Dennis Rowland to lead Polk Youth Institution

Michael F. Easley Governor		Theodis Beck Secretary
North Carolina Department of Correction

For Release: IMMEDIATE	Contact: George Dudley
Date: April 28, 2005	Phone: (919) 716-3700

Dennis Rowland to lead Polk Youth Institution BUTNER – Dennis Rowland, an 18-year veteran in the NC Department of Correction, has been named Polk Youth Institution administrator, according to Boyd Bennett, Division of Prisons director. Rowland replaces George Currie, who was recently named Central Region director in the division. As administrator for the close custody unit, Rowland will oversee the management of all of the prison’s operations and programs, including approximately 545 employees and more than 1,000 male inmates. The main mission of Polk, opened in 1997, is to process newly admitted youthful offenders ages 19-25. The prison also houses inmates who participate in job assignments and other programs. Rowland had been executive officer for the Division of Prisons since 2004. He began his career with the Department of Correction in 1987 as a program supervisor at Caledonia Correctional Institution, and then progressed through other positions at Halifax Correctional Center (now closed), Triangle Correctional Institution (now closed) and Wake Correctional Center. He was named special assistant to the Division of Prisons director in 2000. “Besides his great variety of experience in custody and programs at different prisons, Rowland also has very good administrative and interpersonal skills,” Bennett said. “Also, his division level experience gives him a very broad perspective of the goals and needs of prisons, all of which leads me to believe that Polk will be well-served with Dennis at the helm.” Rowland is eager for his new assignment. “I have wanted a position like this, so I have been training myself and acquiring the experience I need for it,” he said. “Getting to this point was one of my major life goals, and I am ready to make sure that Polk as an institution and its staff are the best they can be.” In addition to his bachelor of science degree in industrial relations from UNC-Chapel Hill, Rowland has completed Correctional Leadership Development Program training and is a Certified Public Manager. In spare time Rowland enjoys travel and sports with his wife and son, who is in college. He resides in Cary. ###