Ohio State Police, Safety Employees Earn Glenn College Master’s Degrees

Published Date September 29, 2026

News Type Public Address

By Brooke Bartholomew

For three Ohio State University Police Division and Department of Public Safety employees, serving Buckeyes is about more than the work they do on campus. It’s also about continuing to learn, grow and prepare for the future. 

Deputy Chief Alan Horujko

Detective Corey Manley

Communications Supervisor Merle Vaessin

Police Deputy Chief Alan Horujko, Detective Corey Manley and public safety Communications Supervisor Merle Vaessin each earned their Master of Public Administration and Leadership (MPAL) degrees from the John Glenn College of Public Affairs this spring.

The program’s focus on high-level management and administration in government and public service has already influenced Horujko’s work as deputy chief. 

“Being both an undergraduate and now a master’s graduate of Ohio State is more than just earning a credential,” said Horujko. “Specific coursework, combined with broader trends in public administration have expanded my understanding of how to be a more effective leader for my Buckeye community and better serve both the public and our first responders.”

Vaessin focused her MPAL capstone project on developing a new policy process that incorporates even greater collaboration among Department of Public Safety divisions, beginning with the police division.

“I started my graduate journey here at Ohio State because I had just been promoted as a new communications supervisor and I wanted to develop skills that I could use to help better my division,” said Vaessin. “This degree has already started helping me reach that goal.” 

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Vaessin has also encouraged colleagues to pursue their own educational goals. She stated some public safety dispatchers have already begun degree programs at the university. 

For Manley, earning an MPAL provided an opportunity to build on nearly every aspect of his law enforcement experience.

“This degree has helped me look at public safety from a broader perspective,” said Manley. “I believe it will help me continue to grow as a leader at the Ohio State University Police Division and find new ways to improve our operations, partnerships and service to the university community.”

Brooke Bartholomew is a multimedia public relations specialist with Ohio State’s Office of Administration and Planning.