Following a national search, Keiselim Alfredo “Keysi” Montás, the associate director of Dartmouth’s Department of Safety and Security, has been named the department’s director, Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration Rick Mills announced today.

Montás, who has served as interim director of the 30-member department since May 2017, spent 25 years in public safety before coming to Dartmouth in 2007. In addition to his public safety background, he’s a published author and a tango dancer.

“I’m delighted to have Keysi leading the department,” says Mills. “His familiarity with Dartmouth and his connections with area public safety departments will serve Dartmouth well.”

Montás sees his role as supporting the research and learning environment at Dartmouth, he says.

“My vision centers around providing professional and courteous safety and security services to our community, supporting its intellectual development by safeguarding the teaching, learning, and research that takes place inside and out of our classrooms and laboratories,” he says.

Dean of the College Kathryn Lively chaired the search committee and worked with committee members Chris Cook of the provost’s office; Laura Hercod of the president’s office; Josh Keniston of campus services; Mark Reed of health services; Dana Scaduto of the general counsel’s office; Mary Jo Turk of Geisel; and Richard Whitmore from athletics.

“We worked closely with a national search firm and reviewed dozens of applications, navigating hours of Zoom interviews with candidates from around the country, before advancing Keysi as the preferred candidate, based on his experience, his rich understanding of the Dartmouth community, and his vision for the Department of Safety and Security,” says Lively.

As director, Montás is charged with hiring, training, and supervising security and dispatch staff. He is responsible for tracking the institution’s crime statistics to ensure compliance with the federal Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, also known as the Clery Act.

He will act as a liaison with area emergency services departments as well as with state and federal law enforcement agencies, a role that occasionally includes working with the FBI and the U.S. Secret Service, such as when Dartmouth hosts national and international dignitaries at events like commencement, national political debates, and other major functions. Montás will also be responsible for Dartmouth’s emergency preparedness and response planning and will oversee the Emergency Planning Group and the Emergency Management and Response Group.

Before coming to Dartmouth, Montás spent seven years as the senior training manager at New York University’s Department of Public Safety. Prior to that, he was a senior field officer and investigator at the Vera Institute of Justice, a nonprofit research and policy group in New York City. He also spent three years as a police officer at the University of New Mexico.

Montás holds a master’s degree in Spanish language and literatures from the University of Cincinnati, and received his BA from Queens College. He has earned a number of certifications, including as a peace officer from the State of New York Municipal Police Training Council and as a security guard instructor from the State of New York Division of Criminal Justice Services.

In addition to his safety and security work at Dartmouth, Montás served for seven years, through 2015, as an adviser to the Tucker Center’s alternative spring break trip to the Dominican Republic, which is where he grew up. In 2016, Montás received Dartmouth’s Holly Fell Sateia Social Justice Award for his leadership in advancing diversity and community at Dartmouth.

Susan Boutwell can be reached at susan.j.boutwell@dartmouth.edu.