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 Blog Post

Women's History Month: SCI Phoenix

Tags: Phoenix
March 22, 2019 12:00 AM
By: DOC Staff

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In honor of Women's History Month, the Department of Corrections will highlight some of the exceptional women who work for the DOC and the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole. We are grateful for the wonderful women who work in Pennsylvania's criminal justice system.

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Angelina Dusel

Corrections Officer 2
SCI Phoenix

Sergeant Angelina Dusel started her career at SCI Graterford in August 1996. Early on in her career, Angelina exhibited characteristics that assisted in her establishment as a firm, fair, hard-working and confident employee. She was promoted to the rank of sergeant in 2005 and developed an energetic and take-charge leadership style.

After working in housing units for several years, Angelina was assigned to the facility control center, where she further developed her leadership and organizational skills.

After the closure of SCI Graterford, she was primarily assigned as a quad sergeant at SCI Phoenix. This position is integral in ensuring operational efficiency.

Angelina is highly respected by her peers, supervisors and the inmate population. Her commitment to both the staff and inmates at SCI Phoenix has been instrumental in the successful operation of this facility.

She is persistent is promoting a shared vision and takes the time to share her knowledge with others.

Angelina exemplifies the characteristics of a dynamic and effective leader in the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections.


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Mandy Sipple

Deputy Superintendent for Centralized Services
SCI Phoenix

Mandy Sipple, who serves as deputy superintendent for centralized services at SCI Phoenix, began her correctional career in 2000 as a corrections counselor 1 at SCI Smithfield. In 2004, she transitioned to a corrections unit manager at SCI Somerset. She remained in that position until 2008, when she assumed a position as staff assistant to the deputy secretary of reentry and specialized programs at the DOC's Central Office.

In addition to the routine tasks in that position at Central Office, Mandy also assisted with several special projects. She collaborated with staff from the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole to develop assessment instruments. She also assisted with the interpretation and implementation of Recidivism Risk Reduction Incentive and rebuttable parole legislation. 

In August 2009, Mandy assumed the position of business process expert for the Integrated Offender Case Management System, a DOC program intended to combine like computer data shared by DOC and PBPP into one system. In this position, she collaborated with information technology and subject matter experts to identify enhanced computer technology that could enhance department operations.

In October 2010, she returned to SCI Smithfield as the corrections classification program manager. She transferred to SCI Huntingdon in 2017 in that same position and remained there until March 2018 when she assumed the position of deputy superintendent for centralized services at SCI Graterford.

Mandy's expertise, knowledge and leadership was integral in the transition to SCI Phoenix and is imperative in establishing operations at this facility. She embraces a team approach to identify solutions and the implementation of new initiatives. She is an "out of the box" thinker who not just acts with purpose, but encourages the input of recommendations and suggestions that have purpose in further enhancing facility operations, providing increased services to inmates and empowering staff.

She is active on the facility's Empowerment Committee and is committed to not just shaping culture, but providing meaningful outlets to recognize the contributions of staff and identify avenues to increase staff wellness. Mandy's diverse career path has not been without personal sacrifice, and she is committed to maintain balance, both personally and professionally. Her thirst for knowledge and ongoing ability to perform self-assessments have been beneficial and instrumental to her professional growth.

The characteristics and contributions made by Mandy Sipple exemplify leadership in the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections.


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Melissa Delliponti
Corrections Employment Vocational Coordinator
SCI Phoenix

Melissa Delliponti began her career in 1991 as a clerk typist 2 at SCI Graterford. In this position she was assigned to provide clerical support for the Jericho Drug and Alcohol Unit, and she also assisted with duties in the Superintendent's Office.

In September 1998, she assumed the duties of providing clerical support to the Inmate Employment Office. She was promoted to Correctional Employment Vocational Assistant in June 2002. While in this role, Melissa worked with a group of peers to assist in the development of the Inmate Employment application on the DOC's intranet. 

In August 2007, she was promoted to Correctional Employment Vocational Coordinator at SCI Graterford, and she remains in this position at SCI Phoenix.

Melissa is an integral member of the SCI Phoenix team. She remains cognizant of her role to ensure that eligible inmates are provided employment opportunities and compensated for their participation in work and educational programs. She also serves as the chairperson for the facility's Idleness Committee and actively works to provide increased job opportunities to the inmates at SCI Phoenix. 

Melissa is cognizant of and consistently reinforces to others that providing employment opportunities and helping inmates to shape good work habits are important to assist with positive adjustment during their incarceration and for their reentry into the community.  

Consistently demonstrating integrity, perseverance and purpose in her current position, Melissa has all of the characteristics that exemplify leadership in the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections.


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