Meet David

David Licate, a resident of Stow, is husband to Krista and father to Alaina and Jacob. Both Alaina and Jacob are freshmen this year, with the former at Stow-Munroe Falls High School and the latter at the University of Akron. 

Dr. Licate has been employed by the University of Akron for 24 years. He serves as Professor and Chair (manager) of the Department of Criminal Justice Studies, and a fellow at the Center for Intelligence and Security Studies.  Licate’s other leadership positions include Associate Director of the Center for Emergency Management and Homeland Security Policy Research and Program Coordinator for Criminal Justice Technology.

In addition to his work at UA, Licate consults for policing, homeland security, and educational agencies on topics including violence reduction strategies and counterterrorism.  Licate is dedicated to building healthy and intelligent public safety organizations.  Healthy organizations are accountable and transparent, and have the training, policies, technology, and administrative practices to achieve their objectives with fairness, efficiency, and efficacy.  Smart organizations use evidence-based and data-driven practices, and have a process to learn and improve over time.  Much of Licate's consulting is as an unpaid volunteer, particularly for school districts where he has offered dozens of free security trainings. 

Licate earned his Ph.D. in public policy from Kent State University after completing a dissertation titled “Innovation and Organizational Change in Ohio Police Departments.”  He has written several publications and reports on policing organizations and strategy, and public policy.  In addition, Licate holds master’s and bachelor’s degrees in criminal justice from the University of Cincinnati and Kent State University respectively.  In 2015, Licate completed his graduate certificate in Critical Infrastructure Protection from Texas A&M Engineering Extension.   

Licate’s public service includes president and member of the Stow-Munroe Falls Board of Education and Councilman At-Large for the City of Stow.  Licate has served as a member of the executive management team for the U.S. Attorney-led Northern Ohio Violent Crime Consortium, the Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Committee, the Stow Public Safety Services Commission, the Stow-Munroe Falls City Schools (SMFCS) Facilities Committee and the SMFCS Schools Safety Committee (which he founded).

Working with Mayor Pribonic as an At-Large Stow City Councilperson

Presenting a Training Program to Policing Executives for the Northern Ohio Violent Crime Consortium

Serving on the Stow-Munroe Falls Board of Education 

Professor Licate at the University of Akron