(MADISON) – Department of Corrections (DOC) Secretary Matthew Frank
today announced the appointment of Quala Champagne as the new
Administrator of the Division of Community Corrections (DCC). DCC employs
over 1,800 employees and supervises over 70,000 offenders on probation,
parole, or extended supervision.
Champagne is currently Warden of the Racine Correctional Institution (RCI).
Her new appointment takes effect Oct. 31.
“I am extremely pleased to announce Quala Champagne’s new role with the
Department’s leadership team,” Secretary Frank said. “Her career of more
than 14 years in corrections, her leadership in the agency and her strong
community ties will be tremendous assets to the DCC as we continue to move
forward with the new direction for corrections policy set forth by
Governor Jim Doyle.”
In her role as RCI Warden, which she has held since August 2003,
Champagne oversaw one of the state’s largest medium-security institutions
and forged new or strengthened crucial community partnerships. She has
served as a member of the Racine Correctional Institution Community
Relations Board and the Racine County Combined Correctional Community
Relations Board, as well as the Racine County Law Enforcement Association.
She also is a Core Committee member of the Racine Community Reentry
Program, which fosters community safety by promoting successful reentry of
high-risk offenders after they complete their prison terms. In addition,
Champagne oversaw the opening of the Sturtevant Transitional Facility,
which developed a five-county partnership for placement of probation and
parole holds and functions as a site for revocation hearings.
Champagne also has been active in statewide organizations. She has been
a representative since 2001 on the Wisconsin Crime Victims Council. She
also is previous public relations chair and board member for the Wisconsin
Association of Black Public Sector Employees.
“As DCC Administrator, I look forward to working with our excellent
probation and parole agents and community corrections staff to hold
offenders accountable and promote community safety,” Champagne said. “I
also look forward to building on our community partnerships with agencies
and organizations throughout Wisconsin,” Champagne said.
Prior to her role as RCI Warden, Champagne served from July 2000 as
Deputy Superintendent of Ethan Allen School (EAS), where she helped
oversee the facility and helped spearhead the implementation of a
comprehensive juvenile justice automated information system. Before that,
Champagne served from October 1995 as a Unit Manager at EAS, where she
monitored and evaluated juvenile treatment programs, supervised employees
and took an active role in labor/management meetings. She served as
interim Business Manager, Deputy Superintendent and Human Resources
Director at EAS between 1998 and 2000. Other positions Champagne has had
in DOC include Assistant Unit Manager at Southern Oaks Girls School from
September 1994 to October 1995, Program Review Coordinator at RCI from
December 1992 to September 1994, and Social Worker at EAS from March 1991
to December 1992. She also received certification as an Advance Practice
Social Worker in Wisconsin in 1994 and a certificate of recognition from
the DOC’s Leadership Development Program in 1998.
Champagne earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University
of Wisconsin-Whitewater and a master’s degree in education from
UW-Oshkosh. She resides in Milwaukee.
