Pitch a pebble into a pond.  Watch the ripples spread.  Even a tiny object can have an impact that reaches far beyond its immediate surroundings.  But people can, too.  Just ask anyone who knew Susan Hunter. 

Hunter was the Chief of the National Institute of Corrections' Prisons Division when she died of cancer in mid-March at age 53.  Since then, corrections professionals across the country have mourned the loss of a woman who truly embodied the spirit of the work they set out to do every day.

"She was very bright, very strong, knew who she was, knew what she wanted to do," said Jeanette Bucklew, Deputy Director of Correctional Operations - Western Region for the Iowa Department of Corrections.  Bucklew crossed paths with Hunter decades ago when Hunter was working as a superintendent in Iowa.

"Her Iowa legacy was that she was the driving force behind moving our female offender institution from a very isolated, rural environment to the urban Des Moines environment where they would have access to many of the resources that were needed to serve that population," Bucklew said.  "Susan was, without question, the force behind making that move happen."

Hunter's vision created new opportunities for female offenders in Iowa to join parenting groups, substance abuse groups and religious groups.  Relocating the women's prison also brought female offenders closer to inmate advocate groups.

But female offenders were not the only group of women to gain from Hunter's foresight.  Women working in corrections reaped the benefits, too.

"She paved untold paths in terms of advocating for female leadership in what is a traditionally male-dominated profession," Bucklew said.  "She also put her money where her mouth was in terms of developing training, developing networks, actually making things happen to prepare women to effectively advance in the ranks of the corrections workforce."

And many women in the field who have climbed to the top credit Hunter for helping them up that ladder.

"Her encouragement gave me the confidence to seek the kinds of challenges that I have gone after in this business," said Patricia Caruso, Director of the Michigan Department of Corrections.  "She was very supportive of me professionally, especially the past couple of years, and had offered to contact [Michigan's] governor in support of me as the director of this department.  For Susan to put a stamp of endorsement on you--to me that really meant something."

Hunter backed Caruso in more than just her professional endeavors, though.  She was a pillar of support for her personally, too.

"She was a friend who was a confidant and could give me support about some choices I was facing," said Caruso, who has headed up the Michigan DOC since last July.  "It was interesting because I have women in this state who are among my closest friends, but sometimes there are things you can't talk to people about [who are too close to the situation]."

But Caruso could always talk to Hunter.  The dialogue flowed, whether the conversation was about pain and fear after the 9/11 terrorist attacks or providing support to corrections practitioners, a goal Hunter worked towards throughout her time at NIC.

"In terms of doing her job well, she helped me, she helped all of us," said Caruso.  "Through her leadership, we have outstanding training opportunities for people who work in prisons."

Hunter's capabilities as a leader in corrections were fueled by her devotion to the field.

"Susan was really someone who had a passion for the business of corrections and felt so strongly about it being an honorable and noble profession," Caruso said.  "I just think that Susan left such a mark on the corrections profession."

Through her dedication to the field, Hunter touched many other lives in corrections including the recently named Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Correction, who considered her to be not only a colleague, but also a close friend.

"She was a confidant, professionally [and] personally," said Kathleen Dennehy, Massachusetts' first female correction commissioner.  She first met Hunter when she was working in a training role, which is fitting, she said, because, in remembering her, it's training that comes to mind.
 
"In training, folks are taught that a really terrific training aid meets the ABC requirements," Dennehy said, referring to items like flip charts or videos that are used to reinforce certain concepts.  The standards by which those training aids are judged, she said, are called the ABC's: appearance, balance and color.

"I've been thinking a lot about that as it relates to Susan," Dennehy said.  "Appearance-wise, she was what she appeared to be--a wonderful person and a terrifically talented professional.  When it comes to balance, she was a wonderful mother, a wonderful wife, a terrific friend and the consummate professional.  For those that really knew Susan personally, she had that big splash of color.  She had it all and shared it all."

Dennehy is one of many whom Hunter shared her vast knowledge and compassion with and, like Caruso, she believes that Hunter helped to carve a pathway for women in corrections.

