Joel Anderson was appointed Acting Director of the S.C. Department of Corrections on April 28, 2025, leading a department of more than 4,000 employees who care for more than 16,000 inmates.
Previously, Anderson was Deputy Director for Operations at SCDC, where he led operations for security, maintenance, food service, agriculture, prison industries and support services for all of South Carolina’s 21 prisons.
A native of South Texas, Anderson, 66, spent 1978-1996 rising through the ranks from correctional officer to major at the Texas Department of Corrections.
From 1996-1999, he worked at SCDC as Executive Assistant to the Director for Inmate Work Programs and Director of Agriculture and Food Service. In 1999 he accepted the position of Bureau Chief of Food Services with Florida Department of Corrections and was later promoted to Deputy Director of Administration.
Anderson returned to SCDC in 2004 and has held a variety of leadership positions including warden of several prisons, Director of Support Services, Assistant Deputy Director of Programs and Services and Director of External Security of Operations. He was named Deputy Director of Operations in 2019.
 | Dexter Lee is the Chief of Staff for the South Carolina Department of Corrections. He has been working in the field of Criminal Justice for over thirty years in areas of adult and juvenile corrections. He began his professional career in Criminal Justice in 1990 as a correctional officer with SCDC. He has served in variety of roles to include classification caseworker, classification case manager, and legislative liaison. He has a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of South Carolina and a master’s degree in Criminal Justice from the University of South Carolina. |
 | Salley Elliott is Deputy Director of Legal and Compliance for the S.C. Department of Corrections. Elliott has an undergraduate degree from the University of South Carolina and a Juris Doctorate from the University of South Carolina School of Law. Prior to joining SCDC, Elliott served for approximately thirty years as an attorney and attorney supervisor for the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office. She has also served as Chief Staff Attorney for the South Carolina Court of Appeals, attorney for Palmetto Legal Services, and Research Editor for Alston Wilkes Advocacy for Youth. The focus of her over 44 of public legal service has been in criminal appellate, post-conviction, and corrections law. |
She is a member of the South Carolina Bar, the U.S. District Court of South Carolina, the U. S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court. She is the recipient of the Ernest F. Hollings Award for Excellence in State Prosecution and the S.C. Attorney General’s Award for Excellence. Elliott has served in her current role since 2015. | |
 | Frank Kelley is the Inspector General for the S.C. Department of Corrections. Kelley has more than 29 years of experience in law enforcement, including 25 years with the U.S. Secret Service and 3.5 years with the Rock Hill Police Department. Throughout his tenure with the Secret Service, Kelley served in numerous roles, including in the Asset Forfeiture Division and as a Supervisory Special Agent in the Columbia, S.C., field office. There he worked with the S.C. Electronic Crimes Task Force, which has ranked number one in nationwide production for the last several years. Additionally, Kelley served with the Presidential Protective Division and as the Assistant Attache' in Montreal, Quebec. Prior to his work with the Secret Service, Kelley served with the Rock Hill Police Department as a Police Officer and Narcotics Investigator. Kelley began his current role at the S.C. Department of Corrections in October 2022. |
 | Dr. Chris Kunkle is Deputy Director for Behavioral Health Services at the S.C. Department of Corrections. He is a Clinical and Forensic Psychologist with over 25 years of experience in Law Enforcement and Forensic Mental Health. Dr. Kunkle holds a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, Masters degrees in both Forensic Psychology and Clinical Psychology, and a Bachelors degree in Chemistry and Forensic Science. Dr. Kunkle is the former Director of the NY Civil Commitment program for sexually violent offenders. He has also served as a consultant to several other state governments and court systems on the operation of secure and forensic mental health treatment facilities, is recognized as an expert in forensic psychology, and winner of numerous awards. |
| He has published research on violence risk assessment and mental illness, and his efforts in the areas of violence risk assessment and offender treatment have been recognized by the Office of the New York State Attorney General. Dr. Kunkle has served at SCDC in his current role since 2020. | |
 | Jessica Lovelace is Deputy Director for Human Resources and Procurement at the S.C. Department of Corrections. She leads recruiting, benefits, compensation, employee relations and procurement functions for the agency. Lovelace has served in a variety of roles in state government, including Human Resources Director of the Lieutenant Governor’s Office and constituent services coordinator for the S.C. Governor’s office. From 2008-2015, she worked in human resources in the private sector in high precision, automotive manufacturing. Lovelace graduated from Presbyterian College, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history. |
 | Daniel Mullins is the Medical Services Administrator for the S.C. Department of Corrections. Mullins is the Chief Medical Administrator for the agency, with a focus on effectiveness, efficiency and top-notch patient care. Mullins began his career as a staff nurse at Camille Graham Correctional Center in 2012. He advanced through nursing management and took on key leadership roles in core medical facilities, including Head Nurse and Health Care Authority at Kirkland Correctional Institution. He has been instrumental in the expansion of medical care services within the acute care infirmary and in the development of multiple specialty behavioral health units. |
In 2017, he established a HealthIT and Informatics division, leading the successful implementation of an EMR and integration of other health solutions. Mullins is native South Carolinian and a graduate of the University of South Carolina. | |
 | Ms. Sternenberg received her bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of South Carolina. She has worked in the private and public sectors, including both local and state government, and for a non-profit. Her focus has been in finance and accounting positions. She served as the Cost Analysis Director for the Department of Disabilities and Special Needs, and then accepted a position as the Director of Finance for one of the providers DDSN serves, the Babcock Center. Her most recent position was with the Department of Administration in the Shared Services division where she was assigned the Department of Corrections. She has most enjoyed the public and non-profit organizations and is looking forward to continuing to serve our community at the Department of Corrections. |
