ASHEVILLE, N.C. – UNC Asheville recently was honored with the prestigious SafeZone System-Wide Impact Award at the 2025 Inaugural SafeZone Conference in Denver, Colo., UNCA noted in a Nov. 12 press release.

"The award recognizes the university's exceptional and comprehensive use of the SafeZone platform to enhance safety, communication, and wellbeing across campus," the release stated.

UNCA Chief of Police Daran Dodd accepted the award on behalf of the university and delivered a keynote address titled "Resilience in Action: UNCA's Hurricane Response and Lessons for Safer Campuses," highlighting the university's innovative response during Hurricane Helene.

"This award reflects the dedication of our entire campus community to maintaining a safe and supportive environment for our students, faculty, and staff," said Chief Dodd. "During Hurricane Helene, SafeZone proved invaluable in keeping our community informed and connected. Our forward-thinking approach to system integration demonstrates our commitment to leveraging technology to create a resilient campus."

UNC Asheville Chancellor Kimberly van Noort expressed pride in the University's achievement: "This recognition validates our ongoing investment in comprehensive safety solutions. The safety and wellbeing of our campus community is our highest priority, and this award demonstrates that UNC Asheville is a national leader in campus safety innovation. I commend Chief Dodd and our entire police department for their exceptional work."