New Education Program Director

Commissioner: Gregory C. Dozier

Director of Public Affairs: Joan Heath

Dr. Melinda Dennis Promoted

FORSYTH, Ga. – Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) Commissioner Gregory C. Dozier announced the promotion of Dr. Melinda Dennis to Education Program Director effective February 16, 2018. Dennis will be responsible for overseeing educational programming of nearly 52,000 felony offenders across the state of Georgia.

“Melinda’s wealth of educational experience has already had a positive impact on our academic education programs,” said Commissioner Gregory C. Dozier. “We look forward to her continued leadership and guidance in her new role.”

Dennis began her educational career in 1987 as a High School English teacher in the Dodge County School District. In 2000, after being named Teacher of the Year for Dodge County High School and the school system, she moved into administration and served as the Assistant Principal at Dodge County Middle School. Four years later, she became the Principal for Wheeler County Middle School. From 2010 to 2011, Dennis served as the Director of both the Alternative Learning Center and the Patriot Academy for Student Success with the Wilcox County schools. She returned to Dodge County in 2011 to serve as the Superintendent of Schools until her retirement in 2016.  In 2017 Dennis, accepted the position of Academic Director, where she currently serves.

Dennis earned both a Bachelor of Science and Master of Education degree from Georgia Southwestern College. She received both her Education Specialist and Doctor of Education degrees in Education Administration from Georgia Southern University. Dennis is active in the Georgia Association of Educational Leaders (GAEL) and is currently serving on the Board of Trustees at Murrell Memorial Library and the Advisory Council for the Eastman Youth Development Center. She has served on two of Education Advisory Boards for Governor Nathan Deal, both as principal and superintendent, and served as President for the Georgia Association of Middle School Principals (GAMSP). She has also participated in several leadership programs to include Charter Class for Leadership Dodge, National Leaders Conference, Institute for New Leaders, and Leadership 21.

About the Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC)

The Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) has one of the largest prison systems in the U.S. and is responsible for supervising nearly 52,000 state prisoners. It is the largest law enforcement agency in the state with approximately 10,500 employees. For more information on the GDC, call 478-992-5247 or visit https://gdc.georgia.gov.