Prison system leader

1st woman in Pa. post

The new head of Pennsylvania’s prison system is the first woman to hold that position.

Gov. Ed Rendell announced yesterday that Shirley Moore Smeal became acting corrections secretary last week, when Jeffrey Beard retired.

Moore Smeal most recently served as the prison system’s second-ranking administrator behind Beard. She has been with the department since 1987, when she was hired as a clerk-typist.

Moore Smeal has worked at the Smithfield, Albion and Camp Hill state prisons, and was superintendent at Muncy state prison, which houses women.

She is a native of Mount Union and a veteran of the Air Force. Moore Smeal has a bachelor’s degree in business from Edinboro University.

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