Corrections promotes Opdahl

Alexis Barker
NLJ News Editor
 
Kayla Opdahl, a 2004 graduate of Newcastle High School, has been promoted to deputy administrator of programs in the Prison Division of the Wyoming Department of Corrections, according to a Dec. 22 press release. Her promotion was effective Jan. 3. 
Opdahl’s career with the department began when she fell in love with criminal science in college. 
“I went to the University of Wyoming and started with the intent of going for political science and pre-law. … I wanted to go to law school,” Opdahl said. “I ended up falling in love with criminal science and studied both.” 
After graduating with her Bachelor of Science in political science in 2009, Opdahl started with the probation and parole office in Wheatland. She then returned to UW for postgraduate studies and received a master’s degree in public administration in 2013. 
“It (her master’s) laid the foundation for my career
path. I went into policy,” Opdahl said. 
Working as the reentry coordinator and policy and planning manager with the Corrections Department for seven years, Opdahl found her passion in inmate services and programming. 
“The goal is for them to leave better than when they arrived,” she said. “I thought, how can I make a difference working with offenders? What can I do?”
As deputy administrator of programs, Opdahl will oversee offender medical services, substance use and disorder and sex offender treatment contracts, religious services contracts and incarcerated case management, according to the press release. 
“I am thankful for the director (Dan
Shannon) that he wanted to put me in this role,” Opdahl said. 
“Director [Dan] Shannon commented, ‘We are very happy to offer Ms. Opdahl this opportunity and are very pleased she accepted it. Ms. Opdahl brings to the position a great deal of talent, experience and expertise,’” the press release states.