What? Wait! We Need to Talk to the Press: Public Information Officers/Correctional Communication Administrators and The Importance of Telling our Story

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Dr. Rowlanda Cawthon serves as Dean of the College of Professional Studies and Associate Professor at Northwest University. She worked in the criminal justice profession for eleven years before transitioning to higher education. Her correctional experience includes serving as a Correctional Unit Supervisor, Community Corrections Officer, Business Analyst, and Communications Consultant. Dr. Cawthon is the Managing Principal for Rowlanda Cawthon & Associates, LLC. She has served as a curriculum developer and leadership and management trainer on multiple projects for the National Institute of Corrections. Dr. Cawthon is a passionate and innovative leader who has capitalized on her leadership experience in corrections and doctoral education to drive change in her workplace. Her passion is delivering content on transformation leadership, and she has served as a keynote speaker on the topic for profit, non-profit, and governmental entities. She co-instructed an international consulting experience for MBA students in Prague, Czech Republic and has taught organizational consulting for doctoral students. She is equally committed to developing transformational leaders in all professional sectors. Dr. Cawthon earned a B.A. in Communications from University of Puget Sound; M.A. in Organizational Leadership from Chapman University (Ft. Lewis Campus); and Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership from Brandman University.

Jeff Hanson has thirty six years in corrections. The first thirty five with the Oregon Department of Corrections, as parole/probation officer, correctional counselor, and for twenty years as the Evidenced Based Practices Coordinator for community corrections in Oregon. Jeff is a trainer in Motivational Interviewing, LS/CMI, WRNA, EPICS, and a host of other EBP related curriculums. Jeff joined NIC one year ago and is involved in multiple projects including frontline leadership, safety matters, learning performance coach, and Correctional Communication Administrator.

Belinda Stewart has worked in the corrections field for over 40 years. She has expertise in executive management and program management and has demonstrated strong leadership in human resources and labor relations. She is known for being innovative and has a reputation for improving organizational practices and growing people’s leadership potential. Belinda began her career in corrections serving as an Assistant Superintendent for two community corrections centers with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections in 1981. Eleven years later, she transferred to Washington State to expand her correctional experience. During her tenure with the Washington State Department of Correction (WA DOC), Belinda served as Superintendent of Cedar Creek Corrections Center, McNeil Island Corrections Center, Washington Corrections Center for Women, and Stafford Creek Corrections.