing the university’s outstanding strides in campus safety and Clery Act compliance.

Named after Jeanne Clery, a young woman murdered in 1986 in her Pennsylvania college dorm room, the Clery Act is a federal law requiring all universities who receive federal funding report crime statistics, send campus alerts and publish the Annual Security Report.

Todd Justesen, associate director of Clery Programs & Compliance, accepted the award at the 12th Annual NACCOP Conference Recognition Ceremony on Friday, July 18, in Baltimore, Maryland.

“This is a great recognition for our university and reflects Todd’s vision and dedicated work with our Clery campus partners,” said Keith Squires, chief safety officer for the University of Utah. “He is driven by a shared goal of using Clery requirements as another means for helping us improve safety throughout our campus community.”

Justesen’s leadership has led to the development of strong cross-campus partnerships and the creation of a statewide network of Clery compliance professionals who collaborate and share best practices. 

“They’re recognizing the fact that we’re adhering to all aspects of Clery and also creating new ways to continue to keep us on the forefront of victim support and reporting,” said Justesen.

“Clery is a team sport,” said Kim Barnett, University of Utah deputy chief safety officer of Support Services. “A successful Clery program begins and ends with a strong team who trust each other, are in constant communication, and are all focused on the goal of creating a safer campus.”

Under his guidance, the university was previously honored by NACCOP as the Most Improved Program, and two years later, has earned the organization’s highest program award.

Justesen explains what makes the U stand out. “The fact that I can walk into campus partners offices at any time and ask to talk about a case. That doesn’t happen at some institutions, we don’t have barriers that other places do. This award is recognizing our adherence to all Clery compliance regulations and our efforts to stay at the forefront of victim support and reporting.”