After 26 years of service with the Penn State police department, Police Chief Tyrone Parham will depart from Penn State to assume a new position with the University of Massachusetts Amherst next year.

Chief Parham was named Assistant Vice Chancellor/Chief of Police for UMass Amherst on Thursday. Parham will begin his new duties effective Jan. 11, 2016, with his final day at Penn State slated for Jan. 6.

Parham began his career with the University Police in 1989 as an auxiliary officer during his time as a student at Penn State. Parham graduated from Penn State with a bachelor’s degree in crime, law and justice, and a master’s in workforce education and development. Parham became an officer for University police after graduation and quickly rose through the ranks, eventually being named Chief of Police in 2011.

Among his duties as Chief of Police, Chief Parham is responsible for the operation of police and security throughout campus. Parham oversees 50 sworn officers and over 100 student security personnel. He also recently secured the University Police Accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Inc., which very few police police agencies achieve. The Philadelphia-born police chief has become a respected member of the Penn State community.

“Tyrone Parham has provided exemplary service to Penn State for more than two decades,” said David Gray, Senior Vice President for Finance and Business. “We will miss Tyrone’s steady leadership, but wish to gratefully acknowledge his many contributions and also to wish him well as he takes on a new professional challenge at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.”

At UMass Amherst, Parham will serve as a key advisor to the chancellor on a variety of different issues involving campus safety, security, and community policing. He will oversee 60 sworn officers along with 20 police cadets, members of support staff, and Residence Hall Security.

“Our campus will benefit immensely from Tyrone Parham’s wide-ranging experience at one of the nation’s most prominent public universities,” said Kumble Subbaswamy, UMass Amherst Chancellor. “He is a highly respected leader in campus law enforcement who is committed to building strong relationships in a diverse community. We welcome him to UMass Amherst with great enthusiasm.”

“I am honored to have been chosen to lead an exceptionally talented team of campus law enforcement professionals at a world-class institution,” Chief Parham said. “I am passionate about campus public safety, and I look forward to meeting everyone and strengthening relationships all across campus and in our surrounding communities.”

As Chief Parham departs for UMass Amhert in January 2016, David Gray said he will announce an interim director of Police and Public Safety in the coming week. After the school tabs an interim director, a national search will commence to find a permanent replacement.