New Director of Career, Technical, and Higher Education

Commissioner: Tyrone Oliver

Director of Public Affairs: Joan Heath

Jodi Ford­­ Promoted

FORSYTH, Ga. – Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) Commissioner Tyrone Oliver announced the promotion of Dr. Jodi Ford to Director of Career, Technical, and Higher Education (CTHE), effective March 1, 2023. As Director, Dr. Ford will be responsible for oversight of all CTHE programs in place to assist in preparing offenders for successful reentry.

"Jodi’s vast knowledge of the agency and her determination will help strengthen and grow our offender programming," said Commissioner Tyrone Oliver. "We look forward to her guidance and leadership in this very important piece to our mission of public safety and offender rehabilitation."

In 2003, Ford began her corrections career as a Probation Officer in the Cobb Judicial Circuit. She was promoted in 2010 to Chief Probationer Officer of the Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit. Ford was selected for a developmental assignment in Facilities Operations in 2012 and was reassigned to the position of Deputy Warden of Care and Treatment at Lee Arrendale State Prison in 2014. In 2016, she was promoted to Superintendent at Phillips Transitional Center, and in 2017 she was promoted to Warden at Whitworth Women's Facility, where she currently serves.

Ford has a Bachelor's degree in Human Services from Kennesaw State University, a Master's degree in Leadership from Shorter College, and a Ph.D. in Criminal Justice from Liberty University. Her departmental training consists of Basic Probation Officer Training (BPOT), Basic Management Training (BMT), Advanced Management Training (AMT), Corrections Leadership Institute (CLI), Warden and Chief's Pre-Command, Leadership GDC, Warden's Peer Interaction Program, and is a POST Senior Instructor. Additionally, she was on the planning committee for the 2019 Association of Justice-Involved Female Offenders Conference and serves on the Northeast Georgia Council on Domestic Violence board.

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.