The Michigan Department of Corrections announced the L.E.A.D. Academy in Lansing, Mich., and said the four-phase leadership program will begin this fall. The academy is part of the Safe Prisons Initiative, which the department launched in March 2026 to improve safety and security across its 26 prisons.
Heidi E. Washington said, "Our workforce is constantly evolving, and it is more important than ever that we are supporting our emerging leaders in a way that will create change-makers and thought-leaders in the correctional field". She also said, "Well-trained professional staff create safe facilities by stepping above the status quo to challenge themselves, and those around them, to go above and beyond."
Michigan State University curriculum
Michigan State University worked with the department to develop the curriculum, which is built around leadership principles applied to the corrections environment. Vivian Aranda-Hughes said, "Michigan State University is proud to partner with the MDOC on the L.E.A.D. Academy" and described the curriculum as one that develops practical leadership skills rooted in communication, emotional intelligence, professionalism, and ethical decision-making.
The department said the program emphasizes that daily conduct, communication, presence and professionalism influence others and contribute to safer facilities. That puts the academy in the same training lane as the department’s broader staff-development push, but with a curriculum designed for the job, not a general leadership seminar.
Eligibility and review
Employees may apply if they have one year of MDOC employment, have reached satisfactory status during the initial probationary period, and can commit fully to the program, including assignments outside the classroom. Applicants will then go through a formal review process before selection.
That makes the launch more than an open enrollment notice. The academy is available departmentwide, but participation depends on employment history, probation status and review, so the first cohort will be limited to employees who already meet those thresholds. The department has not said how many will be chosen.
Matthew Huntley role
Matthew Huntley will serve as state administrative manager for the academy. He has 20 years of service to the department, more than a decade of work in training and curriculum development, and experience as a corrections officer, sergeant, facility inspector, Emergency Response Team member and instructor. He said, "I am honored to be part of this important investment in our corrections professionals."
Huntley also said, "Throughout the development of this new section, the dedication of our leadership was evident, driven by a commitment to strengthen the growth of our future leaders for years to come." The next step is the fall start, when selected employees begin moving through the four phases of the program under the department’s review and eligibility rules.
