A new interim police chief took over at North Carolina Central University this month.

Robert Gaddy has strong ties to the city, and to the campus itself. In a unique combination, he's both the interim chief and a current master's student in criminology.

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"Everyone says well, what is your dream?' Well, I’m living my dream," he said.

Gaddy explained that his grandmother was among the first graduates of NCCU in the1920s, and that he has since had countless cousins, uncles, aunts, nieces, and nephews attend the university as well. 

Gaddy received his bachelor's degree from NCCU in 1994 and then went on to serve nearly three decades with the Durham Police Department. After retiring from DPD in 2022, he joined NCCU's police department.

"From a very young age, like probably kindergarten, first grade, [law enforcement] is always something I wanted to do," he said.

There was something else that was always on his mind, too: getting a master's degree. His mother, who died in 2021, always encouraged him to go back to school. Now, he is fulfilling her wish. 

"From 1994 until 2021, my mother, one of my biggest advocates, she just stayed on me like hey go get your master’s degree, go get your master’s degree, you really need it," he said. "She never left my head. I woke up one morning and I was like it’s time to get my master’s degree, and so that’s what I did."

Gaddy expects to walk the stage in the Spring of 2026. Holding back tears, he said that would likely be "one of her proudest moments."

Only strengthening Gaddy's connection to NCCU, his daughter is a current student who also plays for the women's basketball team.

"I think it's cool," she said, of the unique position of being a student where her father is interim police chief. "That pushes me to want to do great things like he's doing."

Gaddy hopes his trajectory can inspire future generations, his classmates included.

"I have a huge village, huge circle of people around me. And they’ve all invested in me," he said. "To the people coming up behind me, I’m here. I’m ready to pull you up."