This story is part of a UToledo Faculty/Staff Spotlight series, where we feature uplifting stories of the remarkable achievements and contributions of hidden champions who call the University of Toledo home, fostering connections across campus. Cover image by Caeley Powell for Juice House.
Officer Jeanette Gerber, the University of Toledo’s Officer of Community Engagement and Innovation, has a big heart to help others. With a background in criminal justice as a road officer and experience in investigations, she strives to make a difference in students’ lives in any way she can.
When Gerber first came to work on UToledo’s Main Campus, she noticed a disconnect that needed bridging.
“[O]ne of the things I noticed was that disconnect between the campus community and the police department. And where I had come from, we were a tiny campus, so the police knew everybody. This was a huge campus, we had over 20,000 students, and there was no connection. And so, it dawned on me that those connections have to be made,” Gerber said.
To rectify this, she started a program among residence halls called Rocket Watch, where officers would visit the dorms each month and teach safety topics to students.
“…and it would be an opportunity for the students to get to know our officers and to ask questions, but also in a fun way,” she said.
Despite the Rocket Watch program ending, Gerber has led numerous other training programs for students, faculty and staff, covering topics like active shooters, de-escalation, basic first aid, evacuation, alcohol and drug abuse, domestic violence and how to be a good witness.
One of her favorite activities to facilitate with students is a spinoff of Mario Kart, where students race manually-pedaled go karts while wearing vision-impaired goggles that simulate driving while under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.
“Oh my gosh, it’s so fun to play Mario Kart with drunk goggles. I cannot tell you how fun that is,” she said.
All of these programs have aided the UToledo Police Department in building connections on campus so that no barriers would prevent students from getting the help they need.
“… that is something we have intentionally done within our campus community to make sure that we are interacting with our public as much as we possibly can and in a positive way … we try to engage with our campus community in meaningful ways outside our law enforcement, so our community trusts us,” Gerber said.
Sometimes, community outreach involves fun, charitable activities such as “Shop with a Cop,” “Operation Santa Sleigh” or “Clash of the Cans;” other times, they take on a more serious nature. One aspect of her work that Gerber is particularly passionate about is raising awareness of domestic violence. After losing her daughter 11 years ago, this cause is very close to her heart.
She organized a class on sexual assault and domestic violence for professionals who work with these types of cases — policeman, firemen, healthcare workers, prosecutors and detectives — so that everyone was educated on how best to do their part, from identifying red flags to reporting. Gerber received recognition for the success of this training as one of the university’s most influential women by UToledo’s Catharine S. Eberly Center for Women.
She also assists students who need help obtaining protection orders and accompanies them to court.
“… and many times I go to court with our students who might be a victim of a serious crime like stalking or domestic violence … until they get an advocate who’s going to be there for them … Sometimes those cases are short-lived … and other cases could last a couple of years. But, I try to be at those core events to be helpful,” Gerber said.
Gerber’s influence spreads to other spaces across campus, too. She sits on the University Women’s Commission Board of Directors. In the community, she also serves on the Lucas County Domestic Violence Task Force, the county’s sexual assault response team and its former community critical response team.
With all that she’s involved with, Gerber finds all aspects of her work very fulfilling.
“Every day, being able to be in a position to help people, that in of itself is an achievement. And that’s my goal always — to be able to make a difference in somebody’s life. So, if it’s just one person, yes, that’s a win.”