Corrections workers are often the unsung heroes and an essential piece of maintaining the nation’s communities. It takes a special individual with passion and a desire to enhance people’s lives to work and care for the incarcerated population, and to also train and guide other teammates when needed. Lieutenant Terri Lovejoy is one of those people. She began her career with the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services (NDCS) as an officer at Tecumseh State Correctional Institution in 2007. While there, she promoted to corporal and became a field training officer (FTO). Then life took her another direction. She left corrections to care for her mother for several years.

“I missed the work and my corrections family,” said Lovejoy.

She hired back on at Nebraska Correctional Center for Women (NCCW) as a corporal, promoted to unit case worker at the Lincoln Correctional Center (LCC) and eventually promoted again to Lieutenant at LCC. Lovejoy credits the leadership she has received along the way for her success. “I am a work-in-progress and always look for new opportunities to learn and grow. I have been very fortunate to have so many amazing role models who assisted me along the way.”

For Lovejoy, she takes great pride in doing for others what those before her have done. “What I love most about my job is teaching people and seeing them succeed. As an FTO and as a supervisor, I have witnessed many staff succeed in their career path by promoting to new positions.  I like to ask the new hires where they would like to go within the department.  I encourage them to think about promoting and assist them any way that I can.”

Lovejoy’s willingness to do whatever was needed had not gone unnoticed. “Terri is a dedicated employee who has sacrificed a lot of time away from her family and friends for LCC and the NDCS,” said LCC Major James Francis. “She puts in the many hours that is required to be a supervisor and Lieutenant and I never hear any complaints. It is a pleasure to be her supervisor.”

Most of all, Lovejoy wants to see others succeed. “I love to see new staff complete a task they were uncertain they could do.  This is what makes me want to come to work every day.  I am lucky enough to be able to do this every day in my position.”