Cynthia Thornton

Cynthia Thornton serves as Deputy Secretary for Institutions Administration, Programs and Standards, overseeing administrative services, food & nutrition, chaplaincy, accreditation and compliance, and the PREA and ADA offices. 

She previously served as the Deputy Secretary for Professional Standards, Director of Performance and Standards for Prisons, Central Region Director, and warden at Harnett and Neuse correctional institutions after rising through the ranks in prison programs.

She has been an Advanced Corrections Certificate holder since 1996. She has completed trainings including Emergency Management Institute, U.S. Department of Homeland Security; FEMA NIMS Multiagency Coordination System, Correctional Leadership Development Program and American Correctional Association Auditor training.  She has also served as a General Instructor, Unlawful Workplace Harassment Instructor, and Master Trainer for Ethics program for offenders. 

Thornton is a member of the American Correctional Association and serves as a member of the standards committee.  She is a member of the Southern States Correctional Association and serves as a member of the resolutions committee and  She is also a member of the Correctional Peace Officers Foundation.

Thornton earned her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice at Appalachian State University.