Corrections_Today_Spring_2026_Vol.88_No.1

MEMBERSHIP & ENGAGEMENT

eligibility for honors and awards that acknowledge innovation, service and excellence in the field, including prestigious awards, scholarships and honorable mentions. Association conferences and publications create avenues to showcase your hard work, achievements and exemplary prac tices to correctional colleagues. Community and belonging. By joining the diverse community of a professional association, you share your knowledge and expertise with the corrections community promot ing the shared mission of advancing corrections and public safety. “Joining a professional correctional organization is not just about belonging to an organization, it is investing in your career and personal growth.” Leadership and service oppor tunities. Professional associations encourage natural development of leadership, communication and strategic planning skills through contributions to corrections initia tives through actively serving on committees and work groups. Emerging professional engage ment. Professional associations are a platform to engage with the industry’s up-and-coming emerg ing professionals by connecting classroom learning with real-world — Renee DeLouche Assistant Secretary, Louisiana Department of Corrections

applications. These opportunities allow for corrections profession als to engage both students and academic professionals in research, mentorship and internship pipelines — pipelines lead straight to our departments and agencies. These benefits do not begin to touch the tangible benefits such as member discount programs offered by associations which can range from discounts on food, retail, travel and entertainment to insurance benefits, access to financial institu tions, scholarships, higher education opportunities and more. My friend, colleague and mentor Renee DeLouche, Assistant Secre tary of the Louisiana Department of Corrections, sums it up nicely as she says “joining a professional correctional organization is not just about belonging to an organiza tion, it is investing in your career and personal growth. Professional associations provide opportunities for us to be around other correc tional professionals where we can network, support each other, share knowledge and understand we are not alone. They provide an oppor tunity where your career becomes a path of impact not just a job.” Now, ask yourself a question. Who is responsible for your profes sional development and growth? You, my friend. You are, and only one person determines the path you take to expand your professional horizon. For those of you new to the world of professional associations, I’m going to let you in on a little secret — professional associations are much like Mexican restaurants. You can en joy more than one. I have colleagues I am thankful for because they took

me under their wing and made sure that I understood this concept. When I retired in June of 2025, I found myself actively involved in no less than seven correctional and criminal justice professional associations and organizations all of which had (and still have) an impact on my career. Seven. Many corrections profes sionals are part of many more. After recently completing my MBA, I joined three business specific profes sional associations and organizations and through communications and involvement I learn more about lead ership, innovation and creativity and how to apply it to my current role. I can tell you that I would not be where I am today, writing to you from the desk of Director of Member ship Services and Engagement of the American Correctional Association, without membership and involve ment in professional associations. If you are reading this article in your award-winning Corrections Today magazine, I want to thank you not only for being a part of a profes sional association but for choosing us, The American Correctional Association . Join me and the thousands across the globe in a community that is ever evolving and changing, purely by member involve ment. Help to continue The Story of Us as we learn, share and grow! CT

Hester Zorn Serrano is the Director of Membership & Engagement at the American Correctional Association in Alexandria, VA. For more information, contact Hester Zorn Serrano at

(703) 224-0198 or hesterzs@aca.org.

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