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Trenton
- Veleria N. Lawson, Executive Director
of the Juvenile Justice Commission (JJC),
has announced the appointment of Felix Mickens
as Deputy Executive Director of Operations,
Gloria R. Hancock, Ed.D. as Deputy Executive
Director of Programs and Craig D. Farr as
Superintendent of the New Jersey Training
School.
Gloria
R. Hancock of Newtown, Pa., comes to the
JJC from Leap Academy University Charter
School in Camden, where she served as chief
school administrator. As Deputy Executive
Director of Programs, she is responsible
for the JJC’s Office of Local Programs
and Services, 21 residential and day programs,
educational services and initiatives for
those juveniles with mental health and substance
abuse needs.
Hancock
has more than 20 years of public service
experience. She began her career in state
service in 1976 with the Department of Human
Services, working at the Woodbridge Developmental
Center. She also served as Director of Public
Sector Initiatives with the Office of Policy
and Planning. In 1999, she moved to the
Department of Education, where she served
in various roles, including Assistant Commissioner,
Division of Student Services, and Chief
of Staff, Office of the Commissioner. In
2004, Hancock was recruited from state government
to accept the position of Assistant Superintendent,
Division of Student Services, for the Trenton
Public School District before serving at
the Leap Academy in 2006.
“Dr.
Hancock’s breadth of experience in
both the areas of education and human services
will allow her to take on the broad responsibilities
of this critical role,” Executive
Director Lawson said. “Education is
the cornerstone of the JJC’s rehabilitative
efforts, and targeted social service delivery
is vital to helping young people turn their
lives around. I am confident that under
Gloria’s leadership the JJC will make
great strides in these areas.”
“I
look forward to the challenges that come
with this opportunity,” said Hancock.
“The JJC has a challenging goal -
to prevent youth from coming to its doors
in the first place and rehabilitating those
who are placed with the JJC so that, when
they return home, they can be productive
members of their community. I am honored
to have the opportunity to impact young
lives, as well as to be of service to our
state’s communities.”
Hancock
attended Thomas Edison State College, where
she earned her associate’s and baccalaureate
degrees in human services; Rutgers University,
where she received her master’s degree
in public administration, and the University
of Pennsylvania, where she earned her doctorate
in educational and organizational leadership.
She is a certified school administrator
and certified public manager.
Felix
Mickens, of Monroe Township, will serve
as Deputy Executive Director for Operations,
overseeing all juvenile secure-care facilities,
parole and re-entry services, classification,
training and the JJC’s gang management
unit.
Mickens
formerly served as superintendent of the
JJC’s New Jersey Training School,
a 300-bed juvenile secure facility, where
he managed every aspect including custody,
administration, maintenance, social services
and education. Mickens also served as assistant
superintendent of the facility, the JJC’s
largest, for three years. In this capacity,
he helped develop the facility’s gang
management unit and served on the Governor’s
Anti-Crime Task Force, where he helped develop
the re-entry segment of the statewide initiative.
As
a regional administrator for the JJC’s
Office of Community Programs, Mickens managed
the regional operation of 11 juvenile residential
programs. Prior to his employment with the
JJC, he worked for Project U.S.E., a private
organization that operates rehabilitative
programs for delinquent juveniles, in various
positions. He rose quickly to the rank of
superintendent of Edison Prep, Project U.S.E.’s
55-bed residential program operated under
contract for the JJC.
“Felix
has been a part of the JJC since its inception
in 1995. He understands young people and
their needs. He brings with him a perspective
that is often lost in administration. He
has proven himself to be a true leader in
every position that he has held and with
every project that he has tackled, ”
Lawson said. “It was not an easy decision
for Felix to accept a position that would
take him away from daily contact with young
people, but in this position he will be
able to successfully impact many more young
lives.”
“So
many dedicated and caring individuals have
touched my life during my career with the
JJC. These experiences have been invaluable
and have influenced who I am today,”
said Mickens. “I am honored to accept
this opportunity and look forward to the
challenges ahead of me.”
Mickens
has received the National Association of
Negro Business and Professional Clubs Man
of the Year Award in 2005 and the NAACP
Freedom Fund Branch Award in 2001. He was
named Superintendent of the Year in 2001,
Americorps/JJC Employee of the Year in 2002,
and Edison Prep Staff of the Year in 1997.
He has had professional affiliations with
the National Major Gang Task Force, the
East Coast Gang Investigators Association,
the American Correctional Association and
the Middlesex County Council for Children’s
Services.
Mickens
graduated from Rutgers University with a
degree in sociology and obtained a certification
in criminology. He has also pursued graduate
level course work at New York University.
Craig
D. Farr, a resident of Mount Laurel and
former Director of Custody for the New Jersey
Training School, has been chosen to lead
that facility as superintendent. Farr retired
from his law enforcement position last year
and has been serving as a hearing officer
for JJC, handling grievances and disciplinary
actions. In his new role, Farr will manage
operation of the state’s largest secure
facility for juvenile males and oversee
a combined law enforcement and civilian
staff of approximately 400.
Beginning
his career in 1983 as a Correction Officer
with the New Jersey Department of Corrections
(prior to creation of the JJC), Farr has
spent the majority of his career working
with juveniles or younger offenders in secure
settings. He rose through the ranks, ending
his law enforcement career as one of the
JJC’s two Directors of Custody, the
highest law enforcement title available.
“While
the New Jersey Training School is familiar
territory to me, I am very excited to be
leading the facility in a new role. There
have been strong and dedicated superintendents
before me and I hope to build on what they
have established,” said Farr. “I
strongly believe that the opportunity exists
for positive results and look forward to
working with old and new colleagues to move
the Training School forward.”
Farr
graduated from Thomas Edison State College
and has obtained several certifications
in areas such as anti-terrorism, managerial
communications, leadership management, investigations,
and survival training, among others. Farr
completed a 20- year career with the United
States Air Force Reserves, retiring as a
Master Sergeant.
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