If you’ve been on campus long enough, you probably recognize Garret Moyer’s face. Moyer has served with the Wichita State Police Department since 2000 and is known as an affable and helpful guy.

As administrative sergeant, his responsibilities include a variety of jobs, from maintaining the UPD’s business continuity plan and organizing overtime events to providing supervisory responsibilities and relief on weekends.

He also occasionally has the dreaded task of pulling someone over on campus. But even then, it’s hard for people to be too mad at him.

“I was raised in a family environment where I learned how to respect people. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” he says. “The key I found is simply showing people dignity, respect and empathy no matter if it’s talking to a student about a homework assignment in the library or giving someone a ticket for running a stop sign.”

Moyer’s time at WSU has also led to his desire to continue his education. He received his associate’s degree in science from Butler Community College and his bachelor’s in criminal justice from Friends University.

Now Moyer is working toward his master’s in criminal justice at WSU. This semester he’s starting his thesis research studying the effectiveness of critical incident stress management, specifically looking at police officers who have been involved in officer involved shootings.

It’s a challenge that hasn’t been easy.

Moyer is open about his lifelong struggle with dyslexia. Growing up was hard to go to school each day knowing the teacher might call on him to read in front of the class. He struggled with peer acceptance and has carried some of that with him, almost choosing not to enroll in grad school.

Challenged by UPD Chief Sara Morris to have faith in his ability to reach his goals, Moyer forged ahead and is now an A student with a 3.90 GPA.

Morris says she has always recognized Moyer’s potential to overcome obstacles and reach his goals. It’s been great, she says, to see his enthusiasm, making it easy to encourage him to go for it.

“When Garret sets his mind to accomplish a task, I can guarantee you, the task will be completed and he will be successful,” Morris says. “The expression on his face when he came in to tell me that he had achieved a 3.90 GPA was priceless. Watching Garret address the challenge of his dyslexia and accomplish what he does both in his schooling as well as on the job, well, it’s just great to get to be a part of it.”