Danella Lang
Business Manager
About Me
I am the Business Manager for WUPD, where I am responsible for managing the Department’s fiscal functions, assisting with recruiting and hiring, processing payroll, and maintaining communication. I was born and raised in St. Louis, MO, receiving my education through the Ferguson-Florissant school district, having graduated from Berkeley Senior High School. I attended school in ‘The Big Easy’, earning a B.S. in Biology from Xavier University of Louisiana. Prior to WUPD, I worked for the City of University for 17 years, performing various duties learning the inner workings of municipal government and law enforcement. I began my career as a Records Clerk in the Police Department, learning how to identify and report crimes according to federal standards, before transitioning to an Administrative Assistant role in the Finance Department. During the last four years of my career with UCity, I returned to the Police Department as the Crime Analyst, Victims Services Advocate, and Grant Coordinator. When I am not working I enjoy spending time with family and friends, traveling, listening to good music, and reading.
How did you decide on your career?
I began working for a local Police Department 17 years ago before transitioning to Wash U, where to no surprise, I work in the Police Department. What can I say is, I’ve found my people! I held different positions during my time, all centrally focused on providing Customer Service, which is funny because I’m an introvert, but I’ve always been told I’m personable. I guess people are attracted to my personality.
What was your favorite subject in school?
My favorite subject in school was Mathematics and on the complete opposite end of the spectrum, Creative Writing.
What is your favorite thing about WashU?
Wash U has such a laid back environment. I’ve had to adjust to the pace, but I know it’s going to work in my favor.
What police service would you want everyone to know about?
Having worked in different work environments, the one thing I’ve learned is that you cannot stereotype people based on their job titles. Our Officers are not only knowledgeable about police procedures, but outside of work they lead interesting lives and their life experiences can be just as helpful. The Police Department is always trying to find ways to engage with and provide safety and crime prevention tips to the community. If you check out our website, https://police.wustl.edu/, you might be surprised at the scope of services we provide, like Bear Patrol escorts, bike registration, fingerprinting services, and laptop security, just to name a few.
What are you looking forward to the most for the 2024-2025 school year?
I am looking forward to the continued development of the Washington University Police Department’s efforts to engage with the student community. We are focusing on fostering trust and transparency through open dialogue and collaboration. These initiatives aim to not only enhance campus safety but also create a stronger sense of unity between students and the department. By working together, we hope to break down barriers and ensure that all community members feel valued and protected.