Women's Symposium: Sustainable Leadership – Empowered Women, Balanced Lives, Stronger Communities

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Dr. Yolanda R. Bethea is a nationally and internationally respected leader in community corrections with over 30 years of transformative service. Known for her visionary leadership, she has modernized complex systems and championed evidence-based strategies that improve supervision outcomes and enhance public safety. Starting her career in frontline roles—including as a U.S. Pretrial Officer and a case manager—Dr. Bethea rose through the ranks, joining Maryland Parole and Probation in 2003 and ultimately serving as Northern Regional Director. At the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA), she held key executive roles, including Chief of Staff, driving strategic and operational reforms. Now Executive Director of Maryland’s Division of Parole and Probation, she leads with a focus on innovation, justice, and community well-being. A champion of technology, cognitive-behavioral approaches, and staff development, Dr. Bethea also founded the ElevateHer Crown leadership program and actively mentors emerging leaders. She holds advanced degrees from United Theological Seminary, Loyola University, and Mercer University, along with a public leadership certificate from the Brookings Institution. Dr. Bethea serves on several national and regional boards and remains a dedicated voice for progress in the field of corrections.

Cheryl Bristor-Wilson, LCSW, CADC, CEAP is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 30 years of experience working with families, children, and employees. She currently serves as the Clinical Director of a union-based employee assistance program in Chicago, Illinois. Ms. Bristor-Wilson previously served as adjunct faculty with City Colleges of Chicago and maintains private practice, Y’anna Consultants and Training, specializing in training, mediation, and counseling.

Loronda C. Giddens is an army veteran who worked as a corporate professional for over a decade before transitioning to state government, where she works as a Special Projects Manager with the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice. Loronda went from training Fortune 500 corporations on financial services to becoming a P.O.S.T. Certified Instructor. She is a national conference speaker who educates on personal development, career development, financial wellness and youth empowerment.

Sara Hemmeter has more than 25 years of experience leading systems change to improve outcomes for at-risk youth and families and currently serves as the Director of Juvenile Services for Cook County. In this role, she oversees the Juvenile Probation Department and the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center, leading efforts to enhance public safety, strengthen youth outcomes, and improve system performance. Prior to joining Cook County, Ms. Hemmeter spent more than 16 years with the New York City Administration for Children’s Services (ACS), where she held several senior leadership positions, including Deputy Commissioner for the Division of Youth and Family Justice (DYFJ) and Senior Advisor for Juvenile Justice Programs. As Deputy Commissioner, she oversaw operations across three youth services program areas—Community-Based Alternatives, Detention Services, and Close to Home placements—managing a team of 10 Associate Commissioners. As Senior Advisor, she led initiatives focused on program development, racial equity, and restorative justice.

Isabel Perez-Morina, Ph.D., is the Chief Executive Officer of Advocate Program, Inc., a private, not-for-profit organization based in Florida that provides probation, diversion, DUI, domestic violence, behavioral health, and supportive services to court-ordered individuals, veterans, children, and families. She holds a doctorate in Clinical Forensic Psychology from Nova Southeastern University and has dedicated her career to strengthening community-based responses that promote public safety, family safety, accountability, treatment access, and well-being. Dr. Perez-Morina’s work spans community supervision, probation and pretrial programming, court partnerships, behavioral health treatment, substance use services, peer recovery support, care coordination, and system reform. Under her leadership, Advocate Program has advanced integrated, person-centered approaches for justice-involved individuals, including multidisciplinary initiatives serving people with serious mental illness, substance use disorders, and other complex needs. Dr. Perez-Morina serves as Vice President of the American Probation and Parole Association and is a board member and Immediate Past-President of the Florida Association of Community Corrections. Through these roles, she contributes to state and national conversations on community corrections, behavioral health, leadership, and justice system innovation.

With more than 27 years of experience in Cook County Juvenile Probation and Court Services, Melissa has built a distinguished career dedicated to advancing effective practices, strengthening juvenile systems, and supporting youth, families, and professionals across all levels of the organization. Throughout her career, she has served in a wide range of roles that have provided extensive experience in direct service, leadership, program development, policy, research, and system transformation. Melissa currently serves as the Interim Chief Probation Officer for Cook County Juvenile Probation and as the statewide Region I Representative to the Illinois Probation and Court Services Association (IPCSA), where she works collaboratively with probation and detention professionals and stakeholders to support innovation, communication, and statewide advancement within the legal system.