MADISON – Wisconsin Department of Corrections Secretary Matthew Frank today announced new Superintendents have been selected to lead four correctional facilities throughout the system.

“I am extremely pleased that these individuals are bringing their talents and dedication to these management positions,” Secretary Frank said. “They oversee facilities that are key to the Department’s mission of public safety, holding offenders accountable and promoting successful reentry of offenders from prison into communities across Wisconsin.”

New Superintendents include Lisa M. Avila at Sturtevant Transitional Facility, Patrick Melman at Sanger B. Powers Correctional Center in Oneida, Jeffrey Pugh at Oregon Correctional Center and Julianne Wurl-Koth at Gordon Correctional Center. The Superintendents began their new roles April 16, 2006.

“A primary objective at these facilities is to provide offenders with experience through work-release programs, but treatment, education and community service are also important components of these facilities,” Secretary Frank said. “These new Superintendents are managing facilities that are on the front line of our agency-wide reentry efforts, ensuring that offenders are not just held accountable for their crimes but also have an opportunity to succeed in the community after they leave prison. More law-abiding citizens means fewer new crimes, fewer new victims and enhanced public safety.”

Lisa M. Avila earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and sociology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She began her career with the Department of Corrections (DOC) in 1994 as a Youth Counselor at Ethan Allen School (EAS), before promoting to Assistant Corrections Unit Supervisor at EAS in 2001 and then to Corrections Unit Supervisor at Racine Correctional Institution (RCI) in 2003. She is involved in a variety of DOC committees and has previous experience working in a segregation unit.

Patrick Melman earned a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. Melman’s DOC roots date to 1991, when he began as a Correctional Officer at Racine Correctional Institution and Green Bay Correctional Institution (GBCI). He promoted to a Correctional Sergeant at Kettle Moraine Correctional Institution in 1994 before transferring to the Drug Abuse Correctional Center (DACC) and the Wisconsin Resource Center. He returned to GBCI as Supervising Officer I in 1997 and was promoted to Supervising Officer II in 1998 at Taycheedah Correctional Institution. He returned to DACC in 2000 as a Supervising Officer II. He played a crucial role in DACC’s transition to an Earned Release Program. He also serves as a Principles of Subject Control Instructor and chemical agent trainer in the Wisconsin Correctional Center System.

Jeffrey Pugh earned an associate’s degree in architectural and structural technology from the Northeast Wisconsin Technical College. He began his DOC career 1993 as a Correctional Officer at Columbia Correctional Institution (CCI) and Oakhill Correctional Institutions (OCI). He promoted to a Correctional Sergeant at OCI in 1994 and then transferred to Jackson Correctional Institution in 1996. He was promoted to a Supervising Officer II at Black River Correctional Center in 2000 and played a critical role in transitioning the center to a boot camp.

Julianne Wurl-Koth earned a bachelor’s degree in cultural anthropology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She began her DOC career in 1988 as a Youth Counselor at Lincoln Hills School (LHS), where she also worked as a Social Worker, Institution Unit Manager, Business Manager and, as of 2001, Corrections Management Services Director.

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