New Academic Education Program Director

Commissioner: Gregory C. Dozier

Director of Public Affairs: Joan Heath

Dr. Jennifer Irvin Promoted

FORSYTH, Ga. – Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) Commissioner Gregory C. Dozier announced the promotion of Dr. Jennifer Irvin to Academic Education Program Director effective April 1, 2018.  Dr. Irvin will be responsible for all academic education programs, which will serve to prepare incarcerated students for career technical opportunities to ensure successful reentry.

“Dr. Irvin’s knowledge of education and her determination make her an asset to this department,” said Commissioner Gregory C. Dozier. “We look forward to her continued leadership in education.”

Dr. Irvin began her career in Toombs County in 2002 where she served as a teacher, department head, and Assistant Principal.  In 2014, Dr. Irvin accepted a position with Core Civic as Principal of Wheeler Correctional Facility.  She also served as an adjunct faculty member for Georgia Virtual School.  Dr. Irvin also served as the Executive Director of the Ohoopee Regional Council for the Arts, which brought educational performing arts programs to schools in South Georgia.  In 2015, Dr. Irvin joined the GDC as the Southeast Regional Principal for Inmate Services, where she currently serves.

Dr.  Irvin earned a bachelor’s degree in Communications from Brewton-Parker College and master’s degree in Curriculum from the University of Phoenix. She received both her Education Specialist in Teacher Leadership from Walden University and Doctor of Educational Leadership from Valdosta State University.  She holds several state teaching certificates, and has been named as a top 10 finalist in the Georgia Teacher of the Year program. She was chosen as the Teacher of the Year for Toombs County High School and Toombs County School System, and was selected as a two-time recipient of the STAR teacher award. Since joining GDC, Dr. Irvin has become a member the Correctional Education Association (CEA) and the Coalition of Adult Basic Education (COABE).

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.