Campus Deputy Police Chief Jon Barnwell announced Monday he has accepted a job at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana.

“I had a unique opportunity come my way, and so as much as I love N.C . State and the Wolfpack family, this is a great career move for me at this time in my life,” Barnwell said.

Colleagues said N.C . State graduate Barnwell worked well with students, and they will miss him dearly.

Barnwell was solicited in June from Tulane and said the “unique challenges” of overseeing two police departments and parking/transit services as well as meeting his future colleagues helped him make the decision.

“I wasn’t looking to leave at all,” Barnwell said.

Justine Hollingshead , director for the Center for GLBT Programs and Services, said she has known Barnwell as long as he has been at the University.

“As a straight, white man who gets what diversity means and why it is important to be inclusive and to reach out to underrepresented communities like the GLBT community, [a man in his position] is kind of unheard of on college campuses,” Hollingshead said.

Thomas Stafford, vice chancellor for student affairs, commended Barnwell’s work with students.

“He listens to students, he is concerned about students, and he’s done everything possible to make sure that students are safe at N.C . State and [that] when there is a problem…it is resolved in the very best possible way,” Stafford said.

Campus police chief Jack Moorman was a divisional commander with Barnwell back in 2006.

“He has been a huge benefit to this agency, and a lot of it is just because of how well he interacts with [various university deparments ],” Moorman said.

Being a part-time security guard on campus as a student originally drew him into the field of law enforcement, Barnwell said. It was getting the job at campus police that allowed him to finish his education after money ran out. Barnwell worked his way to patrol division commander and recently to the deputy chief position.

“N.C . State has been a major part in my life,” Barnwell said. “I met my wife at N.C . State, and we got married at the Bell Tower. That‘s how important N.C . S tate is to us, and it made this decision a really difficult one to make.”

Barnwell has made many memories and had difficult times, he said, including a murder-suicide in 2002 and double homicide at a tailgate in 2004.

“One of the most difficult things I have ever had to do is make a death notification of a student to a parent,” Barnwell said.

His most exciting memories, on the other hand, involved working big Wolfpack victories.

“It’s tough to work those events, but it provides a level of excitement because of the intense feelings I have for N.C . State,” Barnwell said.

Moorman and David Rainer, the associate vice chancellor, will be in charge of finding Barnwell’s replacement. Moorman said Barnwell will likely be replaced by the end of the spring semester, and he will be looking for someone not only skilled in law enforcement but also with experience working in a college setting.

“It’s difficult to say at this point when the position will be filled,” Moorman said.

“He set the bar pretty high,” Hollingshead said.

Barnwell will continue in his position through the end of exams.