"She was talking about women being in leadership positions well before, I think, many of us thought it was possible," Dennehy said.  "She was that rare combination of coach and cheerleader."

Be it as a coach or cheerleader, Hunter reached out to many in corrections and helped them make progress towards their goals.

"She was someone who could celebrate with you, urge you to reach your potential," Dennehy said.  "I'm really at a loss for words.  It's so hard to describe someone with a few adjectives that was just so full of life and commitment."

Hunter's commitment to the field of corrections and to help those people working in it was unparalleled, according to Dennehy.

"I was always struck by Susan's intellect, but, more importantly, her wisdom.  This is an incredibly wise person who, just about any problem or issue that you would discuss with her, she always had an incredible depth of understanding and perspective," Dennehy said.  "[She was] always capable of seeing an issue or a relationship from a very different perspective."

According to Dennehy, Hunter's experience, coupled with her natural leadership qualities created the ultimate corrections professional.

"She had a very deep resume.  Her credentials were exemplary.  In addition to her experience, she had a tremendous instinct about people and relationships.  She was an extremely perceptive woman," Dennehy said.  "I think that when you combine that experience with that innate instinct -- [she was] just a force to be reckoned with."

But, corrections aside, Dennehy remembers another strength of Hunter's: hugging. 

"She's probably one of the best huggers I ever met," Dennehy said.  "[She was one of] those folks, when they embrace you, they just give it their all."

Hunter was fully dedicated to most tasks at hand, especially when it came to corrections.  And, it was more than just women like Caruso and Dennehy who benefited from her efforts.

"I don't know many [corrections] directors in the country [who] haven't called Susan and asked for advice about a problem," said Joe Lehman, Secretary of the Washington Department of Corrections.  "She was always willing to listen and she was always willing to help.  She was just the kind of person who cared not simply about the people she immediately worked with, but she cared about our profession."

According to Lehman, Hunter also cared deeply for her husband Gary and daughter, Amanda, 11, who is around the same age is his grandson.

"When Amanda was very young and my grandson was very young, Susan and I would tease each other and say let's do this arranged marriage thing," Lehman said.  "[We thought] 'We're going to make it easier for these kids.'"

Lehman remembers jokes like that, which were characteristic of Hunter's sharp sense of humor, something that her colleague at NIC, Bill Wilkey, will very much miss.

"Susan and I could normally, even after a bad day, come away with something that we could laugh about," said Wilkey, Chief of NIC's Office of International Assistance.  "I think one of the joys of being around Susan was that, even if it wasn't a good day, we could see a positive in the future."

Hunter's optimism shined bright in a field that, often times, tends to lack luster.

"Susan was there with a very positive attitude and, sometimes, that is frequently missing [in corrections].  She always had this sense that we can make it better," said Wilkey who originally brought Hunter into NIC.  "I think she was just so positive, so enthusiastic and basically was so well-rounded in her correctional knowledge that I have been asked a couple of times [about] her major contributions and when you start saying that you almost pigeonhole her in a way that doesn't quite do her justice."

While Hunter worked hard to create opportunities for women in the field of corrections, it was not her only cause.

"Her work on behalf of women, correctional classification, inmate culture, safety and security operations and the abolishment of sexual misconduct will be remebered for decades and is now guiding correctional practice throughout the country," said Art Wallenstein, Director of the Montgomery County, Md., Department of Correction and Rehabilitation.  "I saw Susan eyeball to eyeball during over 25 intensive NIC board meetings where we debated which new programs would receive funding priority and implementation.  These discussions were of impact to the corrections training program in America and Susan Hunter was always at the center of those discussions."

Hunter's presence at those meetings, according to Wallenstein, will be sorely missed.

"She was as fine a corrections colleague as I have ever worked with in my life," he said.

Wallenstein's sentiments about Hunter are shared by most who knew her in corrections.  And, like the pebble tossed into the pond, Hunter's contributions to the field will continue to impact corrections for some time to come.

"Her ripples will be felt for a long time," said Dennehy.

To read to NIC's tribute to Susan Hunter, go to www.nicic.org/AboutNIC/Hunter_memorial.aspx