Chief Sherry St. Clair

Committed to keeping the campus community safe for 30 years, St. Clair was named the University’s first female chief in 2021. Known for her proactive approach to policing, she immerses UPD officers in daily campus life to help build strong relationships with students, faculty and staff. St. Clair said she believes positive community engagement and open communication is key to fostering a culture of trust and respect.

She joined the department as a housing patrolman in 1994 while pursuing a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Fairmont State University, and in 1995, she completed training at the West Virginia State Police Academy. Since then, St. Clair has taken on various roles of increasing responsibility within the department.

St. Clair has completed several training and certification programs during her tenure at WVU, including the nationally recognized Police Executive Development program through Pennsylvania State University.

A dedicated member of the CARE Team, a cross-functional team that helps at-risk students access support and assistance, she also serves on the Monongalia County Sexual Assault Response Team, among other groups.

“Consistently going above and beyond to meet the needs of students, Sherry is the epitome of what it means to be student-centered,” said Morgan Sharpless, director of CARE. “She always makes time to consult with the CARE team during emergencies, and she even makes it a point to come out and transport students who feel more comfortable with a female officer. The University is incredibly lucky to have her as its chief of police.”