Kansas University has hired a new administrator to oversee adjudication of nonacademic misconduct by individuals and organizations.

Lance Watson, a KU graduate, starts Feb. 23 as the university’s new director of student conduct and community standards, KU announced Thursday.

Watson will replace Nick Kehrwald, who recently left KU for an administrative position at the University of Kentucky.

The student conduct and community standards director plays a deciding role in adjudicating nonacademic misconduct cases, including allegations of sexual assault. KU described Watson’s role as overseeing the university’s efforts “to educate about and hold students accountable to the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities while also preserving students’ rights and helping them develop their decision-making abilities.”

“Lance has the student conduct background to continue KU’s commitment to student rights and advocacy,” Jane Tuttle, assistant vice provost for student affairs, said in a news release. 

Watson earned a bachelor’s degree from KU in 2007 in applied behavioral science with an emphasis in youth development and juvenile justice. He has a master’s degree from Clemson University in counselor education with an emphasis in student affairs. He has been assistant commandant of cadets at California Maritime Academy, a campus of California State University.

Most recently he was assistant director in the Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution at Northwestern University. There he helped investigate and resolve cases of nonacademic misconduct, coordinated Northwestern’s hearing panel adjudication process and educated incoming students about community standards.