Motivational Interviewing for Campus Police

David Closson is a is a CAPT Associate for SAMHSA’s Center for the Application of Prevention Technologies where he provides targeted training and technical assistance to institutes of higher education on topics such as alcohol/drug prevention and capacity building. He is the former Assistant Director of the Illinois Higher Education Center (I.H.E.C.) where he provided professional development, consultation, and training throughout Illinois.

David previously worked as the Crime Prevention Officer, Field Training Officer and Patrol Officer for the Eastern Illinois University Police Department. He spent time working as a Corrections Officer and prior to that was a Sergeant in the Illinois Army National Guard. David was deployed as a part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. After spending a year in Iraq with his infantry unit and his recon team, he was awarded two Army Commendation Medals, one for valor and one for meritorious service and a Combat Infantryman’s Badge.

David is an Eastern Illinois University alumni (2008 & 2013) with a BS in Biology and an MS in Technology, Training and Development. His master’s degree work focused on motivational interviewing for campus police. He has presented to and trained nearly 9,000 people on topics ranging from military tactics, law enforcement patrol operations, verbal communication techniques, motivational interviewing, bystander intervention, alcohol/drug safety, sexual assault prevention and conflict resolution.

He was the Eastern Illinois University commencement speaker in December 2013 where he discussed his approach to campus policing, motivational interviewing and his master’s degree research.