Date June 2, 2025
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Staff Spotlight: Lenny Ballesteros feeds his curiosity while keeping the Brown community safe

Public Safety Officer Lenny Ballesteros has made unexpected connections on campus through his interests in history and science.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — Lenny Ballesteros’ job is to help keep the Brown community safe. As a public safety officer, he patrols campus buildings and grounds on College Hill and works as dispatcher at the Brown University Department of Public Safety headquarters. 

But as a history buff and a voracious reader, he has also immersed himself during his three years at Brown in the intellectual life of the University. He audits classes in his spare time, chats frequently with students about their work and regularly exchanges books and stories with faculty. Ballesteros said the relationships he’s made along the way have made him better at his job — helping to build trust with the people his department works to serve. At the same time, they’ve contributed greatly to his personal and intellectual life. 

“I tell my boss all the time, this doesn’t even feel like a job,” Ballesteros said. “I absolutely love working here.”

In a Q&A, Ballesteros discussed how working at Brown has been a perfect fit for a public safety officer with a thirst for knowledge. 

Q: Can you talk a little bit about your background?

I grew up in New Jersey and I have a degree in criminal justice from New Jersey City University. I have an extensive security background. I did security at Giants Stadium, where I worked games, concerts and VIP escort. I was also in loss prevention for Walmart and Tower Records. Before that I was in the Navy, where I worked in meteorology.

Q: What’s your favorite thing about working at Brown?

Talking to the students and professors is hands down my favorite part of the job. That’s something I didn’t really expect when I started working here. I kind of expected the Hollywood stereotype of an Ivy League school — people who would be way too busy to stop and talk to the public safety officer. But that’s not been the case at all. People here are happy to talk and it’s great. 

Q: You’ve audited history classes in your time at Brown. How did that come about?

I was working the opening of the Peter Green House [home to Brown’s Department of History] and I happened to mention to one of the history professors that I really liked history. He asked me what I was interested in, and I told him I was reading “America in the King Years,” which is a trilogy on the Civil Rights movement. He said, “Wow, that’s a massive read,” and we talked for a bit. 

Then I got to know [Brown faculty members] Seth Rockman, Philip Gould and Christopher Grasso, and next thing I know I’m sharing books with them. My father was a minister at a church in Jersey City that was founded in 1865, and my mom had a church book from 1880 that had all the minutes recorded in it. I lent it to professor Linford Fisher. He shared it with Professor Grasso, who studies American religion, and now it’s on loan to the history department. 

Q: What are some of your other interests?

I was a meteorologist in the Navy, and that got me hooked on science. We used to do the weather for the space shuttle launches, so when I found out Brown does a lot of work with NASA I thought that was interesting. Then I met Jim Head [a planetary scientist and professor of Earth, environmental and planetary sciences (research)] at a book signing. We hit it off and he said, “Come by my office anytime.” So I go in and hang out. We share books. He’s just an amazing man. I’m just blown away that I get to talk to an emeritus professor who trained Apollo astronauts on what to look for on the Moon, and he’s just so down to earth. 

Q: What’s your favorite spot on Brown’s campus?

University Hall. That’s like my adopted building. There’s just so much history there, and it’s such an important building on campus. I’m there almost every day. 

Q: What advice do you have for other people working at Brown?

Just find your niche and don’t be afraid to talk to people. The professors here are very approachable — the students too. They love talking about their work.