Nov 22
Mar 24, 2020
Lake Superior State University Welcomes Patricia Caruso to Board of Trustees
SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – Lake Superior State University welcomes new Board of Trustees member, Patricia Caruso. Patricia L. Caruso joined the Michigan Department of Corrections in 1988 and served in several capacities including three years as business manager, nine years as warden, two years as regional prison administrator, and ten months as deputy director. In July of 2003 she was appointed Director of the Department by Governor Jennifer Granholm. She retired from the Department on January 1, 2011. Director Caruso received a B.A. in political science and sociology from Lake Superior State University and a Master of Arts in comprehensive occupational education from the University of Michigan. She is the Chairperson of the Foundation Board at Lake Superior State University.
Director Caruso has an extensive career in Criminal Justice and has served on a number of posts throughout her career and remains active in a number of professional correctional organizations.
Director Caruso is currently the lead facilitator for the Warden Peer Interaction Training program at Sam Houston State University and is the facilitator of the National Institute of Corrections flagship leadership program, Executive Excellence. She provides consultation and expert witness services to a group of law firms representing Michigan prisoners impacted by the recent US Supreme Court decision regarding juveniles sentenced to life without parole. Director Caruso also speaks in various venues around the country on topics such as Michigan’s successful prison population reduction, prisoner reentry, and professional management in the public sector, women in corrections, leadership, sentencing reform, and the politics of corrections.
Director Caruso and her husband, Stan, have been married for forty three years and make their permanent home in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan and own and operate two small businesses. They are the proud parents of two grown children. Their son, Timothy, is an air traffic controller and licensed commercial pilot. He and his wife Heather, along with their twelve year old son, Christian and his two year old brother Caleb, make their home in the Detroit area. Their daughter, Sarah, received her MD from Wayne State Medical School and is an ObGyn in Sault Ste. Marie. She and her husband, Chad, reside there with their ten year old daughter, Reese and her eight year old sister, Mia.
Dr. Rodney Hanley, President of LSSU, stated, “I am excited to have someone with such extensive leadership experience joining the Board of Trustees. The insights and perspectives she will bring from her service at the local, state and federal levels will contribute substantially to the future of LSSU and our community.” Director Caruso is currently the Chairperson of the Foundation Board at Lake Superior State University.
Lake Superior State University is one of Michigan’s most affordable public universities with One-Rate at Lake State tuition for all. Surrounded by three Great Lakes, LSSU is an unsurpassed location for research, focusing on real-world experiences. Well known for programs such as fisheries and wildlife management, engineering, nursing, criminal justice, and fire science; Lake State is also leading the way with innovative new programs, including cannabis chemistry and cannabis business. For more information, visit LSSU.edu.
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