New warden grew up on prison grounds

MT. PLEASANT — Marcy Stroud grew up on the campus of the Mt. Pleasant Correctional Facility. As a child she ran around the campus with her mom who was the warden’s secretary.

At the time it was known as the Mt. Pleasant Mental Health Institute or MHI where it would take care of the mentally ill and provide impatient mental health services. The MHI was closed down in 2015 by Gov. Terry Branstad.

She vividly remembers running around the canteen and the gym as a little girl, and when she was older she remembers volunteering at the Mental Health Institute and the prison side.

“I just really have a passion for this place, it means a lot to me. I am glad I am in my home community now,” Stroud said.

She went to high school in Mt. Pleasant as her children do today.

“I am really proud to have evolved from a little girl coming out here to visit to now being able to represent the facility,” Stroud said.

Growing up in the community and around the facility taught Stroud how to be kind to those who are struggling.

“It really taught me how to treat people who have personal challenges,” Stroud said. “They really taught me how to treat people and how to be kind, passionate and helpful.”

Now Stroud has been approved to be the Mt. Pleasant Correctional Facilities latest warden.

Stroud s[emt last five years as deputy warden. Stroud’s career with the Department of Corrections began in 1989 when she started as a correctional officer in the Mt. Pleasant facility. She was a correctional officer for a while before upgrading to become an activities specialist.

She then became a correctional counselor a short time later.

Right before she became deputy warden Stroud ran the Forensic Psychiatry Hospital at the Iowa Medical and Classification Center in Coralville.

The current warden, Jay Nelson, set Stroud up for success with transforming the prison from a medium-security prison for sex offenders to a minimum security facility with a focus on reentry.

“ I want to continue to expand our reentry programs, making sure people get the treatment that they need,” Stroud said.

Stroud plans to Expand on programs like the apprenticeship program and the facilities relationship with Lomont Molding, a Mt. Pleasant manufacturer.

“I would like to be able to expand those opportunities for people to have real jobs out in the community and learn some skills to take with them when they leave here,” Stroud said.