Her Story
About Yadira
Yadira Negron has spent over 30 years in the correctional industry, serving actively for 22 years before retiring from the Department of Corrections in Connecticut seven years ago. Since retirement, she has worked as an adjunct professor teaching criminal justice courses and has been involved in the judicial system instructing on domestic violence, family violence, and DUI topics in both Connecticut and Florida. She is currently employed at Wheeler Clinic where she facilitates groups and evaluations related to domestic violence, family violence, and DUI. Yadira earned her associate's degree from a community college in June 2000, followed by a bachelor's degree in Human Services from Springfield College in 2009, and a master's degree in Human Services with a concentration in organizational leadership, management, and leadership in 2012. She plans to pursue a doctorate in psychology.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Yadira
01What do you attribute your success to?
Leaders are not born, leaders are made. I agree with that, experiences, experiences we go through in life that sort of kind of catapult you to get there. Coming from a big family, experiencing that, losing my mom at such an early age. Being a mom at a young age. And starting a career at 19. Being a supervisor at an early age. And wanting to succeed and leave a legacy in the Department of Corrections and in everything I've done.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
One of the best career advice I've ever received is to pay it forward.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
There's gonna be some updates, right? that, we are, you know, entering a male-dominant, profession, not to lose your femininity, right? Because that's who you are. Not to lose yourself in the process. You know, continue to be truth to yourself, and hold on to those values, hold on to you, and empower other women, right? Empower and encourage other women. And hold on, too. You know, those true friendships and those and the true leadership that still exist within those, you know, organizations, those agencies.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The fact that they have changed the incentives, so there's a longer term now. When I started, it was like a certain number of years, and now the term you served because it's hazardous duty, it was 20 years that you served and you're retired. Now, it's 25 years and they moved some things. Longevity doesn't really exist as much, which could be dangerous, right, in a job like that, because we need senior, experienced staff to stay and train the new staff. One great thing is we have a female commissioner which is great, right? It's great to see. So hopefully she will bring that, because she's been there for a while, and she's within the ranks, too, so she knows what if she's seen what's happened. I also had the opportunity to mentor her at some point in my career, which is great. So maybe changing incentives to keep our younger generation in place for longevity. I think that that's important, and specifically in that type of work environment. It's not the safest job, right? It's not the safest place to be if you don't have the experience, if you haven't, you know, experienced incidents and situations that can, you know, cost for someone to get hurt. In how to properly manage an incident. And the senior staff to train the newer staff.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
In my work is, how I treat others, right, with respect, with kindness, and balancing, right, life and work balance, that's really important. And in my personal life, the quality time, right? Disconnecting, and, cause, you know. we already know how it is, right? Electronics, and how we are trying to do multitasking, doing so many things at the same time, so Being present. In the moment.
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