Chief Lawson strives to serve students at VSCC

Last updated on December 18, 2020

By Evie Shaye Herndon

Volunteer State Community College Chief of Campus Police is Angela (Angie) Lawson.

Lawson was born and raised in Nashville, Tenn., She stayed true to the state throughout all her schooling.

“I graduated from Stratford High School. I then received my bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Bethel University and I attended the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy,” said Lawson.

After the academy, Lawson began her law enforcement career in Nashville,Tennessee.

“I started my law enforcement career at Metro Nashville Police Department,” Lawson said. “I then worked for the Gallatin Police Department before coming to Vol State,”.

Lawson began her career at Vol State in 2013 as the Assistant Chief of Police. She held that position from 2013 to 2017 and was then promoted to Chief of Police in 2017. She has been at Vol State for almost 8 years, Lawson said.

“I always wanted to do something in public service police, fire, EMS. Everyone in my family works in public service,” said Lawson.

Lawson’s mother in particular is who inspired her to become a police officer and strive to be chief.  

“I look up to my mom. She served in public service as a fire chief for over 40 years and led the example that I followed,” said Lawson.

It was Lawson’s mother who inspired her to be a police officer, but it was the students that inspired her to come to Vol State.

“It was campus community that attracted me to Vol State,” Lawson said. “And the opportunity to engage with students and provide a different perspective on law enforcement,”.

The best part of working at the college for her is being able to connect with students and creating a safe environment for them to be themselves, Lawson said.

According to the Vol State website, the campus police work together for the good of the students and faculty on campus. Lawson shared a statement from the website to remind students of the campus police goal.

The website states, “the Campus Police Department works with all members of the campus community to preserve life, maintain human rights, protect property, promote individual responsibility and fulfill their community commitments,”.

Fulfilling community commitments is something she strives to do daily with the motivation of serving others and ensuring equity and justice in all situations, Lawson said.

In an anonymous police department feedback questionnaire, it was Lawson’s fellow officers/faculty that stated,

“Chief Lawson cares about her people and always goes above and beyond the call of duty,”.

“Chief Lawson would not ask us to do something she’s not willing to do herself,”.

“Chief Lawson will fight for her team,”.