AWEC President Pelicia Hall and the Executive Committee are pleased to announce Hope Cooper as the 2025 Susan M. Hunter award recipient. Susan M. Hunter devised this award to recognize women who mentor, promote, and develop women in the corrections field.

Hope Cooper joined The Moss Group as a Project Director in 2022 where she leads project teams, oversees consultant management, and ensures quality across projects for TMG. She manages a portfolio of work that includes Federal partners, sheriff’s offices, juvenile facilities, state correctional agencies, and community supervision settings.

Prior to joining TMG, Hope served as the Deputy Secretary of Juvenile and Adult Community Based Services for the Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC), where she oversaw the Juvenile Services Division, including the only juvenile correctional facility in Kansas, the Community Corrections Division, the Parole Services Division, and the Interstate Compact Unit.  She served as the Commissioner for both adult and juvenile Interstate Compact for the state of Kansas, as well as serving as national Vice-chair for the Interstate Commission for Adult Offender Supervision.  Her career with KDOC began in 2008, with roles including Program Consultant, Director of Community Corrections Services, and Warden at the state’s only female facility, Topeka Correctional Facility. While serving as warden, she led the facility through a Department of Justice agreement that focused on implementing PREA standards.   Prior to joining KDOC, Ms. Cooper worked for a juvenile treatment center for adolescent girls as a therapist, the Target Corporation, and as a Federal Probation Officer.

Ms. Cooper earned her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and psychology and a master’s degree in community Counseling from Chadron State College.  Hope is a member of AWEC, APPA, ACA, and Council of Juvenile Justice Administrators.

Hope’s nomination letters state:

• “Hope personifies the leadership characteristics the AWEC represents”
• “Hope empowers and celebrates all women and men, in her work in corrections.”
• “Hope brings a unique blend of strategic insight, operational experience, and a steadfast dedication to excellence in practice.”
• “Hope is a gifted communicator and facilitator. She brings integrity, insight and professionalism to every engagement.”
• “Hope is a leader that continuously demonstrates her commitment to her peers, those she has supervised and the many grateful clients she works with.”
• “Hope’s kindness and patience in working with others combined with her deep subject matter expertise makes her the ideal candidate for this distinguished lifetime award.”

Please join us in congratulating Hope Cooper as the 2025 Susan Hunter Awardee,